Glucan derivatives for microbial control

Abstract

Compositions are disclosed herein comprising an ether derivative of an alpha-glucan, wherein (i) at least about 40% of the glycosidic linkages of the alpha-glucan are alpha-1,6 linkages, (ii) the alpha-glucan has a weight-average molecular weight of about 10 kDa to about 2000 kDa, and (iii) the alpha-glucan has a degree of substitution of about 0.001 to about 1.0 with at least one positively charged organic group that is ether-linked to the alpha-glucan, and the positively charged organic group comprises a C4 to C20 alkyl group or C4 to C20 alkylene group. The alpha-glucan ether derivative has antimicrobial activity. Methods are further disclosed for preparing compositions comprising an alpha-glucan ether derivative, as well as various applications of using these compositions in controlling microbes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.