Polypseudorotaxane Constructed from Cationic Polymer with Cucurbit[7]uril for Controlled Antibacterial Activity

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Supramolecular Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Cationic polymers are widely used for their antibacterial properties.
• Precise control over the antibacterial activity of these polymers remains a challenge.
• Polypseudorotaxanes offer a versatile platform for functional material design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a general strategy for fabricating polypseudorotaxanes with tunable antibacterial activity.
• To demonstrate this strategy using ε-poly-l-lysine hydrochloride and cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]).
• To establish a method for controlling antibacterial efficiency through host-guest complexation.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of polypseudorotaxanes via host-guest complexation between ε-poly-l-lysine hydrochloride and cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]).
• Utilizing the cationic polymer's positive charge and hydrophobic components for binding with the macrocyclic host.
• Tuning the ratio of CB[7] to the cationic polymer to modulate antibacterial activity.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized polypseudorotaxanes with controlled antibacterial activity.
• Demonstrated that antibacterial efficiency can be precisely tuned from 5% to 100% by adjusting the CB[7]:polymer ratio.
• Validated the use of host-guest chemistry for regulating the function of cationic polymers.

Conclusions:

• A general strategy for fabricating tunable antibacterial polypseudorotaxanes based on cationic polymers has been established.
• Host-guest chemistry provides an effective means to precisely control the antibacterial activity of ε-poly-l-lysine hydrochloride.
• This research expands the functional applications of cationic polymers and polypseudorotaxanes in antibacterial materials.