Hyperbranched Polymers Modified with Dansyl Units and Their Cu(II) Complexes. Bioactivity Studies

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Antimicrobial Agents

Background:

• Hyperbranched polymers offer unique structural properties for functionalization.
• Dansyl units can be incorporated into polymer structures for specific interactions.
• Copper complexes are known for their diverse biological activities.

Purpose of the Study:

• Synthesize and characterize novel copper complexes of dansyl-modified hyperbranched polymers.
• Evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of the synthesized polymers and their copper complexes.
• Investigate the potential application of these materials in antibacterial textiles.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of hyperbranched polymers modified with dansyl units.
• Characterization using infrared spectroscopy (IR) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR).
• Antimicrobial activity testing against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and fungi.
• Evaluation of biofilm inhibition on cotton fabrics.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis and characterization of two new copper complexes.
• Copper ions predominantly coordinate with nitrogen or oxygen atoms in the polymer.
• Copper complexes exhibited superior antimicrobial activity compared to the parent polymers.
• Modified polymers effectively prevented bacterial biofilm formation on cotton fabrics.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized copper complexes possess significant antimicrobial properties.
• The polymer-copper complexes show promise for developing advanced antibacterial textiles.
• The study highlights the potential of functionalized hyperbranched polymers in material science and healthcare applications.