Synthesis and antimicrobial applications of the inclusion complexes of β‐cyclodextrin copolymers with potassium sorbate

ABSTRACT Four inclusion complexes were synthesized from β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) copolymers and potassium sorbate (PSA) using the self‐assembly principle. Reactive β‐CD monomers carrying unsaturated ester functional groups [β‐CD‐acryloyl chloride (AC)] were synthesized from β‐CD and AC and copolymerized with styrene to obtain β‐CD copolymers of the general formula poly(β‐CD‐AC‐ co ‐St). These β‐CD copolymers having cavity structures were complexed with PSA to obtain the corresponding inclusion complexes of the general formula poly(β‐CD‐AC‐ co ‐St)/PSA. These complexes were added to the polystyrene (PS) sheets, as an antibacterial additive, to inhibit the adhesion and growth of bacteria on its surface. The chemical and physical structures of copolymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and the slow release performance was investigated using ultraviolet spectroscopy. The results showed that the composition of the copolymers and their molecular weight could be controlled by changing the rate of charge while the rate and the amount of slow release could be controlled by altering the content of β‐CD in the copolymer. The PS sheets containing the inclusion complexes exhibited excellent antibacterial activity that significantly reduced the adhesion of yeast and Staphylococcus aureus to its surface. With the increase of the β‐CD content in the copolymers, they contained more of PSA and their bacteriostatic property became more pronounced. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135 , 46885.