The development of inherent antimicrobial polymeric fibers can contribute to overcoming the increasing problem of infectious diseases and multiresistant microorganisms. Here, we propose the preparation of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) based electrospun fibers blended with poly[2-(4-methylthiazol-5-yl)ethyl methacrylate] (PMTA), which quaternized have proven broad spectrum antimicrobial activity either in solution or solid state. We have demonstrated that quaternized PLA/PMTA fiber mats have a remarkable antibacterial activity against S. aureus. As determined by scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy, quaternized PMTA segregates toward the outmost surface of PLA/PMTA fiber leaving the thiazolium group widely available onto the fiber surfaces, facilitating the bacteria killing by contact mode.
Keywords: antimicrobial activity; electrospun fibers; polylactic acid; wound dressings, thiazolium.