The Antibacterial Activity Of N-acetamide-4-vinylpyridinium Polymers

Poly (N-acetamide-4-vinylpyridinium), designated PAVP, is a kind of quaternary ammonium which is regarded as a new antimicrobial polymer with bright future. It has strong antimicrobial ability against bacteria, fungi and some kinds of virus without high toxicity, smell and pungency. Due to the facile nonenzymatic and enzymatic degradatable N-acetamide side chain, the toxicity of PAVP, which is under our study, is much lower than other pyridinium polymers.In this thesis, a two-step reaction is used to synthesize PAVPs. By changing the reaction temperature, a series different quaternization degree of PAVPs are harvested. For purification, we used ether absolute to deposit PAVPs. The purity of product is proved by NMR spectrum.The difference of antibacterial effect of PAVPs against S. aureus and E. coli is measured. It is found that the less carbon atoms in the N-acetamide side chain, the greater bactericidal ability of PAVPs. In our experiment range, the decrease of quaternization degree caused the increase of antibacterial activity of PAVPs. It can be predicted that a maximum antibacterial effect of PAVP will be show up in certain quaternization degree. It is worth further research.However, the stability of PAVPs has to be adequate in order for them to have antimicrobial effects. Accelerated degradation studies showed that non antibacterial activity decreased was observed during 12hs on Poly (N-acetoctylamide-4-vinylpyridinium) Chloride (P8) and Poly (N-acetoctadecylamide-4-vinylpyridinium) Chloride (P18).P8 is the most effective polymer in this series of PAVPs, with good resistance against heat and acid. Its MIC against S. aureus was as low as 1μg/mL,which is comparable to Gentamycin Sulfate.