The increasing world population and the high travelling activity is a great challenge for the prevention of the spread of new and dangerous infectious diseases e.g. the most recent EHEC (enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli) epidemic in Europe. Although, the number of powerful biocides, such as disinfectants or antibiotics, increases, their use is more and more restricted Antimicrobial polymers are considered as alternative to environmentally problematic biocides. Poly(2-oxazoline)s with a biocidal quarternary ammonium end-group are potent biocides. Interestingly, the antimicrobial activity of the whole macromolecule is controlled by the nature of the group at the distal end. Our investigations show that this so-called satellite group effect controls the membrane permeation of the molecules. We could also show, that the introduction of a polymerizable satellite group renders the poly (2-oxazoline)s to versatile additives for materials that decorate their surfaces with polymer spacer attached biocide via self-organization.

Telechelic bioactive poly(2-oxazoline)s with biofunctional and satellite end groups

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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