A simultaneous grafting/vinyl polymerization process generates a polycationic surface for enhanced antibacterial activity of bacterial cellulose

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules 2020-01, Vol.143, p.224-234
• Main Authors: Liu, Haiyan, Hu, Yang, Zhu, Yongjun, Wu, Xiuping, Zhou, Xin, Pan, Haobo, Chen, Shu, Tian, Pengfei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibacterial activity; Bacterial cellulose; Polycationic; Quaternary ammonium salt with vinyl groups
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.12.052

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a biosynthesized carbohydrate polymer with excellent biocompatibility and water holding capability. However, it lacks an inherent antibacterial activity that has limited its in-depth biomedical applications. This study investigated a novel strategy of adopting a simultaneous process to chemically anchor a quaternary ammonium salt (R-N(CH3)+) with a special vinyl group (2-methacryloyloxyethyl trimethylammonium chloride, METAC) onto the BC, and meanwhile, enhance the density of (R-N(CH3)+) via free radical vinyl polymerization. The results have confirmed the transition of BC surface from a negatively-charged surface to a polycationic surface via such a simultaneous reaction. As compared to chitin film (a representative of R-NH3+), the resulting METAC-grafted BC (a representative of high-density R- N(CH3)+) acquired excellent water absorbability (40 times of dry weight of the BC), 99% antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, a satisfactory in-vitro biocompatibility, and a better in-vivo wound healing outcome with an excellent in-vivo antibacterial efficacy. This study has exhibited potential in utilizing a facile method to prepare a bio-safe, adaptive antibacterial surface for various biomedical applications. [Display omitted] •MEATC with a specific vinyl group was chemically anchored on BC.•The density of R-N(CH3)+ was enhanced by free radical vinyl polymerization of METAC.•BC was switched from a negatively-charged surface to a polycationic surface.•The METAC-grafted BC exhibited an enhanced in-vitro antibacterial activity.•The METAC-grafted BC exhibited an excellent in-vivo antibacterial efficacy.