Biocidal polymers such as the antimicrobial active telechelic Poly(2-alkyloxazoline) (POx) with one quaternary N,N-dimethyldodecylammonium (DDA) end group, were found to be greatly controlled by the non-bioactive distal end group, the so called satellite group. The introduction of these SG either in the initiation or termination step of the reaction, reveals the possibility to control the antimicrobial activity of the resulting polymers. The biocidal group was attached to the polymer in the reaction-step vice versa. In particular, either the biocidal DDA-group was introduced via termination of the PMOx in the last step of the polymerization or by the antimicrobial initiator 4-(bromomethyl)-N-dodecyl-N,N-dimethylbenzen Ammonium Bromide (DDA-X), a DDA derivative, in the initiation step. It was found that the antimicrobial inactive endgroup of telechelic biocidal PMOx has an activating/deactivating effect on the biocidal activity of the whole macromolecule. This satellite group effect controls the antimicrobial activity over two orders of magnitude and it can be used to switch the antimicrobial activity of PMOx in polymer-analogous reactions.

Controlling the antimicrobial activity of Poly(2-methyloxazoline)s by the satellite group effect

248th National Meeting (2014)

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