Antimicrobial Polymers

1 . An antimicrobial polymeric compound having formula (1):

P—(X) n   (1)

P comprises a polymer linked to X via a carboxyl group;

X comprises a group —(R—V m+ —R 1 —R 2 ) q(Y p− );

n is an integer of 1-1×10 7 ;

R is independently selected from divalent hydrocarbon radicals;

V comprises a positively charged moiety;

m represents an integer;

R 1 is independently selected from divalent hydrocarbon radicals;

R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of —H, —SH, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —OR 3 , —HN(O)CR 4 , or —O(O)CR 5 , wherein R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are independently selected from the group consisting of —H and monovalent hydrocarbon radicals;

Y represents an anion;

q represents m/p; and,

p represents an integer;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative of a compound of formula (1).

2 . A compound according to claim 1 , wherein P is a carboxyl group-containing polysaccharide.

3 . A compound according to claim 2 , wherein the polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of carboxyl group-containing celluloses, modified starches, chitosans, guar gums, glycans, galactans, glucans, xanthan gums, alginic acids, polymannuric acids, hyaluronic acids, polyglycosuronic and polyguluronic acids, mannans, dextrins, cyclodextrins and mixtures thereof, as well as other synthetically carboxylated or naturally occurring carboxylated polysaccharides, which may be linear or branched, preferably hyaluronic acid, gellan, xanthan, succinoglycan, pectin, chondroitin sulphate, heparan sulphate, dermatan, more preferably alginic acid and hyaluronic acid, particularly alginic acid.

4 . A compound according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises a synthetic polymer obtainable by homo- or co-polymerisation of a monomer selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylic acid, methyl (meth)acrylate, ethyl (meth)acrylate, n-propyl (meth)acrylate, isopropyl (meth)acrylate, n-butyl (meth)acrylate, isobutyl (meth)acrylate, tert-butyl (meth)acrylate, n-pentyl (meth)acrylate, n-hexyl (meth)acrylate, cyclohexyl (meth)acrylate, n-heptyl (meth)acrylate, n-octyl (meth)acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl (meth)acrylate, nonyl (meth)acrylate, decyl (meth)acrylate, dodecyl (meth)acrylate, phenyl (meth)acrylate, toluoyl (meth)acrylate, benzyl (meth)acrylate, 2-methoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 3-methoxybutyl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, stearyl (meth)acrylate, glycidyl (meth)acrylate, 2-aminoethyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid-ethylene oxide adducts, trifluoromethylmethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-trifluoromethylethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-perfluoroethylethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-perfluoroethyl-2 perfluorobutylethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-perfluoroethyl (meth)acrylate, perfluoromethyl (meth)acrylate, diperfluoromethylmethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-perfluoromethyl-2-perfluoroethylmethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-perfluorohexylethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-perfluorodecylethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-perfluorohexadecylethyl (meth)acrylate and mixtures thereof.

5 . A compound according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer P comprises 10-1×10 7 monomeric units, more preferably 20-1×10 6 , more preferably 30-1×10 5 , more preferably 40-1×10 4 most preferably greater than 1000 monomeric units.

6 . A The compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 2 is —H.

7 . A The compound according to claim 6 , wherein R is selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 alkanediyl, C 2-20 alkenediyl, C 2-20 alkynediyl, C 3-30 cycloalkanediyl, C 3-30 cycloalkenediyl, C 5-30 cycloalkynediyl, C 7-30 aralkylenediyl, C 7-30 alkarylenediyl and C 5-30 arylenediyl, preferably selected from the group consisting of C 1-16 alkanediyl, C 2-16 alkenediyl, C 2-16 alkynediyl, C 4-20 cycloalkanediyl, C 4-20 cycloalkenediyl, C 5-20 cycloalkynediyl, C 7-20 aralkylenediyl, C 7-20 alkarylenediyl and C 6-20 arylenediyl, more preferably selected from the group consisting of straight chain C 1-16 alkanediyl, C 2-16 alkenediyl C 6-16 aralkylenediyl and C 6-16 alkarylenediyl, most preferably, R is selected from methylene, 1,2-ethylene, 1,2-propylene, 1,3-propylene, 1,2-butylene, 1,3-butylene, 1,4-butylene, 1,5-pentylene, 1,6-hexylene, 1,8-octylene, 1,10-decylene and 1,12-dodecylene.

