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Bactericidal effect of cationic hydrogels prepared from hydrophilic polymers |
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| Authors: | Yuki Shibata Takayuki Kurokawa Tomoyasu Aizawa Jian Ping Gong |
| Affiliation: | 1. Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan;2. Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan;3. Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan Global Station for Soft Matter, Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan;4. Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan Global Station for Soft Matter, Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (WPI-ICReDD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan |
| Abstract: | This study investigated whether hydrogels comprising hydrophilic cationic polymers have similar bactericidal effects. Bacteria were seeded on hydrogels and agar and their viability was assessed with time. Cationic hydrogels displayed bactericidal effects upon long-term bacterial contact. Furthermore, we assessed the areal density of cationic monomer unit of the cationic hydrogels, water content, and the initial elastic modulus. We examined correlations between each factor and bacterial death ratios; consequently, the bacterial death ratios were strongly correlated with the areal density of cationic hydrogel monomers. Elastic energy (Wel) generated at the cytomembrane ion-binding region and the cationic hydrogel and the cytomembrane interfacial energy (Wf) were estimated; consequently, Wel exceeded Wf at higher contact areas. The cationic hydrogel may extract cytomembranes with a reasonable adsorption area. Therefore, cationic hydrogels may be used as probes for ultrasonic echo to sterilize medical equipment. |
| Keywords: | biomedical applications cross-linking hydrophilic polymers mechanical properties structure-property relationships |