Biofunctionalization of Textile Materials.1. Biofunctionalization of Poly(Propylene) (PP) Nonwovens Fabrics by Alafosfalin

Reviewer suggestions/queries

Answers

1. The authors should review the   PCN abbreviation (aminophosphonate compounds:  PCN compounds?) and list   it in the captions of Figure 1 and Figure 2.

We substituted the term “PCN compounds” by more adequate aminophosphonate compounds.

The abbreviations the most representative   aminophosphonate compounds are given in Table 2.

2. Check the decimal points of   numbers listed in Figure 6 for tensile strength: Tensile strength [kN/m]     0.32   0.40   0.41   0,39     0,38   0.37   0,37

We have corrected    the decimal points of numbers concerning  tensile strength

Reviewer   suggestions/queries

Answers

1. The Authors present the chemical structure of   different aminophosphonate compounds, they also mention their significance,   their biological and pharmacological application but they did not really   describe any of them.

We included Table 2 containing  the summary on the representative   aminophosphonates, with their biological and pharmacological applications was   given.

1.1. The authors I   think should re-write the introduction.

The introduction has   been rewritten

1.2. They can introduce the PP nonwoven fabrics and   the need to possess antibacterial properties

These requires has been fulfilled (see Table 1).

1.3. They should also describe the properties and   some application of aminophosphonate compounds

These requires has been fulfilled (see Table 2).

2.       The   whole manuscript should be carefully checked to avoid editorial and   grammatical mistakes.

The whole manuscript have been carefully checked.

3.       The   authors should carefully check the references

The list of references has been checked and expanded.

4.       The   authors for the incorporation of Alafosfalin used a paste containing   different agents. The authors should describe why they use the specific   agents in the specific percentage. They should explain why the use the   specific finishing agent and how they choose the percentage

Thickening agent ensure viscosity and appropriate   grip of product, wetting agent prevents the formation of agglomerates in   coating paste and uniform of coating dispersion, styrene-acrylic resin   combines all ingredients of coating paste with nonwoven fabric. The applied   ratio of component composition has main influence on the mechanical   properties of textile material.

5.       The   authors in section 3.  Result and Discussion present the   ATR-FTIR analysis of the covered and uncovered samples of PP. They also   present table 4 with some characteristic bands. I think that instead of   presenting this table it would be better the authors to describe in the   manuscript the basic bands presented in figure 4. that proves the presence of   Ala-Alap on PP surface and also to indicate this bands in figure 4.

The Table (4) presents the base for interpretation   of experimental results. On this base we expanded characterization of the   basic bands presented in figure 4.

6.       In the   section that describes the microbial activity of the samples, the authors it   would be nice to present an image of the photographed inhibition zone of the   different samples.

Unfortunately, our laboratory  has not supplied us with the complete of   images. These will be supplied in the second manuscript (in preparation) on   the preparation of PLA nonwoven hybrids with the phosphonic antibiotics   (Ala-AlaP and phosphinothricin).

Reviewer suggestions/queries

Answers

1. Introduction is written poor, It is not clear   what do authors follow with their work. Where do authors see the application   of antibacterial textile material.

The introduction has been rewritten.

1.1. Authors do not discus about the mode of action   of such modified materials.

Ala-Ala^P selectively inhibited   peptidoglycan biosynthesis in both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. The   mechanism of action of Ala-Ala^P involve three stages: (i) active   transport by peptide permeases; (ii) intracellular peptidase cleavage; and   (iii) action of Ala-Ala^P on alanine racemase (EC 5.1.1.1).   [see  Table 2]

1.2. Why are the bacterial cells inhibited?

1.3. What are the risks when antibacterial agents are   part of the textile material

Neither Ala-Ala^P nor product its   hydrolysis - Ala^P are not toxic for mammals [Kukhar&Hudson,   2000]

1.4. Are there any informations about the risks of   resistance development  against clinically   important antibiotics when using modified antibacterial materials?

Risks of resistance consider majority of clinically   important antibiotics. However, Ala-Ala^P exhibit antibacterial   activity towards Staphylococcus aureous   as well to ampicilline resistant  Staphylococcus aureous O-G [see Table 3].

