Biocompatible non-leachable antimicrobial polymers with a nonionic hyperbranched backbone and phenolic terminal units

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomaterials Science
• Antimicrobial Materials

Background:

• Developing effective antimicrobial materials is crucial for preventing infections.
• Existing antimicrobial polymers often rely on ionic structures, which can lead to leaching and toxicity.
• There is a need for nonionic, biocompatible, and non-leachable antimicrobial polymers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize nonionic hyperbranched polymers (HBPs) with antimicrobial properties.
• To evaluate the antibacterial efficacy and biocompatibility of these novel polymers.
• To assess the leaching behavior of HBPs when blended into polymer films.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of isatin-based nonionic hyperbranched polymers (HBPs) with phenolic terminal units.
• Characterization using SEC, NMR, FTIR, TGA, and DSC.
• Antibacterial activity assessed by disk diffusion assay against nine pathogenic bacteria.
• Biocompatibility evaluated using MTT assay on MG-63 cells and hemolytic effect analysis.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized and characterized a series of nonionic HBPs.
• Demonstrated significant broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
• Found that methoxy or long alkyl groups enhanced antibacterial effects.
• Blended HBPs in polyester films showed no noticeable leaching after 5 days.
• Confirmed no cytotoxicity to human cells and negligible hemolytic effect.

Conclusions:

• Developed novel nonionic, biocompatible, and non-leachable antimicrobial HBPs.
• These HBPs offer a promising alternative to ionic antimicrobial agents.
• The synthesized polymers have potential applications in medical devices and implants to prevent bacterial colonization.