Facile synthesis of novel soluble cellulose-grafted hyperbranched polymers as potential natural antimicrobial materials

A new class of soluble cellulose-grafted hyperbranched polymers has been synthesized by a facile “hypergrafting” reaction using bis(2-chloroethyl)amine and soluble cellulose tosylates. The molecular structures of the obtained new materials were characterized by 13C NMR, FTIR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The degree of substitution of the hyperbranched cellulose derivatives ranges between 0.13–0.53. The new cellulose-based materials were soluble in various polar aprotic organic solvents. The thermal properties of the new cellulose materials were investigated by thermal gravimetric analysis. Antibacterial activity of the new cellulose derivatives was evaluated by diffusion disk tests against various gram negative and positive bacteria. Our results suggested that the obtained natural cellulosic materials can act as effective polymeric biocides, and may have great potential in various antimicrobial materials applications