Antimicrobial Functionalization of Silicone-graft-poly(<em>N</em>-vinylimidazole) Catheters
Luis Enrique Navarrete-Germán,
Belén Gómez-Lázaro,
Felipe López-Saucedo,
Emilio Bucio
Affiliations
Luis Enrique Navarrete-Germán
Departament of Radiation Chemistry and Radiochemistry, Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Circuito Exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City C.P. 04510, Mexico
Belén Gómez-Lázaro
Departament of Radiation Chemistry and Radiochemistry, Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Circuito Exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City C.P. 04510, Mexico
Felipe López-Saucedo
Departament of Radiation Chemistry and Radiochemistry, Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Circuito Exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City C.P. 04510, Mexico
Emilio Bucio
Departament of Radiation Chemistry and Radiochemistry, Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Circuito Exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City C.P. 04510, Mexico
In this work, we present the modification of a medical-grade silicone catheter with the N-vinylimidazole monomer using the grafting-from method at room temperature and induced by gamma rays. The catheters were modified by varying the monomer concentration (20–100 vol%) and the irradiation dose (20–100 kGy). Unlike the pristine material, the grafted poly(N-vinylimidazole) chains provided the catheter with hydrophilicity and pH response. This change allowed for the functionalization of the catheters to endow it with antimicrobial features. Thus, the quaternization of amines with iodomethane and bromoethane was performed, as well as the immobilization of silver and ampicillin. The inhibitory capacity of these materials, functionalized with antimicrobial agents, was challenged against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus strains, showing variable results, where loaded ampicillin was amply better at eliminating bacteria.
