Investigation of solid supported dendrimers for water disinfection

Polystyrene copolymer beads supported dendrimer was synthesized and investigated for its biological applications. Macroporous cross‐linked polystyrene copolymer beads were synthesized using suspension polymerization. Two successive generations of di(chloroethyl) amine‐type end group functionality was formed on the polystyrene copolymer beads. Elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectra, and solid state 13C NMR spectra were employed to characterize the polymer bound dendrimer. The polymer bound dendrimer was tested for antibacterial action against both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. The activity against both types of organism increased with an increase in the nitrogen atoms in the polymer back bone. The dendritic structure containing both amino and di(chloroethyl) groups showed significant reduction in the bacterial count when kept in 20 mL autoclaved water with bacterial cultures having an initial count in the range of 12–83 × 106 CFU/mL. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012