Title:Polymeric Quaternary Ammonium Compounds: Versatile Antimicrobial Materials
VOLUME: 17 ISSUE: 3
Author(s):Deanna L. Zubris, Kevin P.C. Minbiole and William M. Wuest
Affiliation:Department of Chemistry, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085, USA.
Keywords:Antimicrobial activity, Biofilm, Cationic polymers, Copolymer, Homopolymer, Hydrogel, Polyquaternium, Quaternary
ammonium compound.
Abstract:Polymeric Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (polyQACs) comprise a broad class of materials
with applications in medical implants, food processing, and surface sanitizing, amongst many
others. These polymeric substances are especially promising due to their potent antibacterial activity
and limited hemolytic toxicity. In particular, many polyQACs have superior therapeutic indices and a
lower likelihood of developing antibacterial resistance in comparison to their monomers, making
them ideal materials for wound dressings, catheters, and other biomedical applications. This review
outlines the history and development, previous successes, current state of the research, and future directions
of polyQACs in society.
