Antimicrobial Polymers: Present State of the Art

Antimicrobial Polymers: Present State of the Art.

 

ABSTRACT

Antimicrobial polymers represent a very assuring class of therapeutics with unique characteristics for treating microbial infections.^[1] These polymers usually exhibit long-term activity and limited residual toxicity, are chemically stable, non-volatile and do not permeate through the skin.^[2] Antimicrobial polymers were discovered in 1965 and since then, have attracted considerable attention in academic as well as industrial research.

Antimicrobial polymers are classified as bound or leaching antimicrobials depending on the polymer material. These are divided into three types: polymeric biocides, biocidal polymers, and biocide-releasing polymers.^[3] These antimicrobial polymers find major applications in the medical, food packaging, and textile industries.

This work is an attempt to portray the present state of the art and the developments in the domain of antimicrobial polymers. Antimicrobial mechanisms exhibiting passive and active action and substrate material types containing bound and leaching antimicrobials are discussed. This work also deals with canvassing the applications of these antimicrobial polymers in the medical, food, and textile industries.

References

[1] Santos, M. R. E.; Fonseca, A. C.; Mendonça, P. V.; Branco, R.; Serra, A. C.; Morais, P. V. and Coelho, J. F. J. Recent Developments in Antimicrobial Polymers: A Review. Materials, 2016; 9, pp. 599-631.

[2] Xue, Y.; Xiao, H. and Zhang, Y. Antimicrobial polymeric materials with quaternary ammonium and phosphonium salts. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 2015; 16, pp. 3626–3655.

[3] Siedenbiedel, F. and Tiller, J.C. Antimicrobial polymers in solution and on surfaces: Overview and functional principles. Polymers, 2012; 4, pp. 46–71.