Enhancement of Antimicrobial Response against Human Pathogens by a Novel Cationic Starch Derivative
Ahmed Salama, Ahmed K. Saleh
Abstract
Abstract New cationic derivatives of starch are attractive targets for biomedical applications due to their propensity for electrostatically binding with anionic biomolecules, such as nucleic acids and certain proteins. In the first step, 1‐Butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride [BMIM]Cl is used as a solvent to prepare tosyl starch from starch and tosyl chloride. The reaction between 1‐methylimidazole and tosyl starch produced cationic starch salt. Starch derivatives are characterized using elemental analysis, FT‐IR spectroscopy, 13 C NMR, 1 H NMR, and SEM analysis. The cationic starch derivative has an antimicrobial effect on all organisms tested and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) recorded different values depending on what species is tested. The prepared cationic starch bearing substantial permanent positive charge exhibited high water solubility and can bind strongly with anionic surface, supporting their potential for a variety of applications such as antimicrobial surfaces. The cationic starch derivatives may be promising candidates for biomedical applications.