Herein, we develop a well-defined antibacterial polymer based on poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and a derivative of vitamin B1, easily degradable into inactive and biocompatible compounds. Hence, thiazole moiety was attached to HEMA monomer through a carbonate pH-sensitive linkage and the resulting monomer was polymerized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. N-alkylation reaction of the thiazole groups leads to cationic polymer with thiazolium groups. This polymer exhibits excellent antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with an MIC value of 78 µg mL-1, whereas its degradation product, thiazolium small molecule, was found to be inactive. Hemotoxicity studies confirm the negligible cytotoxicity of the degradation product in comparison with the original antibacterial polymer. The degradation of the polymer at physiological pH was found to be progressive and slow, thus the cationic polymer is expected to maintain its antibacterial characteristics at physiological conditions for a relative long period of time before its degradation. This degradation minimizes antimicrobial pollution in the environment and side effects in the body after eradicating bacterial infection.
Keywords: RAFT polymerization; antibacterial polymers; degradable polymers; pH-sensitive linkage; resistant bacteria.