Microbial Screening of Thermally stable N-Vinyl Carbazole-co-Methoxyethyl methacrylate Copolymers: Synthesis and Characterization

The scope of the present study is focused to explore the antimicrobial properties of thermally stable poly (NVC-co-MOEMA). Copolymers of N-Vinyl Carbazole (NVC) with Methoxy ethylmethacrylate (MOEMA) at different feed compositions were prepared by free radical solution polymerization at (60 ± 5)°C using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as an initiator. The characterization of the copolymers was carried out by FTIR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. The high thermal stability and higher Tg values of the copolymers were predicted by Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Antimicrobial activities of the copolymers were also investigated against the selected pathogenic bacteria's (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichi coli, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella Paratyphi) and fungi's (Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger). Microbial screening of both the Homopolymer and Copolymers were carried out and their activities studied. The antimicrobial activity of the Copolymers was higher than that of the Homopolymer. This shows that copolymerization with methoxy ethylmethacrylate moiety plays a very important role in the antimicrobial activity.