The colorimetric sensor array has become a good candidate for the detection of antibiotics due to its ease of use, convenience and low cost.

Polypropylene (PP) large pore size nets have been most widely used implants for hernia repair. Nevertheless, the growth of bacteria within PP mesh pores after operation is a major reason of hernia recurrence. Secondly, pre-operative prophylaxis during mesh implantation has failed due to the hydrophobic nature of PP meshes. Herein, chitosan cross-linked and levofloxacin HCl incorporated, antimicrobial PP mesh devices were prepared using citric acid as a bio-based and green cross-linking agent. The inert PP mesh fibers were surface activated using O₂ plasma treatment at low pressure. Then, chitosan of different molecular weights (low and medium weight) were cross-linked with O₂ plasma activated surfaces using citric acid. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed that chitosan was cross-linked with O₂ plasma-treated PP mesh surfaces and formed a thin layer of chitosan and levofloxacin HCl on the PP mesh surfaces. Moreover, antimicrobial properties of chitosan and levofloxacin HCl-coated PP meshes were investigated using an agar plate release method. The coated PP meshes demonstrated excellent antimicrobial inhibition zone up to 10 mm. Thus, modified PP meshes demonstrated sustained antimicrobial properties for six continuous days against Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Escherichia coli (EC) bacteria.