Engineering of new methylstyrene farmin vinylic monomer and crosslinked poly(methylstyrene farmin) nanoparticles of narrow size distribution for antibacterial and antibiofilm applications

Abstract

The vinylic monomer methylstyrene farmin (MSF) was synthesized by interacting p-chloromethyl styrene with farmin in basic distilled water. Crosslinked poly(methyl styrene farmin) nanoparticles (PMSF NPs) were then synthesized by dispersion co-polymerization of the MSF monomer with the crosslinking monomer tetra(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (TTEGDA) in an aqueous continuous phase. The effect of various polymerization parameters on the size and size distribution of the formed NPs has been elucidated. These PMSF NPs contain quaternary ammonium groups and long alkyl chain groups, and therefore are expected to possess efficient antibacterial and antibiofilm properties. The antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of PMSF NPs of 40 ± 9 nm and NPs-coated films were demonstrated. Due to their promising antibacterial and antibiofilm properties, these newly NPs could be utilized in a variety of industrial applications as a new type of biocide and antibiofilm additive.