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Antimicrobial and biodegradable materials based on ε‐caprolactone derivatives
Author(s) -
Mamba Feziwe Bathabile,
Ndlovu Thando,
Mbizana Siyasanga,
Khan Wesaal,
Gule jabulo Prudence
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.49903
Subject(s) - polycaprolactone , polymer , materials science , antimicrobial , biodegradable polymer , gel permeation chromatography , polymer chemistry , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , caprolactone , electrospinning , monomer , polymerization , organic chemistry , chemical engineering , chemistry , composite material , engineering
Appropriate wound care is pivotal in preventing wound and postsurgery infections, which remain a serious clinical problem. In this study, we report the successful fabrication of antimicrobial and biodegradable materials for possible use in the medical field. Amino functionalized polycaprolactone (PCL [Poly(CL‐ co ‐ACL)]) was synthesized via ring opening polymerization. This polymer was then functionalized via the pendant amine to induce antimicrobial efficacy. This was done through the grafting of poly(lysine) onto the amine as well as the quaternization of the amine using alkyl halides. The chemical structures of the synthesized monomers and polymers were confirmed using nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR and 13 C NMR) spectroscopy and attenuated total reflection‐Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The molecular weights of the polymers were determined using gel permeation chromatography. Nanofibre scaffolds were produced from the polymers using the electrospinning technique and these were characterized though scanning electron microscopy. The antimicrobial efficacy of the fabricated materials was tested against the Gram‐positive ( Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923) and Gram‐negative ( Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853) bacteria using the disc diffusion and shake flask methods. The polymers demonstrated excellent antimicrobial efficacy. The fibers were exceptionally biodegradable which opens a lot of applications in the biomedical space.