title: Antimicrobial films obtained from latex particles functionalized with quaternized block copolymers.
abstract: New amphiphilic block copolymers with antimicrobial properties were obtained by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and copper catalyzed cycloaddition following two approaches, a simultaneous strategy or a two-step synthesis, which were proven to be very effective methods. These copolymers were subsequently quaternized using two alkyl chains, methyl and butyl, to amplify their antimicrobial properties and to investigate the effect of alkyl length. Antimicrobial experiments in solution were performed with three types of bacteria, two gram-positive and one gram-negative, and a fungus. Those copolymers quaternized with methyl iodide showed better selectivities on gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, against red blood cells, demonstrating the importance of the quaternizing agent chosen. Once the solution studies were performed, we prepared poly(butyl methacrylate) latex particles functionalized with the antimicrobial copolymers by emulsion polymerization of butyl methacrylate using such copolymers as surfactants. The characterization by various techniques served to test their effectiveness as surfactants. Finally, films were prepared from these emulsions, and their antimicrobial activity was studied against the gram-positive bacteria. The results indicate that the antimicrobial efficiency of the films depends not only on the copolymer activity but also on other factors such as the surface segregation of the antimicrobial agent to the interface.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Polímeros (ICTP-CSIC), C/Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Paino
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Orgánica I, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Complutense s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Juan-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Orgánica I, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Complutense s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cuervo-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Polímeros (ICTP-CSIC), C/Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tejero
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Polímeros (ICTP-CSIC), C/Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: López
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario de Móstoles, C/Río Júcar, s/n, 28935 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Fátima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: López-Fabal
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario de Móstoles, C/Río Júcar, s/n, 28935 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gómez-Garcés
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Física Aplicada, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Francisco Tomás y Valiente 7, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: alexandra.munnoz@uam.es.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Bonilla
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Polímeros (ICTP-CSIC), C/Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fernández-García
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007840:Latex / Q000737:chemistry*; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D007840:Latex; D008689:Methacrylates; D011108:Polymers; C116863:poly(butyl methacrylate)
keywords: ATRP; Antimicrobial films; Click chemistry; Emulsion polymerization; Latex particles; Polymeric surfactant