Ethyl alpha-N-lauroyl L-arginate hydrochloride (LAE) was coupled with hyaluronic acid (HyA) 2 to form ionic complexes with LAE to HyA ratios of 1:1 and 1:2. The complexes were extensively 3 characterized by FTIR and NMR spectroscopies and their thermal properties evaluated by 4 thermogravimetry and calorimetry. Thin films prepared from these complexes by casting 5 displayed a smectic-like structure based on an ordered arrangement of LAE and HyA layers 6 with a nanometric periodicity of 3.8-3.9 nm. Films immersed in water at pH 7.4 and 5.5 7 dissociated to deliver free LAE to the environment and reaching the equilibrium in few hours. 8 The biocide activity of these films against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria was 9 preliminary assessed by the liquid medium method, and shown to be notable in both cases. The 10 antibacterial property of the complexes was found to increase with the content of LAE and to be 11 particularly efficient against Gram-negative S. enterica bacteria.

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