Synthesis and antibacterial properties of quaternary ammonium derivative of polyethylenimine

The quaternary derivative of branched polyethylenimine (bPEI-met) was synthesized and its antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacterium (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative bacterium (Escherichia coli) was studied. The values of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of bPEI-met against mentioned bacteria were determined. These indicated that bPEI-met could be considered as an effective alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of selected bacterial strains. The results obtained can be useful in search for drugs allowing treatment of antibiotic resistant bacterial strains.