Synthesis of new photobactericidal polymers by "click chemistry" and a study of their biological activity

Abstract

Photobactericidal plastic materials have been synthesized from cellulose and natural or synthetic porphyrins. The photosensitizer was covalently linked to a cellulose fatty ester by means of a Huisgen cyclo addition reaction resulting in high yields and degrees of substitution (DS). The polymers obtained were characterized by UV vis., IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Photobactericidal properties were evaluated on the three pathogenic strains E. coli, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. A total killing of the bacteria was achieved with plastics with DS values higher than 1% upon illumination.