Synthesis and Characterization of New Methylstyrene Farmin Vinylic Monomer and Crosslinked Poly(methylstyrene farmin) Nanoparticles of Narrow Size Distribution for Antibacterial & Antibiofilm Applications

The present study describes the engineering of func­tional antibacterial nanoparticles and their utiliza­tion for antibiofouling applications. For this purpose, the vinylic monomer methylstyrene farmin (MSF) synthesized by interacting p-chloromethyl styrene with farmin. The MSF monomer contains quaternary ammonium and long alkyl chain groups, and therefore is expected to possess efficient antibacterial and antibi­ofilm properties. It is estimated that the use of polymers en­hances the efficacy of some existing antibacterial agents and the incorporation of the monomers into polymeric particles significantly reduces their toxic­ity. Crosslinked poly(methyl styrene farmin) nanoparticles (PMSF NPs) were synthesized by dispersion co-polymerization of the MSF monomer with the crosslinking monomer tetra(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (TTEGDA) in an aqueous continuous phase. The effect of various polymerization parameters on the diameter and size distribution of the formed NPs was been studied. The antibacterial activity of the PMSF NPs of 40 ± 9 nm was illustrated for two types of Gram-negative and two types of Gram-positive bacteria pathogens; Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aerugi­nosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria innocua, respec­tively. Polyethylene terephthalate films coated with a thin layer of the PMSF NPs demonstrated a reduction in the viability of Listeria biofilm, therefore making them an excellent candidate for non-fouling surfaces. These new NPs, due to their promising antibacterial and antibiofilm properties, have a potential to be used in a variety of industrial applications, as a new type of antibacterial agent and anti­biofilm additive.