Conjugated Polyelectrolyte Capsules: Light-Activated Antimicrobial Micro “Roach Motels”

• Published in: ACS applied materials & interfaces Vol. 1; no. 1; pp. 48 - 52
• Main Authors: Corbitt, Thomas S, Sommer, Jonathan R, Chemburu, Sireesha, Ogawa, Katsu, Ista, Linnea K, Lopez, Gabriel P, Whitten, David G, Schanze, Kirk S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 28.01.2009
• Subjects: Alkynes - chemistry; Disinfectants - chemistry; Disinfectants - pharmacology; Disinfectants - radiation effects; Electrolytes - chemistry; Ethers - chemistry; Microscopy, Confocal; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Microtechnology - methods; Oceanospirillaceae - drug effects; Photochemical Processes; Polymers - chemistry; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - drug effects; singlet oxygen; biocide; confocal microscopy; conjugated polymer; polyelectrolyte capsule
• ISSN: 1944-8244; 1944-8252
• DOI: 10.1021/am800096q

Microcapsules consisting of alternating layers of oppositely charged poly(phenylene ethynylene)-type conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) were prepared via layer-by-layer deposition onto MnCO3 template particles followed by dissolution of the template particles using an ethylenediaminetetraacetate solution. The resulting microcapsules exhibit bright-green fluorescence emission characteristics of the CPEs. Strong antimicrobial activity was observed upon mixing of polyelectrolyte capsules with Cobetia marina or Pseudomonas aeruginosa followed by white-light irradiation. It was demonstrated that the materials act as highly effective light-activated micro “Roach Motels” with greater than 95% kill after exposure to ∼1 h of white light.