Issue 68, 2015

Preparation of polymersomes in pure water for facile antibacterial applications

Abstract

We report a facile strategy for preparing persistent and effective antibacterial polymersomes (polymer vesicles) based on triblock copolymers synthesized by sequential copolymerization of 2-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DEA) and 2-(tert-butylamino)ethyl methacrylate (TA) via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(2-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate)-block-poly[(2-tert-butylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PEO-b-PDEA-b-PTA) triblock copolymers can self-assemble into polymersomes in aqueous solution when directly dissolved in pure water without the aid of organic solvents. 1H NMR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) studies confirmed the well-defined copolymers. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies proved the formation of polymersomes. Antibacterial tests showed good antibacterial activities of polymersomes against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, those polymersomes may be facilely sprayed in hospitals which are susceptible to bacterial attack for long-term effective antibacterial applications.

Graphical abstract: Preparation of polymersomes in pure water for facile antibacterial applications

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
12 May 2015
Accepted
19 Jun 2015
First published
19 Jun 2015

RSC Adv., 2015,5, 55602-55607

Author version available

Preparation of polymersomes in pure water for facile antibacterial applications

T. Wang, J. Jiang, Y. Xiao, Y. Zou, J. Gao and J. Du, RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 55602 DOI: 10.1039/C5RA10511K

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