8 . A The compound according to claim 7 , wherein substantially all groups R are the same.

9 . A The compound according to claim 7 , wherein R represents a mixture of hydrocarbon chains.

10 . A The compound according to claim 7 , wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of C 1-30 alkanediyl, C 2-30 alkenediyl, C 2-30 alkynediyl, C 3-35 cycloalkanediyl, C 3-35 cycloalkenediyl, C 5-35 cycloalkynediyl, C 7-35 aralkylenediyl, C 7-35 alkarylenediyl and C 5-35 arylenediyl, preferably selected from the group consisting of C 1-18 alkanediyl, C 2-18 alkenediyl, C 2-18 alkynediyl, C 4-20 cycloalkanediyl, C 4-20 cycloalkenediyl, C 5-20 cycloalkynediyl, C 7-20 aralkylenediyl, C 7-20 alkarylenediyl and C 6-20 arylenediyl, more preferably selected from the group consisting of straight chain C 1-15 alkanediyl, C 2-15 alkenediyl, C 6-15 aralkylenediyl and C 6-15 alkarylenediyl, most preferably, R 1 is selected from 1,6-hexylene, 1,8-octylene, 1,10-decylene and 1,12-dodecylene.

11 . The compound according to claim 10 , wherein R 1 comprises a mixture of hydrocarbon chains.

12 . A compound according to claim 11 , wherein at least some of the hydrocarbon chains R 1 in the mixture have 12-18 carbon atoms.

13 . A compound according to claim 11 , wherein R 1 has greater than 10 carbon atoms in the chain.

14 . The compound according to claim 10 , preferably 1, 2 or 3.

15 . A compound according to claim 14 , wherein m 1 or 2.

16 . The compound according to claim 14 , wherein p is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.

17 . The compound according to claim 16 , wherein Y represents one or more anions that balance the charge of positively charged moiety V.

18 . The compound according to claim 17 , wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of N-hydroxysuccinimidyl, N-hydroxybenzotriazolyl, nitrate, sulfate, bisulfate, phosphate (mono-, bi-, or triphosphate), carbonate, bicarbonate, acetate, tosylates, mesylates, brosylates, and halides including chloride, bromide, and iodide and mixtures thereof.

19 . The compound according to claim 18 , wherein R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are independently selected from the group consisting of —H, C 1-20 alkyl, C 2-20 alkenyl, C 2-20 alkynyl, C 3-30 cycloalkyl, C 3-30 cycloalkenyl, C 4-30 cycloalkynyl, C 7-30 aralkyl, C 7-30 alkaryl and C 5-30 aryl, preferably R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are independently selected from the group consisting of —H, C 1-15 alkyl, C 2-15 alkenyl, C 2-15 alkynyl, C 3-20 cycloalkyl, C 3-20 cycloalkenyl, C 4-20 cycloalkynyl, C 7-20 aralkyl, C 7-20 alkaryl and C 6-20 aryl, more preferably R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are independently selected from the group consisting of —H, straight chain C 1-10 alkyl, C 2-10 alkenyl and C 6-12 aryl, most preferably, R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, hexyl, cyclohexyl, octyl, nonyl, dodecyl, eicosyl, norbornyl, adamantyl, vinyl, propenyl, cyclohexenyl, benzyl, phenylethyl, phenylpropyl, phenyl, tolyl, dimethylphenyl, trimethylphenyl, ethylphenyl, propylphenyl, biphenyl, naphthyl, methylnaphthyl, anthryl, phenanthryl, benzylphenyl, pyrenyl, acenaphthyl, phenalenyl, aceanthrylenyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, indanyl, biphenyl, particularly methyl, ethyl, propyl and isopropyl.

