Amphiphilic polysaccharide based on curdlan: Synthesis and behaviour in aqueous solution

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomaterials Science
• Organic Chemistry

Background:

• Curdlan, a natural polysaccharide, serves as a versatile scaffold for developing functional biomaterials.
• Polyelectrolytes with quaternary ammonium groups are known for their antimicrobial activities.
• Developing novel antimicrobial agents is crucial for combating infectious diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel amphiphilic polyelectrolyte based on a curdlan derivative.
• To investigate the hydrodynamic properties and self-aggregation behavior of the synthesized derivative.
• To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of the new derivative against common bacterial and fungal pathogens.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of amphiphilic curdlan derivative with quaternary ammonium groups.
• Structural characterization using FTIR, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy.
• Hydrodynamic property analysis via capillary viscometry and intrinsic viscosity determination.
• Self-aggregation studies using fluorescence spectroscopy and surface tension measurements.
• Antibacterial and antifungal testing against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis and comprehensive characterization of the amphiphilic curdlan derivative.
• Determination of intrinsic viscosity and delimitation of concentration domains using scaling theory.
• Evidence of self-aggregation behavior studied through fluorescence probes and surface tension.
• Demonstrated significant antibacterial and antifungal activity.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized amphiphilic curdlan derivative possesses desirable structural and hydrodynamic properties.
• The derivative effectively self-aggregates, indicating potential for controlled release applications.
• The observed antimicrobial activity suggests its utility as a standalone biopolymer or as a precursor for antimicrobial biomaterials.