Self-deactivating biocidal polymers

• Applicant: Dr. Christian Krumm
• Subject Area: Polymer Materials
• Term: from 2015 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 273585134

The use of antibiotics and biocides has reached a large scale, often these substances are used without any concern for the effects. The accumulation of the antimicrobial active compounds in the environment leads to unpredictable long term problems. The goal of this project is the development of a biocidal non-toxic polymer with a broad killing spectrum, which will be self-deactivated in a desired timeframe after its initial use when it gets in the environment. Biocidal polymers such as functional poly(2-methyloxazoline)s were found to be promising candidates to meet the corresponding requirements. They are biocompatible, non-toxic and first satisfactory results could be acquired from preliminary work, in which a special endgroup effect (satellite group effect) can be used to influence the biocidal activity of these polymers. Thus, in this project we will focus on the synthesis of novel biocidal homo- and copolymers based on 2-ethyl-, 2-npropyl and 2-isopropyl-2-oxazolines, with new functional biocidal and cleavable satellite endgroups in order to enhance the antimicrobial activity and to establish a portfolio of polymers with different deactivation times.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Jörg Tiller