Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Polycarbonate Hydrogels with Fast Degradability

• Published in: Biomacromolecules 2015-04, Vol.16 (4), p.1169-1178
• Main Authors: Pascual, Ana, Tan, Jeremy P. K, Yuen, Alex, Chan, Julian M. W, Coady, Daniel J, Mecerreyes, David, Hedrick, James L, Yang, Yi Yan, Sardon, Haritz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents - chemical synthesis; Anti-Infective Agents - chemistry; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Biodegradable Plastics - chemical synthesis; Biodegradable Plastics - chemistry; Biodegradable Plastics - pharmacology; Candida albicans - drug effects; Erythrocytes - drug effects; Escherichia coli - drug effects; HEK293 Cells; Humans; Hydrogels - chemical synthesis; Hydrogels - chemistry; Hydrogels - pharmacology; Polycarboxylate Cement - chemistry; Polyethylene Glycols - chemistry; Polymerization; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - drug effects; Rats; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects
• ISSN: 1525-7797; 1526-4602
• DOI: 10.1021/bm501836z

In this study, a new family of broad-spectrum antimicrobial polycarbonate hydrogels has been successfully synthesized and characterized. Tertiary amine-containing eight-membered monofunctional and difunctional cyclic carbonates were synthesized, and chemically cross-linked polycarbonate hydrogels were obtained by copolymerizing these monomers with a poly­(ethylene glycol)-based bifunctional initiator via organocatalyzed ring-opening polymerization using 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]­undec-7-ene catalyst. The gels were quaternized using methyl iodide to confer antimicrobial properties. Stable hydrogels were obtained only when the bifunctional monomer concentration was equal to or higher than 12 mol %. In vitro antimicrobial studies revealed that all quaternized hydrogels exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive), Escherichia coli (Gram-negative), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative), and Candida albicans (fungus), while the antimicrobial activity of the nonquaternized hydrogels was negligible. Moreover, the gels showed fast degradation at room temperature (4–6 days), which makes them ideal candidates for wound healing and implantable biomaterials.