CHED 787 |
| As infection from drug-resistant microbes becomes more common, the interest in developing antimicrobial coatings for surfaces has increased. This study investigated the antimicrobial activity of a cationic polymer, N-dodecyl-N-methyl-polyethylenimine (PEI). A paint-like method for coating surfaces with polymer, followed by spraying bacteria onto the prepared surfaces, was used to evaluate antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial effectiveness of this material against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria was examined. PEI exhibited 100% killing of gram-negative A. baumannii and gram-positive S. aureus in overnight experiments. A time course revealed that 99% of A. baumannii are killed within 5 minutes of contact with the coated surface, but S. aureus only exhibited approximately 55% death after 30 minutes, instead requiring 2 hours to reach 99% death. However, the antimicrobial effect did not persist after a second application of bacteria. |
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Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Polymer Chemistry
11:00 AM-1:00 PM, Monday, March 26, 2007 Hyatt Regency Chicago -- Riverside Center, Poster
Division of Chemical Education |