Fluorinated Quaternary Chitosan Derivatives: Synthesis, Characterization, Antibacterial Activity, and Killing Kinetics
Zamani E. D. Cele, Anou M. Somboro, Daniel G. Amoako, Lindokuhle F. Ndlandla, Mohammed O. Balogun
Abstract
-(2-hydroxypropyl)-3-trimethylammonium chitosan chloride polymers were characterized and investigated for their antibacterial efficacies against multidrug-resistant bacteria including clinical isolates. The polymers showed activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (MIC = 64-512 μg/mL) but with greater potency against the former. They displayed rapid bactericidal properties, based on the MBC/MIC ratio, which were further confirmed by the time-kill kinetic assays. Given the properties presented here, fluorinated quaternary chitosan derivatives can serve as great candidates to be investigated as environmentally more benign, nontherapeutic antimicrobial agents that could serve as alternatives to the heavy reliance on antibiotics, which are currently in a very precarious state due to increasing occurrence of drug resistance.