Amphiphilic branched polymers as antimicrobial agents
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 1, 2026

High-throughput Identification of Bacteria Repellent Polymers for Medical Devices
Published on: November 5, 2016
Nicolas Pasquier1, Helmut Keul, Elisabeth Heine
1DWI an der RWTH Aachen e.V., and Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 8, D-52056 Aachen, Germany.
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.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Antifungal Agents
Antimicrobial Proteins
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Polymer Classification: Architecture
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