20 . The compound according to claim 19 , wherein the polysaccharide, P, comprises 10-1×10 5 monosaccharide moieties.

21 . The compound according to claim 20 , wherein V comprises a positively charged moiety comprising one or two positively charged nitrogen atoms, one or two positively charged phosphorous atoms, one or two positively charged sulfur atoms, or mixtures thereof.

22 . The compound according to claim 21 , wherein V comprises a singly charged quaternary ammonium, quaternary phosphonium or sulfonium group, having the formula + —NR 6 2 —, + —PR 7 2 —, or + —SR 8 —, respectively, wherein R 6 , R 7 and R 8 are independently selected from the group consisting of H and monovalent hydrocarbon radicals.

23 . A compound according to claim 22 , wherein R 6 , R 7 and R 8 are independently selected from the group consisting of —H, C 1-20 alkyl, C 2-20 alkenyl, C 2-20 alkynyl, C 3-30 cycloalkyl, C 3-30 cycloalkenyl, C 4-30 cycloalkynyl, C 7-30 aralkyl, C 7-30 alkaryl and C 5-30 aryl, preferably R 6 , R 7 and R 8 are independently selected from the group consisting of —H, C 1-15 alkyl, C 2-15 alkenyl, C 2-15 alkynyl, C 3-20 cycloalkyl, C 3-20 cycloalkenyl, C 4-20 cycloalkynyl, C 7-20 aralkyl, C 7-20 alkaryl and C 6-20 aryl, more preferably R 6 , R 7 and R 8 are independently selected from the group consisting of —H, straight chain C 1-10 alkyl, C 2-10 alkenyl and C 6-12 aryl, most preferably, R 6 , R 7 and R 8 are independently selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, hexyl, cyclohexyl, octyl, nonyl, dodecyl, eicosyl, norbornyl and adamantyl, vinyl, propenyl, cyclohexenyl, benzyl, phenylethyl, phenylpropyl, phenyl, tolyl, dimethylphenyl, trimethylphenyl, ethylphenyl, propylphenyl, biphenyl, naphthyl, methylnaphthyl, anthryl, phenanthryl, benzylphenyl, pyrenyl, acenaphthyl, phenalenyl, aceanthrylenyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, indanyl, biphenylyl, particularly methyl, ethyl, propyl and isopropyl.

24 . The compound according to claim 22 , wherein V comprises two positively charged nitrogen atoms, preferably — + NR 6 2 —R 9 —NR 6 2 + — or a group (A):

wherein a, b and c independently represent 1-10, preferably, 1-5, more preferably 1-3, most preferably 2, and wherein R 9 is selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 alkanediyl, C 2-20 alkenediyl, C 2-20 alkynediyl, C 3-30 cycloalkanediyl, C 3-30 cycloalkenediyl, C 5-30 cycloalkynediyl, C 7-30 aralkylenediyl, C 7-30 alkarylenediyl and C 5-30 arylenediyl, preferably R 9 is selected from the group consisting of C 1-16 alkanediyl, C 2-16 alkenediyl, C 2-16 alkynediyl, C 4-20 cycloalkanediyl, C 4-20 cycloalkenediyl, C 5-20 cycloalkynediyl, C 7-20 aralkylenediyl, C 7-20 alkarylenediyl and C 6-20 arylenediyl, more preferably R 9 is selected from the group consisting of straight chain C 1-16 alkanediyl, C 2-16 alkenediyl, C 6-16 aralkylenediyl and C 6-16 alkarylenediyl, most preferably, R 9 is selected from methylene, 1,2-ethylene, 1,2-propylene, 1,3-propylene, 1,2-butylene, 1,3-butylene, 1,4-butylene, 1,5-pentylene, 1,6-hexylene, 1,8-octylene, 1,10-decylene and 1,12-dodecylene.

25 . The compound according to claim 24 , wherein (A) is 1,4-diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane.

