title: Mechanistic considerations on contact-active antimicrobial surfaces with controlled functional group densities.
abstract: A series of N-alkyl-N,N-dimethyldeoxyammonium celluloses is synthesized by converting tosyl celluloses with DBA and DDA, respectively. Surface coatings with these water-insoluble derivatives contain well-defined densities of quaternary ammonium functions and nonactive hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups. It is shown that the antimicrobial activity of such surfaces against S. aureus requires a delicate balance between DDA, BDA, and hydrophobic groups. A mechanism is proposed that involves the selective adhesion of anionic phospholipids from the bacterial cell membrane. This so-called phospholipid sponge effect is supported by the fact that all coatings could be deactivated by treatment with SDS or negatively charged phospholipids, but not with neutral phospholipids.
authors.affiliation: Freiburg Material Research Center and Institute for Macromolecular Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 21, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Arno M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bieser
authors.forename: Joerg C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tiller
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry*; D010091:Oximes / Q000737:chemistry*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D010091:Oximes; C422418:dibenzo-1,4-dioxine-2-acetyloxime; D002482:Cellulose