Conferring Antibacterial Properties on Sesbania Gum via Microwave-Assisted Graft Copolymerization of DADMAC

Abstract

Abstract: Microbial contamination, the consequences of both anthropogenic and geogenic activity, includes high health and environmental threats and may adversely affects the ecological niche. The present work is a successful attempt towards the fabrication of anti-bacterial agent by incorporation of cationic monomer, diallyldimethylammonium chloride (DADMAC) on sesbania gum through microwave assisted method. The grafted chains of poly (DADMAC) provide positive charge to sesbania gum which in turn confers antibacterial activity. The synthesized product was characterized through FTIR, SEM, TGA, DSC elemental and viscometric analysis. The inhibitory activity of the synthesized product has been evaluated in vitro against both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus NCIM 2122 and Bacillus anthracis) as well as Gram-negative (Salmonella typhi NCIM 2501 and Escherichia coli NCIM 2832) bacteria through standard agar cup method. Optimum minimum inhibitory concentration for each grade of graft copolymer measured by calculating the zone of inhibition has been found at 750 µg/ml.