Nanoparticle Formulation of AEA and BAEA Cellulose Carbamates Increases Biocompatibility and Antimicrobial Activity

Antimicrobially active polymers with a cationic moiety gain increasing interest in health care providing a biocompatible alternative to commonly used products. They adhere to the polyanionic bacterial surface, disrupt cell membranes and kill bacteria. An efficient path to obtain amino group-containing cellulose is nucleophilic displacement reaction of p-toluenesulfonic acid ester and amines leading to 6-deoxy-6-(ω-aminoalkyl) aminocellulose carbamates. Spherical nanoparticles of the obtained 6-deoxy-6-(2-aminoethyl) amino (AEA) and 6-deoxy-6-{2-bis[N',N'-(2-aminoethyl)]aminoethyl}amino (BAEA) cellulose carbamate with a size range of 80-120 nm were produced. The AEA and BAEA cellulose carbamates exhibited significant antimicrobial activity with moderate cell compatibility. Nanoparticle formulation enhanced biocompatibility.