Abstract
Epoxy-activated cellulose (CGE) was reacted with hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI, Mw of 6.0 × 104) to give two aminated celluloses (HMDA- and PEI-celluloses) which were further utilized to prepare antimicrobial cellulose derivatives. Ampicillin (AMP) was immobilized on HMDA-cellulose with glutaraldehyde, and heavy metalions such as Ag (I), Hg (II), Cu (II), Cd (II) and Zn (II) were adsorbed on PEI-cellulose, and their antimicrobial activity were analyzed. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of AMP immobilized on cellulose was 68 μmol/L for Escherichia coli HB101 (E. coli) and less than 4 μmol/L for Bacillus subtilis Marburg 168 (B. subtilis) on the broth dilution method. On the other hand, PEI-cellulose bearing Ag (I), Hg (II), Cu (II) or Zn (II) ion showed higher antimicrobial activity for E. coli than that for B. subtilis. These effects were considered to be due to the liberation of antimicrobial agents from cellulose derivatives.
