Hyperbranched Polymers Modified with Dansyl Units and Their Cu(II) Complexes. Bioactivity Studies.

Paula Bosch,Desislava Staneva,Ivo Grabchev,Ivanka Nikolova,Radostina Stoyanova,Evgenia Vasileva-Tonkova,Petar Grozdanov,Rositsa Kukeva

doi:10.3390/ma13204574

Abstract

Two new copper complexes of hyperbranched polymers modified with dansyl units were synthesized and characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques. It was found that copper ions coordinate predominantly with nitrogen or oxygen atoms of the polymer molecule. The place of the formation of complexes and the number of copper ions involved depend on the chemical structure of the polymer. The antimicrobial activity of the new polymers and their Cu(II) complexes was tested against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial and fungal strains. Copper complexes were found to have activity better than that of the corresponding ligands. The deposition of the modified branched polymers onto cotton fabrics prevents the formation of bacterial biofilms, which indicates that the studied polymers can find application in antibacterial textiles.

Highlights

In recent years, antimicrobial resistance has become an alarming threat to public health
The chemical structures of two hyperbranched polymers and their copper complexes were The chemical structures of two hyperbranched polymers and their copper complexes were identified and proven by infrared spectroscopy (IR) and fluorescence spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)
It was found that copper ions identified and proven by IR and fluorescence spectroscopy and EPR

Summary

Introduction

Antimicrobial resistance has become an alarming threat to public health. Different pathogens have already become resistant to clinically used antibiotics [1,2,3]. A large number of viruses, fungal and protozoan pathogens are becoming progressively resistant to the drug therapies used currently. This, in turn, greatly reduces the choice of alternative treatment. In many cases, this is impossible; the search for new effective compounds against pathogens causing common infections has been crucial. The need to use effective antibacterial and antifungal materials in everyday life, such as in hospital and community settings and on public transport, among others, is constantly increasing [4]

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