(196v) Antimicrobial Polymers: Present State of the Art

Antimicrobial Polymers: Present State of the Art.

ABSTRACT

Antimicrobial
polymers represent a very assuring class of therapeutics with unique
characteristics for treating microbial infections.^[1] These polymers
usually exhibit long-term activity and limited residual toxicity, are
chemically stable, non-volatile and do not permeate through the skin.^[2] Antimicrobial
polymers were discovered in 1965 and since then, have attracted considerable
attention in academic as well as industrial research.

Antimicrobial
polymers are classified as bound or leaching antimicrobials depending on the
polymer material. These are divided into three types: polymeric biocides,
biocidal polymers, and biocide-releasing polymers.^[3] These
antimicrobial polymers find major applications in the medical, food packaging,
and textile industries.

This
work is an attempt to portray the present state of the art and the developments
in the domain of antimicrobial polymers. Antimicrobial mechanisms exhibiting passive
and active action and substrate material types containing bound and leaching
antimicrobials are discussed. This work also deals with canvassing the
applications of these antimicrobial polymers in the medical, food, and textile
industries.

References

[1]
Santos, M. R. E.; Fonseca, A. C.; Mendonça, P. V.; Branco, R.; Serra, A. C.; Morais,
P. V. and Coelho, J. F. J. Recent Developments in Antimicrobial Polymers: A
Review. Materials, 2016; 9, pp. 599-631.

[2]
Xue, Y.; Xiao, H. and Zhang, Y. Antimicrobial polymeric materials with
quaternary ammonium and phosphonium salts. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 2015; 16, pp.
3626–3655.

[3]
Siedenbiedel, F. and Tiller, J.C. Antimicrobial polymers in solution and on
surfaces: Overview and functional principles. Polymers, 2012; 4, pp. 46–71.