Antimicrobial Activities of Conducting Polymers and Their Composites

Conducting polymers, mainly polyaniline (PANI) and polypyrrole (PPY) with positive charges bind to the negatively charged bacterial membrane interfere activities. After this initial electrostatic adherence, conducting polymers might partially penetrate interact other intracellular biomolecules. can form polymer composites metal, metal oxides, nanoscale carbon materials as a new class of antimicrobial agents enhanced properties. The accumulation elevated oxygen reactive species (ROS) from polymers-metal nanoparticles has harmful effects induces cell death. Among such ROS, hydroxyl radical one unpaired electron in structure is most effective it oxidize any biomolecules, leading Future endeavors should focus on combination their antibiotics, small peptides, natural molecules Such arsenals low cytotoxicity are expected eradicate ESKAPE pathogens: Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter spp.