Antimicrobial Thiouronium Copolymers for Surface Adhesion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional disinfectants often evaporate quickly or are easily wiped off surfaces, limiting their effectiveness in killing pathogenic microbes and requiring prolonged contact, which is not always feasible.
Innovation Solution
Development of antimicrobial copolymers with a polymer backbone covalently bonded to thiouronium and quaternary ammonium groups, which adhere to surfaces and interact strongly with negative charges on microbial cell membranes, enhancing their antimicrobial efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If conventional disinfectants (alcohol, isopropanol) are applied to surfaces, then they can kill microbes through direct contact, but they evaporate quickly and are easily wiped off, limiting the duration of antimicrobial protection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter from small volatile molecules to large polymeric molecules. The copolymer's high molecular weight and polymeric structure fundamentally alter the evaporation and removal characteristics, allowing the disinfectant to remain on surfaces for extended periods while maintaining antimicrobial activity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material by combining two different functional groups (thiouronium and quaternary ammonium) within a single copolymer structure. This composite approach allows the material to simultaneously provide strong antimicrobial activity through both cationic groups while maintaining surface adherence and resistance to removal.
2Productivity
If small molecule disinfectants are used, then they can penetrate and disrupt microbial cell membranes effectively, but they are easily removed by wiping or washing, reducing contact time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the molecular size parameter from small molecules to polymeric chains. This size increase prevents easy removal by wiping or washing while the copolymer maintains the cationic functional groups necessary for effective cell membrane disruption and contact-killing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the disinfectant function into two distinct cationic components (thiouronium and quaternary ammonium groups) within the copolymer structure. Each segment contributes to antimicrobial activity through different mechanisms, enhancing overall productivity while the polymeric backbone ensures prolonged surface contact.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If cationic surfactants like quaternary ammonium salts are used to disrupt cell membranes, then antimicrobial activity is enhanced through electrostatic interaction with negative charges on cell membranes, but the substances are still subject to evaporation and easy removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two different cationic functional groups (thiouronium and quaternary ammonium) in a copolymer structure. Both groups possess positive charges that interact with negative charges on microbial cell membranes, enhancing membrane disruption capability. The polymeric composite structure simultaneously provides stability by preventing evaporation and resistance to removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the molecular weight and structural complexity parameters from simple surfactant molecules to polymeric copolymers. This parameter change maintains the electrostatic interaction mechanism for cell membrane disruption while fundamentally improving the stability of the disinfectant composition on surfaces.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The copolymers effectively adhere to surfaces, maintaining antimicrobial properties and disrupting microbial cell membranes, providing extended protection against pathogens without the limitations of evaporation or easy removal.
Implementation Method 1
The copolymers effectively adhere to surfaces, maintaining antimicrobial properties
Implementation Method 2
interact strongly with negative charges on microbial cell membranes
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are antimicrobial copolymers comprising (i) a polymer backbone and a plurality of thiouronium groups covalently bonded to the polymer backbone and (ii) a plurality of quaternary ammonium groups covalently bonded to the polymer backbone. Also described herein are methods for making the copolymers described herein and their use in disinfecting compositions.