Antibacterial effect of novel grafted gelatin on gram-negative bacteria

N -vinyl imidazole ( N VI) was grafted onto gelatin using potassium persulphate (KPS) as thermal initiator in aqueous medium. The effects of various parameters such as different KPS and N VI concentrations, the time and reaction temperature on the grafting process have been investigated. The optimum conditions were found to get the highest grafting efficiency as follow [KPS] = 6 × 10 −3 mol L −1 , [ N VI] = 1.5 mol L −1 at reaction temperature 60 °C for 90 min. The grafted gelatin copolymers were characterized using different techniques namely Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and 1 H NMR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermal analysis. The antibacterial activity of gelatin and its grafted copolymers was evaluated. The highest percent of grafting (G% = 215%) showed strong improvement in activity of gelatin against gram-negative bacteria used Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia . In case of Klebsiella pneumonia , grafted gelatin copolymer showed the same inhibition zone of gentamicin (standard antibiotic).