MATERIALS COMPRISING HYDROPHOBICALLY-MODIFIED BIOPOLYMER
In various aspects, the invention provides materials comprising a hydrophobically-modified biopolymer, such as hm-chitosan, as well as methods of making the materials, including textile materials. The hm-biopolymer can be a polysaccharide and may have antimicrobial properties including against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, providing opportunities to combat microbial persistence in clothing and at wound sites.
1 . A textile material comprising a hydrophobically-modified biopolymer.
2 . The textile material of claim 1 , wherein hydrophobically-modified biopolymer has antimicrobial properties.
3 . The textile material of claim 2 , wherein the hydrophobically-modified biopolymer has antimicrobial properties against one or more of: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumanni, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis.
4 . The textile material of claim 3 , wherein the hydrophobically-modified biopolymer has antimicrobial properties against MRSA.
5 . The textile material of any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the hydrophobically-modified biopolymer has antimicrobial properties greater than native chitosan.
6 . The textile material of claim 5 , wherein the hydrophobically-modified biopolymer is hydrophobically-modified chitosan.
7 . The textile material of claim 6 , wherein the hydrophobic moieties are selected for the antimicrobial activity, durability, flexibility, and/or water repellant nature of the modified biopolymer
8 . The textile material of claim 6 , wherein the chitosan is modified with hydrophobic groups having from 4 to 100 carbon atoms.
9 . The textile material of claim 6 , wherein the chitosan is modified with hydrophobic moieties that are linear or branched alkanes.
10 . The textile material of claim 6 , wherein the chitosan is modified with carbocyclic or heterocyclic hydrophobic moieties.
11 . The method of any one of claims 6 to 10 , wherein the hydrophobic moieties are covalently attached to as many as 50% of available amines of the polymer backbone.
12 . The method of any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the hydrophobically-modified biopolymer is incorporated into a natural or synthetic fiber.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the fiber is wool, flax or cotton.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the synthetic fiber is one or more of: polyester, nylon, rayon, acrylic, polyolefin, and spandex.
15 . The method of any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the hydrophobically-modified chitosan is spun into a fiber.
16 . The method of any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the hydrophobically-modified chitosan is incorporated into the textile as flakes or particles.
17 . The method of any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the hydrophobically-modified chitosan is a dehydrated solution or foam.
18 . A method for making a textile of any one of claims 1 to 17 , comprising incorporating a hydrophobically-modified biopolymer into the textile.
19 . A method for treating a wound, comprising applying a hydrophobically modified polymer to the wound as a textile or topical composition, optionally with systemic or topical antibiotic treatment.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the wound is a skin graft or surgical wound.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the wound is a cosmetic surgery wound.