Novel Antibacterial Polymers

The research presented in this review covers the areas of low molecular weight antibacterial agents and antibacterial polymers. The review is divided into two main sections. In the first section, a detailed background information is provided about low molecular weight antibacterial agents (quaternary ammonium compounds and norfloxacin), antibacterial polymers with quaternary ammonium compounds and norfloxacin, and antibacterial activity tests pertinent to the research. In the second section, the syntheses and antibacterial activities of several new antibacterial polymers are discussed. These polymers are either acrylate/methacrylate or acrylamide/methacrylamide-type polymers with pendant biocidal groups, i.e. mono- and bis-quaternary ammonium compounds or norfloxacin. In general, two approaches were utilized to obtain the antibacterial polymers. The first approach involved the incorporation of the antibacterial agents to monomers, followed by their polymerization. The second approach, on the other hand, involved the linking of the antibacterial agents directly onto preformed functional polymers. The water-soluble and water-insoluble polymers were synthesized according to the pendant groups and comonomers present. All polymers were tested for antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, representatives of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, by using broth dilution and shaking flask methods.