Fouad I. Abdel-Hay

Biologically active polymers: synthesis and antimicrobial activity of modified glycidyl methacrylate polymers having a quaternary ammonium and phosphonium groups

Polymers with antibacterial activity have been synthesized by chemical modification of poly(glycidyl methacrylate). The glycidyl methacrylate was polymerized by the free radical polymerization technique. The poly(glycidyl methacrylate) was hydrolyzed and was chloroacetylated using chloroacetyl chloride. The chloroacetylated product was modified to yield polymers with either quaternary ammonium or phosphonium salts. The antimicrobial activity of the modified glycidyl methacrylate polymers has been examined against a variety of test microorganisms by the cut plug and the viable cell counting methods using shake flask of ten times diluted nutrient broth medium. All three polymers obtained were inhibitory to the growth of Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomones aeruginosa, Shigella sp. and Salmonella typhae) and Gram positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and B. cereus) as well as the fungus (Trichophytun rubrum). It was found that the growth inhibitory effect varied according to the structure of the polymer and the composition of the active group and increased with increasing the concentration of the polymer. The tested polymers showed more antimicrobial activity against Gram negative bacteria and the fungus, whereas were less active against Gram positive bacteria.

Novel biocidal polymers based on branched and linear poly(hydroxystyrene)

ABSTRACT New biocidal polymers based on branched as well as linear poly(p-hydroxystyrene) were synthesized. Biocidal polymers were synthesized in two steps by creation of active centers via chloroacetylation of linear and branched poly(p-hydroxystyrene) using chloroacetyl chloride. The second step involves the immobilization of onium salts onto the chloroacetylated polymers. All the prepared polymers were characterized using elemental microanalysis, FT-IR, 1H NMR spectra, and TGA. Antimicrobial activity of the prepared polymers was tested against various pathogenic microorganisms. The antimicrobial activity was found to be affected by the active group and the tested microorganism. The phosphonium salts showed higher activity than ammonium salts. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT