title: Broad-spectrum antimicrobial polycarbonate hydrogels with fast degradability.
abstract: In this study, a new family of broad-spectrum antimicrobial polycarbonate hydrogels has been successfully synthesized and characterized. Tertiary amine-containing eight-membered monofunctional and difunctional cyclic carbonates were synthesized, and chemically cross-linked polycarbonate hydrogels were obtained by copolymerizing these monomers with a poly(ethylene glycol)-based bifunctional initiator via organocatalyzed ring-opening polymerization using 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene catalyst. The gels were quaternized using methyl iodide to confer antimicrobial properties. Stable hydrogels were obtained only when the bifunctional monomer concentration was equal to or higher than 12 mol %. In vitro antimicrobial studies revealed that all quaternized hydrogels exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive), Escherichia coli (Gram-negative), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative), and Candida albicans (fungus), while the antimicrobial activity of the nonquaternized hydrogels was negligible. Moreover, the gels showed fast degradation at room temperature (4-6 days), which makes them ideal candidates for wound healing and implantable biomaterials.
authors.affiliation: †POLYMAT, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU Joxe Mari Korta Center, Avda. Tolosa 72, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pascual
authors.affiliation: ‡Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, Singapore 138669, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jeremy P K
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: †POLYMAT, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU Joxe Mari Korta Center, Avda. Tolosa 72, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.affiliation: §IBM Almaden Research Center, 650 Harry Road, San Jose, California 95120, United States.
authors.forename: Julian M W
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: §IBM Almaden Research Center, 650 Harry Road, San Jose, California 95120, United States.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Coady
authors.affiliation: ⊥Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, E-48011 Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mecerreyes
authors.affiliation: §IBM Almaden Research Center, 650 Harry Road, San Jose, California 95120, United States.
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hedrick
authors.affiliation: ‡Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, Singapore 138669, Singapore.
authors.forename: Yi Yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: †POLYMAT, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU Joxe Mari Korta Center, Avda. Tolosa 72, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Haritz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sardon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D063566:Biodegradable Plastics / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D058105:Polymerization; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D063566:Biodegradable Plastics; D020100:Hydrogels; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; C005506:polycarbonate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols