Synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial activities of quaternary chitosan-based materials

Abstract

The emergence of new pathogenic strains together with continuous rise of antimicrobial resistance and the death of new antibiotics in the clinical pipeline raise an urgent call for the development of potent antimicrobial agents. There has been growing interest in the use of new agents, such as antimicrobial polymers, as alternatives for therapy and disinfection. Cationic chitosan derivatives, N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-3-trimethylammonium chitosan chlorides (HTCC), have been widely studied as potent antibacterial agents. However, their systemic structure-activity relationship (SAR), activity toward drug resistant bacteria and fungi, and mode of action are very rare. Herein, we investigated antibacterial efficacies of the HTCC polymer derivatives against multidrug resistant bacteria, including clinical isolates. The polymers were found to be active against a variety of bacterial pathogens (MIC = 32-128 μg/mL). Interestingly, these polymeric materials were active against Streptococcus Gram-positive bacteria, which are a predominant cause of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs).