AUTHOR=Dumbravă Andreea Ștefania , Corbu Viorica Maria , Marinaș Ioana Cristina , Pericleanu Radu , Marinescu Liliana , Motelica Ludmila , Trusca Doina Roxana , Ianovici Nicoleta , Șesan Tatiana Eugenia , Gheorghe-Barbu Irina , Ficai Denisa , Oprea Ovidiu Cristian , Ficai Anton , Chifiriuc Mariana Carmen 

TITLE=Multifunctional protective strategies for wooden cultural heritage: antimicrobial efficacy of polyacrylic resins, siloxane coupling agents, and silver nanoparticles

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1642335

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2025.1642335

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=IntroductionThis study evaluates two innovative protective treatments for wooden cultural heritage objects vulnerable to biodeterioration. The first involves polyacrylic resin solutions embedded with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), while the second uses the siloxane-based coupling agent 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (3-MPTMS) to enhance AgNP adhesion to wood surfaces.MethodsAntimicrobial, anti-biofilm, and anti-metabolic activities were assessed using both qualitative and quantitative assays against biodeteriogenic strains (Penicillium chrysogenum, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus megaterium). Additional analyses included extracellular nitric oxide (NO) production, phytotoxicity testing on Allium cepa, and correlations with biochemical parameters.ResultsPolyacrylic resins incorporating AgNPs exhibited significant antimicrobial properties, with stronger effects against bacteria. Treatments combining AgNPs with MPTMS or acrylic resins demonstrated enhanced inhibitory effect on microbial viability, adhesion, and degradative enzymes secretion. Sub-inhibitory concentrations of resin solutions modulated the extracellular NO levels, correlated with metabolic stress responses. Notably, ecotoxicity testing confirmed minimal phytotoxic impact, supporting the safety of these materials for cultural heritage applications.ConclusionThe findings support the use of AgNP-enhanced polyacrylic resins and silanized coatings as effective, non-destructive conservation strategies for wooden heritage artifacts, offering durable protection against microbial deterioration while maintaining environmental safety.