RT Journal Article
T1 Antibacterial Polymers Based on Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and Thiazolium Groups with Hydrolytically Labile Linkages Leading to Inactive and Low Cytotoxic Compounds
A1 Cuervo Rodríguez, María Rocío
A1 López-Fabal, Fátima
A1 Muñoz-Bonilla, Alexandra
A1 Fernández-García, Marta
AB Herein, we develop a well-defined antibacterial polymer based on poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and a derivative of vitamin B1, easily degradable into inactive and biocompatible compounds. Hence, thiazole moiety was attached to HEMA monomer through a carbonate pH-sensitive linkage and the resulting monomer was polymerized via reversible additionfragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. N-alkylation reaction of the thiazole groups leads to cationic polymer with thiazolium groups. This polymer exhibits excellent antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with an MIC value of 78 µg mL−1 , whereas its degradation product, thiazolium small molecule, was found to be inactive. Hemotoxicity studies confirm the negligible cytotoxicity of the degradation product in comparison with the original antibacterial polymer. The degradation of the polymer at physiological pH was found to be progressive and slow, thus the cationic polymer is expected to maintain its antibacterial characteristics at physiological conditions for a relative long period of time before its degradation. This degradation minimizes antimicrobial pollution in the environment and side effects in the body after eradicating bacterial infection.
PB MDPI AG
SN 1996-1944
YR 2021
FD 2021
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/7458
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/7458
LA eng
NO R. Cuervo-Rodríguez, F. López-Fabal, A. Muñoz-Bonilla, M. Fernández-García. Antibacterial polymers based on poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) and thiazolium groups with hydrolytically labile linkages leading to inactive and low cytotoxic compounds. Materials. 2021 Dec 6; 14 (23): 7477-88
NO Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España) 
NO Agencia Estatal de Investigación (España)
NO Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional
DS Docta Complutense
RD 26 dic 2025