Silver Sulfobenzoate Coordination Polymers as Bioactive Dopants in Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Cellulose Films

Antimicrobial resistance constitutes a critical global health issue, underscoring the need for novel materials designed to inhibit bacterial proliferation and biofilm growth. The present study focuses on the development of antibacterial and antibiofilm biopolymer materials based on bioactive silver(I) coordination polymers (bioCPs). Two new bioCPs, [Ag(msba)]_n (CP1) and [Ag(Ksba)(H₂O)₂·2H₂O]_n (CP2), were assembled from silver(I) precursors and two structurally analogous sulfobenzoate linkers, namely 4-(methylsulfonyl)benzoic acid (Hmsba, C₈H₈O₄S) or 4-sulfobenzoic acid monopotassium salt (KHsba, C₇H₅O₅K). To create hybrid biopolymer formulations with different rates of degradation and silver release, these two compounds were used as bioactive dopants in thin films based on ethylcellulose [EC]_n or cellulose acetate [CA]_n. Biopolymer films doped with CP1 and CP2 demonstrated a remarkable antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive (S. aureus and S. epidermidis) and Gram-negative (E. coli and P. aeruginosa) bacteria. The results were particularly promising for the inhibition of bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, especially for biopolymers doped with CP2, with reductions up to 3.5 log CFU/cm² (99.97% reduction in biofilm growth). By describing new bioCPs and derived biopolymer films made from renewable polysaccharides, this study expands the use of coordination polymers as components of antibacterial and antibiofilm hybrid materials.