Antimicrobial properties of modified and electrospun poly(vinyl phenol)

Abstract

Antimicrobial polymeric systems were prepared from poly(vinyl phenol) (PVP). Four systems were prepared, two of these based on the modification of the poly(vinyl phenol) by sulfonation with fuming sulfuric acid (SPVP 100k) or by formation of lithium salt of the sulfonated poly(vinyl phenol) brought about by its reaction with lithium hydroxide (LiSPVP 100k). The other two systems were prepared by the electrospinning of poly(vinyl phenol) with molecular weight 20 × 10 3 (PVP 20k spun) and 100 × 10 3 (PVP 100k spun). The antimicrobial activity of the polymers was examined against different test microorganisms. The plug-cutting technique revealed the potency of SPVP 100k and LiSPVP 100k as antimicrobial agents. SPVP 100k was inhibitory to the growth of gram-negative bacteria (E. coli and Salmonella choleraesius) and gram-positive bacteria (B. subtilis and S. aureus). On the other hand, LiSPVP 100k had antifungal activity against A. niger, T. rubrum and C. albicans. Generally, it was found that polymer morphology and molecular weight affect the activities against test microorganisms. For example, PVP 20k and PVP 100k in their powder form showed no antimicrobial activity. However the results showed that PVP 20k spun has antibacterial activity against B. subtilis, and there is no growth of the tested microorganisms on the electrospun fibers of PVP 100k spun, revealing its property of being a self-sterilizing material (SSM).