Superbug (bacteria) infections have become a serious challenge to the medical communities. Cationic amphiphilic synthetic polymers act to rupture the cell membrane, hence can be expected to minimize the evolution of bacterial resistance. Although, synthetic amphiphilic polymers have attracted substantial research interest in recent years, there are no reported antibacterial polymers based on amphiphilic poly(vinyl esters) known to us. We have synthesized amphiphilic poly(vinyl ester) homopolymers and random copolymers by free radical polymerization of vinyl chloroacetate and vinyl versatate, followed by quaternization with N,N-dimethylethylamine. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of polymers towards Escherichia coli (ampicillin resistant) and Staphylococcus aureus and toxicity towards mouse RBCs (Hemolytic Concentration, HC50) were assessed. Copolymers with 2.5k g/mol molecular weight displayed higher activity against S. aureus (MIC=12 �g/mL) as compared to 5.5k g/mol (MIC=21 �g/mL), or 11k g/mol (MIC=52 �g/mL) series copolymers. Similar trend was observed in the antibacterial activity towards E. coli. For homopolymers, in contrary, 2.5k g/mol homopolymer manifested lower activity towards S. aureus as compared to higher molecular weight homopolymers. Moreover, homopolymers were found to be non-toxic towards RBCs (HC50>2000 �g/mL) and selectively active against S. aureus. Most of the copolymers demonstrated toxicity towards RBCs, but a 5.5k g/mol series copolymer with 90% cationic mole percentage displayed 46 times more selectivity towards S. aureus over RBCs. Similar selectivity was observed in the case of a 2.5k g/mol series copolymer. Figure 1. <img src='https://acs-archive-assets2.s3.amazonaws.com/239nm/uploads/9530_091016_acs_abstract_fig1.jpg' alt='' />

Amphiphilic poly(vinyl ester) copolymers and homopolymers for antimicrobial applications

246th National Meeting (2013)

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