Star-Shaped Poly(styrene)-block-Poly(4-vinyl-N-methylpyridiniumiodide) for Semipermanent Antimicrobial Coatings

• Published in: Macromolecular bioscience Vol. 13; no. 10; pp. 1447 - 1455
• Main Authors: Siedenbiedel, Felix, Fuchs, Andreas, Moll, Thorsten, Weide, Mirko, Breves, Roland, Tiller, Joerg C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.10.2013
• Subjects: Anionic polymerization; Anti-Infective Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Infective Agents - chemistry; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; antimicrobial; Aqueous solutions; coating; Coatings; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - drug effects; Flushing; Glass; Microscopy, Atomic Force; Polystyrenes - administration & dosage; Polystyrenes - chemistry; Polyvinyl Chloride - chemistry; Pyridinium Compounds - administration & dosage; Pyridinium Compounds - chemistry; Resists; semipermanent; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; star-shaped polymers; Styrene - chemistry; Surface Properties - drug effects; Washing; Water - chemistry; star-shaped polymers; antimicrobial; semipermanent; coating; anionic polymerization
• ISSN: 1616-5187; 1616-5195
• DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201300219

Goal of the present work is to develop an antimicrobial coating that can be applied from an aqueous solution and resists short washing cycles, but can be rinsed off by thorough washing. To this end, a series of star‐shaped polystyrene‐block‐poly(4‐vinyl‐N‐methylpyridinium iodide) polymers are synthesized by anionic polymerization using a core‐first approach. The optimal resulting polymers are applied as coatings on glass slides, showing high antimicrobial efficiency against Staphylococcus aureus as well as Escherichia coli. The coatings, characterized by atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, stay at the surface even after at least 20 flush‐like washings with water, and retain their antimicrobial activity. Semipermanent antimicrobial coatings can be achieved by synthesizing 3‐arm star‐blockcopolymer with an inner poly(styrene)‐block and an outer poly(4‐vinyl‐N‐methylpyridiniumiodide)‐block. Solubility, antimicrobial activity, and coating stability strongly depend on the block ratios. The coatings can be applied from aqueous solution, withstand flush‐like washings and prevent growth of S. aureus and E. coli. Nonetheless, the coatings are removable of by extended rinsing.