A series of cationic amphiphiles, each with an aromatic core, was prepared and investigated for antimicrobial properties. The synthesized amphiphiles in this study are bicephalic (double-headed) in that they each possess two trimethylammonium head groups and a single linear alkoxy tail. Minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations of these amphiphiles were in the low micromolar range. Antimicrobial activities are highly sensitive to the chain length of the hydrophobic region, and modestly reliant on the relative positioning of the head groups on the aromatic core. These trends were more pronounced in time kill assays, wherein longer chain compounds required significantly shorter times to completely kill bacteria. Microscopy suggested that the mode of cell death was lysis. Strong inhibition was observed with both biscationic compounds and monocationic comparisons against Gram-positive bacteria: only biscationic amphiphiles maintained good activity versus the Gram-negative bacteria tested. These observations provide direction for future antimicrobial structural investigations. (C) 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
Use of compounds of formula (I) wherein R1 is substituted or unsubstituted C8-C30alkyl or substituted or unsubstituted C3-C7cyclo- alkyl, and R2 is H, COOH or substituted or unsubstituted O-C1-C30alkyl, in the antimicrobial treatment of surfaces, in the preservation of cosmetics, household products, textiles and plastics, and for use in disinfectants.
Nanostructures are formed from alkylated derivatives of aromatic acids of the formula:
wherein at least one of R
1
to R
6
represents a carboxylic acid group, a primary amide group, an ester group, an amidine group, or a salt thereof, at least one other of R
1
to R
6
is X—R
c
, and the remaining of R
1
to R
6
independently represent H or substituted or unsubstituted organic groups; X represents a linking group; and R
c
represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group.
Nanostructures are formed from alkylated derivatives of aromatic acids of the formula:
wherein at least one of R1 to R6 represents a carboxylic acid group, a primary amide group, an ester group, an amidine group, or a salt thereof, at least one other of R1 to R6 is X—Rc, and the remaining of R1 to R6 independently represent H or substituted or unsubstituted organic groups; X represents a linking group; and Rc represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group.
Use of compounds of formula (I) wherein R
1
is substituted or unsubstituted C
8
-C
30
alkyl or substituted or unsubstituted C
3
-C
7
cyclo-alkyl, and R
2
is H, COOH or substituted or unsubstituted O-C
1
-C
30
alkyl, in the antimicrobial treatment of surfaces, in the preservation of cosmetics, household products, textiles and plastics, and for use in disinfectants.