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Preparation, application and testing of permanent antibacterial and antiviral coatings

Abstract

Protocols for the synthesis of the microbicidal polycation N,N-dodecyl,methyl-polyethylenimine and coating (painting) of glass slides with this polycation's butanol solution are described. Subsequently detailed are the procedures for validating that the resultant coated slides are essentially 100% lethal to the human bacterial pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, as well as to two common strains of influenza virus. The time required to prepare and apply the cationic polymer and to test its microbicidal efficiency is conservatively estimated to be <4 weeks.

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Figure 1: Schematic representation of the synthesis of N,N-dodecyl,methyl-polyethylenimine.
Figure 2: Illustration of bactericidal testing.
Figure 3: Illustration of virucidal testing.
Figure 4: Virucidal activity as observed by plaque assay.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the United States Army through the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) under contract DAAD-19-02-D-0002 with the Army Research Office. The content of this article does not necessarily reflect the position of the United States Government, and no official endorsement should be inferred. We are grateful to Professor Jianzhu Chen of the MIT Biology Department for invaluable help in, and permission to use his laboratory for, influenza virus work.

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Correspondence to Alexander M Klibanov.

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Haldar, J., Weight, A. & Klibanov, A. Preparation, application and testing of permanent antibacterial and antiviral coatings. Nat Protoc 2, 2412–2417 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2007.353

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