Triclosan antimicrobial polymers

Abstract

Triclosan antimicrobial molecular fluctuating energies of nonbonding electron pairs for the oxygen atom by ether bond rotations are reviewed with conformational computational chemistry analyses. Subsequent understanding of triclosan alternating ether bond rotations is able to help explain several material properties in Polymer Science. Unique bond rotation entanglements between triclosan and the polymer chains increase both the mechanical properties of polymer toughness and strength that are enhanced even better through secondary bonding relationships. Further, polymer blend compatibilization is considered due to similar molecular relationships and polarities. With compatibilization of triclosan in polymers a more uniform stability for nonpolar triclosan in the polymer solid state is retained by the antimicrobial for extremely low release with minimum solubility into aqueous solution. As a result, triclosan is projected for long extended lifetimes as an antimicrobial polymer additive. Further, triclosan rapid alternating ether bond rotations disrupt secondary bonding between chain monomers in the resin state to reduce viscosity and enhance polymer blending. Thus, triclosan is considered for a polymer additive with multiple properties to be an antimicrobial with additional benefits as a nonpolar toughening agent and a hydrophobic wetting agent. The triclosan material relationships with alternating ether bond rotations are described through a complete different form of medium by comparisons with known antimicrobial properties that upset bacterial cell membranes through rapid fluctuating mechanomolecular energies. Also, triclosan bond entanglements with secondary bonding can produce structural defects in weak bacterial lipid membranes requiring pliability that can then interfere with cell division. Regarding applications with polymers, triclosan can be incorporated by mixing into a resin system before cure, melt mixed with thermoplastic polymers that set on cooling into a solid or alternatively applied as a coating through several different methods with dissolving into an organic solvent and dried on by evaporation as a common means.

Urinary Catheter Coating Modifications: The Race against Catheter-Associated Infections

“…Over the past few decades, researchers have designed and obtained approval for antibiotic-coated urinary catheters for use in clinical settings. However, due to the higher cost and contradictory results from in vitro studies and in clinical trials, their efficacy is brought into question [4,25,63,74,77,79,91,[102][103][104][105][106][107][108][109][110][111][112][113]. The most common antibiotics used include nitrofurazone, gentamicin, fluoroquinolones (norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, sparfloxacin), triclosan, and chlorhexidine.…”

“…Triclosan has been used as an antiseptic for decades and it is commonly found in household products such as toothpaste and soaps [122]. Recently, triclosan has been proposed as a candidate for coating medical devices, since it chemical properties make it easy to coat the catheter material [113]. Although much research has shown the antimicrobial activity in vitro, its effects on the human body have not been fully studied.…”

“…This is particularly concerning as triclosan has been removed from use by health care professionals in hospitals and other health care settings [123]. Nevertheless, since there has been no data in humans that shows triclosan leading to antimicrobial resistance, the benefits have compensated for the cost [113]. However, recently researchers have reported triclosan promotes antibiotic tolerance in bacteria both in vitro and in vivo [109,122,123], which fuels the controversy over the efficacy and use of triclosan.…”

High-touch surfaces: microbial neighbours at hand

“…At lower concentrations, it is bacteriostatic by inhibiting an enzyme involved in fatty acid synthesis and, at higher concentrations, it is bacteric i d a l b y d e s t a b i l i z i n g m i c r o b i a l m e m b r a n e s . Compatibilization of triclosan with polymers may extend the duration of its wide-spectrum antimicrobial activity [123] and could prove effective in reducing environmental surface load of pathogens. Bacteriophages applied to surfaces and targeting specific microorganisms have been attempted and mixtures of phages have been further suggested in order to effectively reduce the environmental bioburden.…”

Innovative Modifications for Preventing Mesh Infections

“…Bacterial membrane phospholipids are disrupted by rapid triclosan fluctuating bond rotations. Although triclosan has been used for years its antimicrobial property, there is no data about bacterial resistance in humans [106].…”