The University of New Mexico

University of Florida Research Foundation Inc

Thomas S Corbitt

David G Whitten

Kirk S Schanze

Anand Parthasarathy

Eunkyung Ji

Motokatsu Ogawa

Dimitri Dascier

Linnea K Ista

Eric H Hill

Ying Wang

Gabriel P Lopez

Kirsten Nicole Cicotte

Harry Craig Pappas

Elizabeth LeBleu Dirk

Xuzhi Zhu

Jonathan Robert Sommer

Yun Huang

Sireesha Chemburu

Zhijun Zhou

Yanli Tang

Subhadip Goswami

Ramanathan Nagarajan

The present disclosure provides novel poly(phenylene ethynylene) (PPE) compounds, methods for synthesizing these compounds, and materials and substances incorporating these compounds. The various PPEs show antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activity.

Structure, synthesis, and applications for poly (phenylene) ethynylenes (PPEs)

Various embodiments disclosed relate to conjugated polyelectrolytes and methods of using the same. Various embodiments provide a conjugated polyelectrolyte including a subunit having the structure &#x2014;R&#x2014;Y&#x2014;R&#x2014;Z&#x2014;. At each occurrence, Ris independently chosen from 1,4-bonded phenylene substituted by &#x2014;X&#x2014;R-Rj times and 2,5-bonded thiophene substituted by &#x2014;X&#x2014;R-Rj times. At each occurrence, Y is independently chosen from a bond and &#x2014;C&#x2261;C&#x2014;. At each occurrence, Ris independently chosen from a bond, a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene, thiophenylene, azulenylene, heptalenylene, biphenylene, indacenylene, fluorenylene, phenanthrenylene, triphenylenylene, pyrenylene, naphthacenylene, chrysenylene, biphenylenylene, anthracenylene, and naphthylene. At each occurrence, Z is independently chosen from a bond and &#x2014;C&#x2261;C&#x2014;. The variables j, R, and Rare as defined herein.

Conjugated polyelectrolytes and methods of using the same

The present disclosure provides novel oligo phenylene ethynylene (OPE) compounds, methods for synthesizing these compounds, and materials and substances incorporating these compounds. The various OPEs show antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activity.

Structure, synthesis, and applications for oligo phenylene ethynylenes (OPEs)

The invention provides methods and materials for decontamination of surfaces and fabrics, such as non-woven fabrics, that are contaminated with infestations of microorganisms such as bacteria. Biocidal oligomers having conjugated oligo-(aryl/heteroaryl ethynyl) structures and comprising at least one cationic group can be used to decontaminate infested surfaces in the presence of oxygen and, optionally, illumination. Fibers incorporating biocidal oligomers having conjugated oligo-(aryl/heteroaryl ethynyl) structures and comprising at least one cationic group, wherein the oligomer is physically associated with or covalently bonded to, or both, the fiber-forming polymer can be used to form non-woven mats. Biocidal non-woven mats prepared by methods of the invention, incorporating the biocidal oligomers, can be used to suppress bacterial growth in wound and surgical dressings and personal hygiene products.

Antimicrobial materials and methods

Various embodiments disclosed relate to conjugated polyelectrolytes and methods of using the same. Various embodiments provide a conjugated polyelectrolyte including a subunit having the structure &#x2014;R&#x2014;Y&#x2014;R&#x2014;Z&#x2014;. At each occurrence, Ris independently chosen from 1,4-bonded phenylene substituted by &#x2014;X&#x2014;R&#x2014;Rj times and 2,5-bonded thiophene substituted by &#x2014;X&#x2014;R&#x2014;Rj times. At each occurrence, Y is independently chosen from a bond and &#x2014;C&#x2261;C&#x2014;. At each occurrence, Ris independently chosen from a bond, a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene, thiophenylene, azulenylene, heptalenylene, biphenylene, indacenylene, fluorenylene, phenanthrenylene, triphenylenylene, pyrenylene, naphthacenylene, chrysenylene, biphenylenylene, anthracenylene, and naphthylene. At each occurrence, Z is independently chosen from a bond and &#x2014;C&#x2261;C&#x2014;. The variables j, R, and Rare as defined herein.

Thiophene containing water-soluble oligomers were synthesized and characterized. The photophysical properties of these compounds were studied; transient absorption spectroscopy was used to probe the triplet excited state and their ability to sensitize singlet oxygen was spectroscopically monitored in deuterated methanol. The above compounds were tested for their light activated biocidal properties againstboth under UV and visible radiation. Among the oligomers studied, the terthiophene derivative was found to kill the bacteria efficiently.

Thiophene based oligomers as light activated biocides

Hollow conjugated polyelectrolyte (HCPE) microcapsules contain at least one conjugated polyelectrolyte and at least one other polyelectrolyte of complementary charge and the microcapsule has a hollow core. The conjugated polyelectrolyte is a polymer with a multiplicity of charged repeating units where a portion of the charged repeating units form a pi-conjugated sequence. The complementary polyelectrolyte is a polymer with a complementary charged repeating unit to the charged repeating units of the conjugated polyelectrolyte. The HCPE microcapsules can be formed by successively coating a sacrificial core with alternating layers of complementary polyelectrolytes, at least one of which is a conjugated polyelectrolyte. The sacrificial core can be removed to form the hollow center of a HCPE microcapsule. The HCPE microcapsules can be contacted with a medium containing microbes where the HCPE microcapsules associate with the microbes and efficiently kill the microbes when irradiated with light or other electromagnetic radiation.

Conjugated polyelectrolyte capsules: light activated antimicrobials

The present disclosure describes the manufacture and use of soft surfaces such as fabrics bearing surface-grafted antimicrobial polymers.

Materials incorporating antimicrobial polymers

A surface grafted conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE) is formed by coupling a CPE by a coupling moiety to the surface of a substrate. The substrate can be of any shape and size, and for many uses of the surface grafted CPE, it is advantageous that the substrate is a nanoparticle or microparticle. Surface grafted CPEs are presented that use silica particles as the substrate, where a modified silane coupling agent connects the surface to the CPE by a series of covalent bonds. Two methods of preparing the surface grafted CPEs are presented. One method involves the inclusion of the surface being modified by the coupling agent and condensed with monomers that form the CPE in a grafted state to the substrate. A second method involves the formation of a CPE with terminal groups that are complimentary to functionality that has been placed on the surface of the substrate by reaction with a coupling agent. The surface grafted CPEs are also described for use as biosensors and biocides.

Growing community of inventors

Albuquerque, NM, United States of America

Thomas S Corbitt