Antimicrobial Biomaterials via Simultaneous Grafting of Methyl Methacrylate and N-Vinyl Pyrrolidone onto Chitosan

Chitosan is an antimicrobial biopolymer with significant potential for manufacturing biodegradable and biocompatible materials through further functionalization. These materials could be highly suitable for biomedical applications. In this study, in order to obtain better properties such as antimicrobial activity and adjustable hydrophilicity for biopolymer-based applications, N-vinylpyrrolidone (VP) and methylmethacrylate (MMA) were simultaneously grafted onto chitosan by a ceric-initiated emulsion polymerization method. The chemical structure, thermal, morphological, and antimicrobial properties of the resulting materials were investigated. The results revealed that PMMA and PVP pendant groups were grafted onto the chitosan main chain. According to SEM measurements, the obtained materials had spherical shapes with diameters ranging from 250 to 950 nm for the components. In vitro antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria was significantly improved in the obtained materials compared to pristine chitosan.