Ag/Montmorillonite/Beeswax Coatings Against Lactobacillus parabuchneri : Synthesis and Real‐Time IR‐ATR Biofilm Monitoring

ABSTRACT

Antimicrobial bio‐based coatings often suffer from uncontrolled ion release, limited long‐term efficacy, and insufficient mechanistic understanding of their interactions with bacterial biofilms. To address these challenges, we developed a green, eco‐compatible antimicrobial coating based on in situ synthesized Ag‐decorated montmorillonite (Ag/MMT) nanocomposites embedded in a beeswax matrix. TEM, XPS, and UV–Vis analyses confirmed the formation of Ag nanoparticles on MMT supports and their interaction with the clay, which modulates NP dissolution. Atomic absorption spectroscopy demonstrated the controlled release of Ag ⁺ ions as a function of Ag/MMT loading, further prolonged by the water‐insoluble beeswax matrix, enabling sustained antimicrobial activity. The novelty of this work lies in combining controlled silver release with real‐time, in situ monitoring of biofilm inhibition using IR‐ATR spectroscopy. This approach provided mechanistic insight into the suppression of Lentilactobacillus parabuchneri biofilm development over 72 h. SEM imaging further revealed pronounced morphological alterations in bacterial cells exposed to the coating. These findings demonstrate the potential of the Ag/MMT/beeswax‐functionalized ZnSe interface as a promising platform for biofilm monitoring and control, while further studies are required to assess long‐term coating durability, performance under realistic conditions, and environmental implications.