Inverse vulcanization is a bulk polymerization method for synthesizing high sulfur content polymers from elemental sulfur, a byproduct of the petrochemical industry, with vinylic comonomers. There is growing interest in polysulfides as novel antimicrobial agents due to the antimicrobial activity of natural polysulfides found in garlic and onions (Tsao et al. J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 2001, 47, 665−670). Herein, we report the antibacterial properties of several inverse vulcanized polymers against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa, two common causes of nosocomial infection and pathogens identified by the World Health Organization as priorities for antimicrobial development. High sulfur content polymers were synthesized with different divinyl comonomers and at different sulfur/comonomer ratios, to determine the effect of such variables on the antibacterial properties of the resulting materials. Furthermore, polymers were tested for their potential as antibacterial materials at different temperatures. It was found that the test temperature influenced the antibacterial efficacy of the polymers and could be related to the glass transition temperature of the polymer. These findings provide further understanding of the antibacterial properties of inverse vulcanized polymers and show that such polymers have the potential to be used as antibacterial surfaces. Article pubs.acs.org/Biomac
Inverse vulcanised sulfur polymer nanoparticles prepared by antisolvent precipitation–demonstrated as mercury ion absorbent in solution, showing high selectivity and capacity, and as membrane filters.
Elemental sulfur (S8), a by-product of the petroleum refining industries, possesses many favourable properties including photocatalytic activity and antibacterial activity, in addition to being intrinsically hydrophobic. Despite this, there is...
High sulfur content
polymers prepared by inverse vulcanization
have many reported potential applications, including as novel antimicrobial
materials. High sulfur content polymers usually have limited water-solubility
and dispersibility due to their hydrophobic nature, which could limit
the development of their applications. Herein, we report the formulation
of high sulfur content polymeric nanoparticles by a nanoprecipitation
and emulsion-based method. High sulfur content polymeric nanoparticles
were found to have an inhibitory effect against important bacterial
pathogens, including Gram-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Salt-stable particles were
formulated with the addition of a surfactant, which did not inhibit
the antibacterial activity of the polymeric particles. Furthermore,
the polymeric nanoparticles were found to inhibit S.
aureus biofilm formation and exhibited low cytotoxicity
against mammalian liver cells. Interaction of the polymeric particles
with cellular thiols could be a potential mechanism of action against
bacterial cells, as demonstrated by reaction with cysteine as a model
thiol. The findings presented demonstrate methods of preparing aqueous
dispersions of high sulfur content polymeric nanoparticles that could
have useful biological applications.
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