Hydrophilized bactericidal polymers

Abstract

A bactericidal polymeric composition includes a hydrophilic first comonomer copolymerized to a second comonomer to produce a polymeric composition that is more hydrophilic or more bactericidal in an aqueous solution than either of the comonomers alone. Methods for identifying bactericidal polymers, methods for rendering materials bactericidal, and methods for using bactericidal compositions to kill or reduce bacterial growth are also described. Applications for the inventive compositions include their use in catheters, stents, medical devices, contact lenses; root canal fillers; and/or wound dressings.

1 . A polymeric composition comprising: 
 a hydrophilic first comonomer polymerized to a second comonomer to form a polymeric composition, where the polymeric composition is more hydrophilic than either of the first comonomer or the second comonomer alone and/or where the polymeric composition is more bactericidal than either of the first comonomer or the second comonomer alone.    
   
   
       2 . The composition of  claim 1 , where the hydrophilic first comonomer comprises hydroxyethylmethacrylate.  
   
   
       3 . The composition of  claim 1 , where the hydrophilic first copolymer comprises poly(ethyleneglycol) methacrylate.  
   
   
       4 . The composition of  claim 1 , where the second comonomer comprises polycationic species, polycationic derivatives or combinations therefrom.  
   
   
       5 . The composition of  claim 1 , where the second comonomer comprises a plurality of quaternary ammonium groups.  
   
   
       6 . The composition of  claim 1 , where the second comonomer comprises quaternized poly(4-vinylpyridine).  
   
   
       7 . A method for killing bacteria or rendering a medium bactericidal comprising: 
 providing a polymeric composition comprising a hydrophilic first comonomer polymerized to a second comonomer, where the polymeric composition is more hydrophilic than either of the first comonomer or the second comonomer alone and/or where the polymeric composition is more bactericidal than either of the first comonomer or the second comonomer alone;    applying the polymeric composition to a medium to form a treated medium, where the polymeric composition is applied in an amount sufficient to kill at least one bacterium or significantly reduce bacterial growth in or on the treated medium compared to an untreated medium.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , where the polymeric composition is applied as a coating to at least one surface of the medium.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , where the treated medium is in contact with an aqueous environment.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , where the treated medium is in contact with air.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , where the treated medium is included in or coated onto a catheter, stent, implantable medical device, contact lens, root canal filler, or wound dressing.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of contacting the treated medium with bacteria, where the treated medium comprises the polymeric composition in an amount sufficient to kill at least one bacterium or significantly reduce bacterial growth in or on the treated medium compared to an untreated medium.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , where the treated medium is formulated to kill or significantly reduce the growth of Gram-positive bacteria.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , where the treated medium is suitably formulated to kill or significantly reduce the growth of Gram-negative bacteria.  
   
   
       15 . A method of identifying a polymeric composition suitable for use in a bactericidal composition comprising: 
 a) providing a first comonomer, where the first comonomer is soluble in an aqueous solution;    b) providing a second comonomer, where the second comonomer is bactericidal or capable of being rendered bactericidal;    c) polymerizing the first comonomer in step (a) to the second comonomer in step (b) to form a polymeric composition;    d) treating or applying the polymeric composition in step (c) to a medium to form a first treated medium;    e) separately applying a comonomer from step (a) or step (b) to the medium of step (d) to form a second treated medium;    f) separately contacting the first treated medium and the second treated medium with a plurality of bacteria; and    g) determining whether the first treated medium is more bactericidal than the second treated medium, where the polymeric composition is suitable for use in a bactericidal composition if the first treated medium is more bactericidal than the second treated medium.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , where each comonomer from step (a) and step (b) is separately applied to the medium of step (d) to form a second treated medium and a third treated medium, respectively, where the polymeric composition is suitable for use in a bactericidal composition if the first treated medium is more bactericidal than each of the second and third treated mediums.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , where the molecular weight(s) of one or more more monomers in the first comonomer in the first polymeric composition of the first treated medium is modified compared to the corresponding molecular weight(s) of one or more monomers in a second polymeric composition of a fourth medium, such that the fourth treated medium is more bactericidal than the first treated medium.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , where a molar ratio(s) of one or one or more monomers in the first comonomer in the first polymeric composition in a first treated medium is modified compared to the corresponding molar ratio(s) of one or more monomers in a second polymeric composition of a fourth medium, such that the fourth treated medium is more bactericidal than the first treated medium.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , where the second comonomer is quaternized after the second comonomer is polymerized to the first comonomer.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , where step (g) comprises a luminescence assay, optical density determination or microscopic determination.