Star polymers with enhanced antimicrobial activity in response to light
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsWilly Chin, James L. Hedrick, Noah Frederick Fine Nathel, Victoria A. Piunova, Zhi Xiang Voo, Yi Yan Yang
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Abstract
Techniques regarding star polymers with enhanced antimicrobial functionality are provided. For example, a polymer is provided that can comprise a core that can have a singlet oxygen generator and that can generate a singlet oxygen species upon irradiation with light. The polymer can also comprise a plurality of polycarbonate arms covalently bonded to the core. The plurality of polycarbonate arms can be degradable and can comprise a cation. Further, the plurality of polycarbonate arms can have antimicrobial functionality.
Claims25
A polymer, comprising:
- a singlet oxygen generator core that generates a singlet oxygen species upon irradiation with light;
- and
- a plurality of polycarbonate arms covalently bonded to the singlet oxygen generator core, the plurality of polycarbonate arms being degradable and comprising a cation, wherein the plurality of polycarbonate arms have antimicrobial functionality.
A method, comprising:
- forming a plurality of degradable polycarbonate arms by polymerizing a plurality of carbonates with a singlet oxygen generator core, wherein the singlet oxygen generator core generates a singlet oxygen species in response to being irradiated with light;
- and
- generating a cationic moiety by covalently bonding a functional group with a degradable polycarbonate arm from the plurality of degradable polycarbonate arms.
A film-forming composition, comprising:
- a solvent;
- and
- a polymer comprising greater than or equal to 5 weight percent of the film-forming composition and less than or equal to 20 weight percent of the film-forming composition, the polymer dispersed in the solvent, and the polymer comprising:
- a singlet oxygen generator core that generates a singlet oxygen species upon irradiation with light;
- and
- a plurality of polycarbonate arms covalently bonded to the singlet oxygen generator core, the plurality of polycarbonate arms being degradable and comprising a cation, wherein the plurality of polycarbonate arms have antimicrobial functionality.
A method of forming a surface treated article, comprising:
- disposing (on a surface of an article a film-forming composition, the film-forming composition comprising:
- a solvent;
- and
- a polymer comprising greater than or equal to 5 weight percent of the film-forming composition and less than or equal to 20 weight percent of the film-forming composition, the polymer dispersed in the solvent, and the polymer comprising:
- a singlet oxygen generator core that generates a singlet oxygen species upon irradiation with light;
- and
- a plurality of polycarbonate arms covalently bonded to the singlet oxygen generator core, the plurality of polycarbonate arms being degradable and comprising a cation, wherein the plurality of polycarbonate arms have antimicrobial functionality;
- and
- removing the solvent from the surface of the article.
A method of killing a pathogen, comprising:
- contacting the pathogen with a polymer, the polymer comprising:
- a singlet oxygen generator core that generates a singlet oxygen species upon irradiation with light;
- and
- a plurality of polycarbonate arms covalently bonded to the singlet oxygen generator core, the plurality of polycarbonate arms being degradable and comprising a cation, wherein the plurality of polycarbonate arms have antimicrobial functionality, and wherein the contacting of the pathogen with the polymer electrostatically disrupts a membrane of the pathogen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.