1.5. The interpretation of the obtained results   should be more clear explained.

The interpretation has been corrected.

2. Comments to antimicrobial assay

Authors should change microbial activity to   antimicrobial activity -  line 109,127,192,193

We have changed microbial activity to antimicrobial   activity.

line 111 Stop the sentence at the end of this   line,  delete against colony. Answer:OK

We modified this   sentence according to the suggestion.

line 112 Began the sentence with Gram negative.....   and end the sentence ....were used as model bacteria in this study.

We modified this sentence according to the   suggestion.

line115 delete medium enough is Mueller Hinton agar

We modified this sentence according to the   suggestion.

line116 change the sentence  The surface of the   growth media.., detele agar media Answer:OK

We modified this sentence according to the   suggestion.

line   116 delete broth 

We modified this sentence according to the   suggestion.

line120  ... indication of growth inhibition.   delete of the microbial species.

We modified this sentence according to the   suggestion.

line121 .... caried out as  control, delete for  

We modified this sentence according to the   suggestion.

Fig.3 The magnification is missing.

The magnifications are supplied directly on the   images.

We now included additionaly information in the title   of the Figure 3.

(Figure 3. SEM spectra of polypropylene nonwoven   (PP) and polypropylene nonwoven with phosphonodipeptide modifier , taken at   magnifications 5.00 kx (5×10⁴) (left) and 10.0 kx (10×10⁴)   (right),  respectively).

3. Results

3.1. line 193 delete a colony of ..

This statement has been corrected

3.2. line 194 delete bacteria ..

This statement has been corrected

3.3. Authors have written that the material provids   antimicrobial protection againts different bacteria but have  tested the   material only on two strains

Antimicrobial activity of Alaphosphalin is well   established in the scientific literature [eg. Papers of Atherton et al,].   This was characterized by insertion of Table 3 on Antibacterial activity   (MIC) in vitro of Alafosfalin against representative bacteria (Enterobacter   species 1398;  Enterococcus faecalis   O-G FS 5; Escherichia coli; Haemophilus influenzae NCTC 4560; Klebsiella   aerogenes O-G KA1; Serratia marcescens ATCC 14756;  Salmonella typhimurium  S 12; and  Staphylococcus aureus.).

Since antimicrobial activity of Alaphosphalin on PP   past should be related to these exhibited in agar solution, we limited the   number of examined strains to the most representative, Escherichia coli - as   typical gram negative bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus as typical gram   negative bacteria

3.4. I would recommed authors to improve their   results by testing of decrease of CFU of living bacteria after 24h incubation   with the modificated material in broth culture, and after incubation the   culture should be dilluted and than CFU should be established and comapared   to the control.

When the decrease of  3 log is observed the   antibacterial effectivness is comfirmed.

We apply these suggestions in our second paper (in   preparation) on the preparation of PLA nonwoven hybrids with the phosphonic   antibiotics (Ala-AlaP and phosphinothricin).

Reviewer   suggestions/queries

Answers

Tab.1 When for the   first time writing about Staphylococus   aureus write the full name than in the whole text also in   Tables write abbreviated S.aureus.   The same suggestion apply to all bacterial names in Tab.1 for Example Escherichia coli – E.coli, in vivo, in vitro write   in italic font

This statement has been corrected

Tab.3 It is strange   to mark the bacteria with same made up abbreviations – I would recommend   the authors to use just first letters of bacterial names e.g. Sa - for S.aureus.

This statement has been corrected

Line 77 Serratia marcescens    - in tiatlic font

This statement has been corrected

Line78 in vitro – italic   font

This statement has been corrected

Line 167 –- The   surfaces of agar the growth   media  … correct  to -  The surface of the growth media or   .....of the agarized growth  media

This statement has been corrected

Line 270 microbial   names shoud be abbreviated e.g. E.coli  S.aureus

This statement has been corrected

Line 277 abbreviate E.coli change font   to italic, the same for S.aureus line   288

This statement has been corrected