Hydrophilized antimicrobial polymers

Abstract

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

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising a copolymer formed from a hydrophilic first comonomer having an acrylate moiety and a second pyridinium-type comonomer containing a nitrogen atom and a vinyl moiety, wherein the first comonomer and the second comonomer are chemically bonded within the copolymer through the acrylate moiety of the first comonomer and the vinyl moiety of the second comonomer, wherein said nitrogen atom is quaternized with an alkyl moiety such that said copolymer is polycationic, and wherein the amounts of the first comonomer and the second comonomer provide said copolymer with
 a. improved bactericidal activity as compared to the first comonomer or a homopolymer formed from the first comonomer; and   b. improved bactericidal activity as compared to the second comonomer or a homopolymer formed from the second comonomer.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic first comonomer comprises hydroxyethylmethacrylate. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic first comonomer comprises at least one of poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic first comonomer comprises poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic first comonomer comprises poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the second comonomer comprises 4-vinylpyridine. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said nitrogen is quaternized with an alkyl moiety. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising a halide anion associated with a cation of the quaternized nitrogen of the polycationic copolymer. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8  wherein the anion comprises a bromide anion. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein the alkyl moiety comprises a hexyl moiety. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10  further comprising a halide anion associated with a cation of the quaternized nitrogen of the polycationic copolymer. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11  wherein the halide anion comprises a bromide anion. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic first comonomer comprises at least one selected from poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate, poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate, and hydroxyethylmethacrylate and the second comonomer comprises 4-vinylpyridine. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein the first comonomer comprises poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate having a molecular weight of at least about 300 Daltons. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 14  wherein the molecular weight of said poly(ethylene glycol) is less than about 2000 Daltons. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 14  wherein said copolymer contains at least about 1 mol percent of at least one selected from said poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate and said poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein the first comonomer comprises hydroxyethylmethacrylate. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein said nitrogen is quaternized with an alkyl moiety. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 13  further comprising a halide anion associated with a cation of the quaternized nitrogen of the polycationic copolymer. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 19  wherein the anion comprises a bromide anion. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 18  wherein the alkyl moiety comprises a hexyl moiety. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 21  further comprising a halide anion associated with a cation of the quaternized nitrogen of the polycationic copolymer. 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 22  wherein the halide anion comprises a bromide anion. 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 14  wherein the hydrophilic first comonomer comprises poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 24  wherein the alkyl moiety comprises a hexyl moiety. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 24  further comprising a bromide anion associated with a cation of the quaternized nitrogen of the polycationic copolymer. 
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 25  further comprising a bromide anion associated with a cation of the quaternized nitrogen of the polycationic copolymer. 
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the copolymer is a random copolymer. 
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the copolymer is a block copolymer.