26 . The compound according to claim 22 , wherein V comprises two positively charged sulfur atoms, preferably — + SR 8 —R 10 —SR 8+ or a group (B)

wherein d and e independently represent 1-10, preferably, 1-5, more preferably 1-3, most preferably 2, and wherein R 10 is selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 alkanediyl, C 2-20 alkenediyl, C 2-20 alkynediyl, C 3-30 cycloalkanediyl, C 3-30 cycloalkenediyl, C 5-30 cycloalkynediyl, C 7-30 aralkylenediyl, C 7-30 alkarylenediyl and C 5-30 arylenediyl, preferably R 10 is selected from the group consisting of C 1-16 alkanediyl, C 2-16 alkenediyl, C 2-16 alkynediyl, C 4-20 cycloalkanediyl, C 4-20 cycloalkenediyl, C 5-20 cycloalkynediyl, C 7-20 aralkylenediyl, C 7-20 alkarylenediyl and C 6-20 arylenediyl, more preferably R 10 is selected from the group consisting of straight chain C 1-16 alkanediyl, C 2-16 alkenediyl, C 6-16 aralkylenediyl and C 6-16 alkarylenediyl, most preferably, R 10 is selected from methylene, 1,2-ethylene, 1,2-propylene, 1,3-propylene, 1,2-butylene, 1,3-butylene, 1,4-butylene, 1,5-pentylene, 1,6-hexylene, 1,8-octylene, 1,10-decylene and 1,12-dodecylene.

27 . A compound according to claim 26 , wherein (B) is 1,4-dithioniumcyclohexane.

28 . The compound according to claim 22 , wherein V comprises two positively charged phosphorus atoms, preferably — + PR 7 2 —R 9′ —PR 7 2 + — or a group (C)

wherein a, b and c independently represent 1-10, preferably, 1-5, more preferably 1-3, most preferably 2, and wherein R 9′ is selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 alkanediyl, C 2-20 alkenediyl, C 2-20 alkynediyl, C 3-30 cycloalkanediyl, C 3-30 cycloalkenediyl, C 5-30 cycloalkynediyl, C 7-30 aralkylenediyl, C 7-30 alkarylenediyl and C 5-30 arylenediyl, preferably R 9′ is selected from the group consisting of C 1-16 alkanediyl, C 2-16 alkenediyl, C 2-16 alkynediyl, C 4-20 cycloalkanediyl, C 4-20 cycloalkenediyl, C 5-20 cycloalkynediyl, C 7-20 aralkylenediyl, C 7-20 alkarylenediyl and C 6-20 arylenediyl, more preferably R 9′ is selected from the group consisting of straight chain C 1-16 alkanediyl, C 2-16 alkenediyl, C 6-16 aralkylenediyl and C 6-16 alkarylenediyl, most preferably, R 9′ is selected from methylene, 1,2-ethylene, 1,2-propylene, 1,3-propylene, 1,2-butylene, 1,3-butylene, 1,4-butylene, 1,5-pentylene, 1,6-hexylene, 1,8-octylene, 1,10-decylene and 1,12-dodecylene.

29 . A compound according to claim 28 , wherein (C) is 1,4-diphosphoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane.

30 . A process for the preparation of a compound having formula (1), comprising reacting a compound having the formula (2):

P—{[COO − ]f (Z g+ )} n   (2)

wherein:

P is as defined in any preceding claim;

n is as defined in any preceding claim;

Z is a cation;

f represents 1/g; and

g represents 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6;

with a group having the formula (3)

L-X  (3)

wherein X is as defined in any preceding claim; and,

L is a leaving group.

31 . A process according to claim 30 wherein L is selected from the group consisting of N-hydroxysuccinimide, N-hydroxybenzotriazole, nitrate, sulfate, bisulfate, phosphate (mono-, bi-, or triphosphate), carbonate, bicarbonate, acetate, tosylates, mesylates, brosylates, and halides including chloride, bromide, and iodide, preferably tosylate.

32 . (canceled)

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