Temperature responsive methacrylamide polymers with antibacterial activity

A new methacrylamide monomer,hexylamine methacrylamide(MAHA),was synthesized and used in polymerizations.The homopolymer of MAHA and its copolymers were synthesized by free radical polymerization techniques with N-isopropyl acrylamide CNIPAAm)in two different compositions.The quaternization of the homopolymer and copolymers were carried out using 1-bromopropane.The copolymers with NIPAAm and a low MAHA content showed temperature-responsive behavior in an aqueous environment.The lower critical solution temperatures(LCSTs)of these polymers varied between 32℃ and 44℃.The LCSTs of qnaternized copolymers were higher than those of neutral copolymers because they were more hydrophilic.The obtained homopolymers and copolymers were tested for antibacterial activities against S.aureus and E.coli.The quaternized water-soluble copolymers showed antibacterial activities against S.aureus.The qnaternization resulted in the synthesis of both antibacterial and temperature-responsive copolymers.