Antimicrobial Mechanism

In general, the quaternary ammonium functionalized polymers perform their antimicrobial activity by interacting with negatively charged bacterial surface followed by change the permeability of the bacterial cell wall, so that enzymes, coenzymes and metabolic intermediates of bacteria overflow, causing the microorganisms to stop breathing and die, so as to achieve bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects. Quaternary ammonium salt fungicides are resistant to high temperature, washable, long-lasting effect, and have a wide range of bacteriostasis, which can effectively inhibit gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, yeast and fungi.^[1]

Antimicrobial Properties

Ifra et al. investigated the antimicrobial activity of quaternary ammonium functionalized polymers.^[1] Here, take the bacillus licheniformis for example and results are represented in Figure 2. In the microdilution method, the antimicrobial activity of cetyldimethylamino functionalized polyvinyl alcohol (PVBCQA), 90% quaternized vinyl benzyl chloride (90VSQA), 75% quaternized vinyl benzyl chloride (75VSQA), and 50% quaternized vinyl benzyl chloride (50VSQA) was positively correlated with concentration. As the concentration of quaternary ammonium functionalized polymers increases, the bacterial growth activity decreases indicating their activity toward bacterial growth suppression.