Preparation of Antimicrobial Agents: From Interpolyelectrolyte Complexes to Silver-Containing Metal–Polymer Complexes and Nanocomposites

In order to control pathogenic microorganisms, three polymer compositions were prepared and tested. First, a water-soluble positively charged polycomplex was synthesized via the electrostatic binding of anionic polyacrylic acid to an excess of polyethylenimine to enhance the biocidal activity of the polycation. Second, an aqueous solution of AgNO₃ was added to the polycomplex, thus forming a ternary polycation-polyanion-Ag¹⁺ complex with an additional antimicrobial effect. Third, the resulting ternary complex was subjected to UV irradiation, which ensured the conversion of Ag¹⁺ ions into Ag nanoparticles ranging in size mainly from 10 to 20 nm. Aqueous solutions of the polymer compositions were added to suspensions of the Gram-positive bacteria <i>S. aureus</i> and the Gram-negative bacteria <i>P. aeruginosa</i>, with the following main results: (a) Upon the addition of the binary polycomplex, 30% or more of the cells survived after 20 h. (b) The ternary complex killed <i>S. aureus</i> bacteria but was ineffective against <i>P. aeruginosa</i> bacteria. (c) When the ternary complex with Ag nanoparticles was added, the percentage of surviving cells of both types did not exceed 0.03%. The obtained results are valuable for the development of antibacterial formulations.