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Updated: Apr 28, 2026
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Antimicrobial Characterization of Advanced Materials for Bioengineering Applications
Published on: August 4, 2018
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A poly(trisulfide) oligomer with antimicrobial activity.
Jasmine M M Pople1, Ocean E Clarke2, Romy A Dop2,3
1College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University Bedford Park South Australia 5042 Australia jasmine.pople@flinders.edu.au bart.eijkelkamp@flinders.edu.au justin.chalker@flinders.edu.au.
Chemical Science
|April 27, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed water-soluble sulfur polymers with potent antimicrobial activity against fungi like Candida and bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. These novel materials offer a promising new strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance in medicine and agriculture.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Antimicrobial Agents
- Materials Science
Background:
- Antimicrobial resistance is a significant global health and agricultural threat.
- Sulfur compounds have historical antimicrobial uses, but solubility issues limit applications.
- Novel sulfur-rich polymers show antimicrobial potential, yet most are water-insoluble.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize a water-soluble linear poly(trisulfide) for antimicrobial applications.
- To investigate the antimicrobial efficacy and safety of the novel sulfur polymer.
- To explore new strategies against antimicrobial resistance using sulfur-based materials.
Main Methods:
- Photochemical ring-opening polymerization of a cyclic trisulfide monomer.
- Deprotonation of a carboxylic acid group to achieve water solubility.
- Antimicrobial activity testing against Candida albicans, Candida auris, and Staphylococcus aureus.
- Mammalian cell toxicity assays.
Main Results:
- A water-soluble linear poly(trisulfide) was successfully synthesized.
- The poly(trisulfide) oligomers demonstrated potent antifungal activity against C. albicans and C. auris.
- Significant antibacterial activity was observed against Staphylococcus aureus.
- The synthesized oligomers showed no harm to mammalian cells at effective concentrations.
Conclusions:
- Water-soluble poly(trisulfide) oligomers are effective antimicrobial agents.
- This work presents a new class of sulfur polymers for biological applications.
- The findings offer a novel strategy to address the challenge of antimicrobial resistance.
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