Synthesis of antibacterial amphiphilic elastomer based on polystyrene-block-polyisoprene-block-polystyrene via thiol-ene addition

A new type of amphiphilic antibacterial elastomer has been described. Thermoplastic elastomer, polystyrene-block-polyisoprene-block-polystyrene (PS-b-PI-b-PS) triblock copolymer was functionalized in toluene solution by free radical mercaptan addition in order to obtain an amphiphilic antibacterial elastomer. Thiol terminated PEG was grafted through the double bonds of PS-b-PI-b-PS via free radical thiol-ene coupling reaction. The antibacterial properties of the amphiphilic graft copolymers were observed. The original and the modified polymers were used to create microfibers in an electro-spinning process. Topology of the electrospun micro/nanofibers were studied by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The chemical structures of the amphiphilic comb type graft copolymers were elucidated by the combination of elemental analysis, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, GPC and FTIR. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All Rights Reserved.Bülent Ecevit Üniversitesi Fundamental Research Fund of Shandong University: 2012-10-03-13, 2010-13-02-08The authors thank to Dr. Kevin Cavicchi for the valuable discussion. This work was supported by both TÜBİTAK (Grant# 211T016 ) and Bülent Ecevit University Research Fund (Grant# 2010-13-02-08 and partially # 2012-10-03-13 ). Appendix

PMMA-multigraft copolymers derived from linseed oil, soybean oil, and linoleic acid: Protein adsorption and bacterial adherence

Synthesis of Poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA-multigraft copolymers derived from linseed oil, soybean oil, and linoleic acid PMMA-g-polymeric oil/oily acid-g-poly(3-hydroxy alkanoate) (PHA), and their protein adsorption and bacterial adherence have been described. Polymeric oil/oily acid peroxides [polymeric soybean oil peroxide (PSB), polymeric linseed oil peroxide (PLO), and polymeric linoleic acid peroxide (PLina)] initiated the copolymerization of MMA and unsaturated PHA-soya to yield PMMA-PLO-PHA, PMMA-PSB-PHA, and PMMA-PLina-PHA multigraft copolymers. PMMA-PLina-PHA multigraft copolymers were completely soluble while PMMA-PSB-PHA and PMMA-PLO-PHA multigraft copolymers were partially crosslinked. Crosslinked parts of the PLO- and PSB-multigraft copolymers were isolated by the sol gel analysis and characterized by swelling measurements in CHCl3. Soluble part of the PLO- and PSB-multigraft copolymers and completely soluble PLina-multigraft copolymers were obtained and characterized by spectroscopic, thermal, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. In the mechanical properties of the PHA-PLina-PMMA, the elongation at break is reduced up to ~ 9%, more or less preserving the high stress values at its break point (48%) when compared to PLina-g-PMMA. The solvent casting film surfaces were studied by means of adsorption of blood proteins and bacterial adhesion. Insertion of the PHA into the multigraft copolymers caused the dramatic increase in bacterial adhesion on the polymer surfaces. PHA insertion into the graft copolymers also increased the protein adsorption. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals. Inc

Synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activity of metal nanoparticles embedded into amphiphilic comb-type graft copolymers

The synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, and antimicrobial efficiency of gold and silver nanoparticles embedded in novel amphiphilic comb-type graft copolymers having good film-forming properties have been described. Amphiphilic comb-type graft copolymers were synthesized by the reaction of chlorinated polypropylene (PP) (Mw = 140,000 Da) with polyethylene glycol (PEG) (Mn = 2,000 Da) at different molar ratios. Metal nanoparticles embedded graft copolymers were prepared by reducing solutions of the salts of silver or gold and the copolymer in tetrahydrofuran. The optical properties of the metal nanoparticle embedded copolymers were determined by using UV-visible spectroscopy. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of the gold and silver nanoparticle embedded copolymers in toluene was observed at a maximum wavelength (?max) of 428 and 551 nm in the UV-VIS absorption spectra, respectively. The average particle diameters of the gold and silver nanoparticles were found to be 50 nm from the high resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Amphiphilic polymer films containing silver and gold nanoparticles were found to be highly antimicrobial by virtue of their antiseptic properties to Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. © Springer-Verlag 2009