Antibacterial bio-based epoxy polymers
The Structure-activity relationship of antibacterial bio-based epoxy polymers made from phenolic branched fatty acids has recently been studied.
In order to study the structure-activity relationship of antibacterial bio-based epoxy polymers made from phenolic branched fatty acids (phenolic BCFAs), a series of curing agents (i.e., phenolic BCFA-amides (phenolic BCFAAs)) were prepared from phenolic BCFAs and polyamines at 90 ℃ and 160 ℃. Those phenolic BCFAs were made from phenol, thymol, carvacrol, and creosote, respectively, while the polyamines were ethylenediamine (EDA), diethylenetriamine (DETA), triethylenetetramine (TETA), tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) and hexamethylenediamine (HDA). The prepared curing agents were then used to make different antimicrobial bio-epoxy polymers with a commercial epoxy resin, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA).
Polymer inherently antibacterial
Two bio-epoxy polymers, phenol-BCFA (EDA) and creosote BCFA (EDA), were found to be most active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The leaching experiments on the phenol-BCFA (EDA) showed no signs of small molecules (i.e., biocides) leaking out of the polymer to inactivate the bacteria. Most importantly, the reusability study indicated that the polymer was inherently antibacterial and maintained its efficacy for at least three uses.
The study has been published in Progress in Organic Coatings, Volume 155, June 2021.
