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Aggregation of Cationic Amphiphilic Block and Random Copoly(vinyl ether)s with Antimicrobial Activity
1
Department of Macromolecular Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
2
Current, Department of Applied Chemistry, Kyushu University, Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
3
Graduate School of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
4
Current, Department of Materials Science, The University of Shiga Prefecture, Hikone, Shiga 522-8533, Japan
5
Department of Biologic and Materials Science, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Abstract
In this study, we investigated the aggregation behaviors of amphiphilic poly(vinyl ether)s with antimicrobial activity. We synthesized a di-block poly(vinyl ether), B38
26, composed of cationic primary amine and hydrophobic isobutyl (
iBu) side chains, which previously showed antimicrobial activity against
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In this study, we investigated the aggregation behaviors of amphiphilic poly(vinyl ether)s with antimicrobial activity. We synthesized a di-block poly(vinyl ether), B38
26, composed of cationic primary amine and hydrophobic isobutyl (
iBu) side chains, which previously showed antimicrobial activity against
Escherichia coli. B38
26 showed similar uptake behaviors as those for a hydrophobic fluorescent dye, 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene, to counterpart polymers including homopolymer H44 and random copolymer R40
25, indicating that the
iBu block does not form strong hydrophobic domains. The cryo-TEM observations also indicated that the polymer aggregate of B38
26 appears to have low-density polymer chains without any defined microscopic structures. We speculate that B38
26 formed large aggregates by liquid-liquid separation due to the weak association of polymer chains. The fluorescence microscopy images showed that B38
26 bonds to
E. coli cell surfaces, and these bacterial cells were stained by propidium iodide, indicating that the cell membranes were significantly damaged. The results suggest that block copolymers may provide a new platform to design and develop antimicrobial materials that can utilize assembled structures and properties.
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