Abstract
Terpolymers were synthesized by graft copolymerization of acrylamide (AAm) and tri-n-alkyl-4-vinyl benzyl phosphonium chloride (TRVB) on poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and following crosslinking with glutaraldehyde (GA). Four vinyl phosphonium monomers having various alkyl groups, such as tri-n-ethyl- (TEVB), tri-n-butyl- (TBVB), tri-n-hexyl- (THVB), and tri-n-octyl-(TOVB), were used as TRVB. Swelling behavior and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S aureus) of the terpolymers were examined.
Swelling ratio increased with increasing content of TRVB, and decreased with increasing alkyl chain length of TRVB in the terpolymers, as well as increasing concentration of GA during crosslinking. The antibacterial activity of the terpolymers increased with increasing content and alkyl chain length of TRVB in the terpolymers. These results imply that the antibacterial activity is depended on the electrostatic interaction and hydrophobic interaction between the terpolymers and bacteria.
