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Amphiphilic Branched Polymers as Antimicrobial Agents
Author(s) -
Pasquier Nicolas,
Keul Helmut,
Heine Elisabeth,
Moeller Martin,
Angelov Borislav,
Linser Sebastian,
Willumeit Regine
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
macromolecular bioscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.924
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1616-5195
pISSN - 1616-5187
DOI - 10.1002/mabi.200800121
Subject(s) - cationic polymerization , amphiphile , alkyl , polymer , chemistry , antimicrobial , polymer chemistry , amine gas treating , ethylene , organic chemistry , copolymer , catalysis
Abstract Cationic amphiphilic polymers were prepared from PEI and functional ethylene carbonates bearing cationic, hydrophobic or amphiphilic groups. The polymers are designed to exhibit antimicrobial properties. In a one‐step addition, different functional ethylene carbonates were added to react with the primary amine groups of PEI. The water soluble polymers were studied regarding their ability to form soluble aggregates. Their hydrodynamic radii, their inhibition potential against proliferation of E. coli and their hemolytic potential were determined. A structure‐property relationship was established by analyzing the antimicrobial activity as a function of the ratio of alkyl to cationic groups, length of the alkyl chains, and molecular weight of the PEI.