Stellenbosch University

Wilma Van Rensburg

Marina Rautenbach

The invention provides a method for preventing or treating microbial growth on a manufactured material or product. A composition comprising a cyclic decapeptide which is a tyrocidine, trypocidine, phenycidine or gramicidin S having an amino acid sequence of cyclo(valine-X-leucine-D-phenylalanine-proline-X-X-X-X-X) (SEQ ID NO: 1) is applied to the product and the cyclic decapeptides are adsorbed onto the product. Suitable products include medical devices (e.g. a catheter), wound dressings, food packaging, containers, wrappings, surfaces or devices used in the processing, transport or storage of food, filters, composites, paper, wrapping materials, walls, work surfaces, floors, pipes or the like. The composition could be used to disinfect or sterilise a material, surface or product or to inhibit formation of biofilms and/or biofouling on the surface of the product to which it is applied.

Growing community of inventors

Cape Town, South Africa

Wilma Van Rensburg