Surface and Antimicrobial Properties of Ester-Based Gemini Surfactants
Cationic surfactants, accounting for approximately 7% of the global surfactant market, are widely used in applications such as fabric softeners, biocides, and corrosion inhibitors. Recently, gemini surfactants—comprising two amphiphilic units linked by a spacer—have attracted significant interest du...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/12/2648 |
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| author | Iwona Kowalczyk Adrianna Szulc Anna Koziróg Anna Komasa Bogumił Brycki |
| author_facet | Iwona Kowalczyk Adrianna Szulc Anna Koziróg Anna Komasa Bogumił Brycki |
| author_sort | Iwona Kowalczyk |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cationic surfactants, accounting for approximately 7% of the global surfactant market, are widely used in applications such as fabric softeners, biocides, and corrosion inhibitors. Recently, gemini surfactants—comprising two amphiphilic units linked by a spacer—have attracted significant interest due to their superior surface activity, lower critical micelle concentrations, and strong antimicrobial properties. However, their poor biodegradability, resulting from their complex molecular structure, has raised environmental concerns. To address this, researchers have developed ester-based gemini surfactants incorporating biodegradable bonds. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the structure of ester-based gemini surfactants (hydrophobic chain length and spacer type) and their antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi. Three series of compounds featuring different functional groups in the spacer were synthesized, along with a trimeric surfactant for comparative purposes. The results demonstrated that both the hydrophobic chain length and the presence of additional cationic groups significantly influence the CMC and antimicrobial performance. Quantum mechanical calculations were also performed to search for correlations between electronic properties and chemical reactivity of compounds. These findings highlight that ester-based gemini surfactants combine high surface and antimicrobial activity with the potential for improved biodegradability, making them promising candidates for use in environmentally friendly applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6a67672047ee486c8bf01d4e46f71015 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj-art-6a67672047ee486c8bf01d4e46f710152025-08-20T03:27:38ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-06-013012264810.3390/molecules30122648Surface and Antimicrobial Properties of Ester-Based Gemini SurfactantsIwona Kowalczyk0Adrianna Szulc1Anna Koziróg2Anna Komasa3Bogumił Brycki4Department of Bioactive Products, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University Poznan, 61-614 Poznan, PolandDepartment of Bioactive Products, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University Poznan, 61-614 Poznan, PolandInstitute of Fermentation Technology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Lodz University of Technology, 90-530 Lodz, PolandDepartment of Bioactive Products, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University Poznan, 61-614 Poznan, PolandDepartment of Bioactive Products, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University Poznan, 61-614 Poznan, PolandCationic surfactants, accounting for approximately 7% of the global surfactant market, are widely used in applications such as fabric softeners, biocides, and corrosion inhibitors. Recently, gemini surfactants—comprising two amphiphilic units linked by a spacer—have attracted significant interest due to their superior surface activity, lower critical micelle concentrations, and strong antimicrobial properties. However, their poor biodegradability, resulting from their complex molecular structure, has raised environmental concerns. To address this, researchers have developed ester-based gemini surfactants incorporating biodegradable bonds. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the structure of ester-based gemini surfactants (hydrophobic chain length and spacer type) and their antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi. Three series of compounds featuring different functional groups in the spacer were synthesized, along with a trimeric surfactant for comparative purposes. The results demonstrated that both the hydrophobic chain length and the presence of additional cationic groups significantly influence the CMC and antimicrobial performance. Quantum mechanical calculations were also performed to search for correlations between electronic properties and chemical reactivity of compounds. These findings highlight that ester-based gemini surfactants combine high surface and antimicrobial activity with the potential for improved biodegradability, making them promising candidates for use in environmentally friendly applications.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/12/2648ester-based gemini surfactantsbetainate gemini surfactantsantimicrobial activityDFT calculations |
| spellingShingle | Iwona Kowalczyk Adrianna Szulc Anna Koziróg Anna Komasa Bogumił Brycki Surface and Antimicrobial Properties of Ester-Based Gemini Surfactants Molecules ester-based gemini surfactants betainate gemini surfactants antimicrobial activity DFT calculations |
| title | Surface and Antimicrobial Properties of Ester-Based Gemini Surfactants |
| title_full | Surface and Antimicrobial Properties of Ester-Based Gemini Surfactants |
| title_fullStr | Surface and Antimicrobial Properties of Ester-Based Gemini Surfactants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Surface and Antimicrobial Properties of Ester-Based Gemini Surfactants |
| title_short | Surface and Antimicrobial Properties of Ester-Based Gemini Surfactants |
| title_sort | surface and antimicrobial properties of ester based gemini surfactants |
| topic | ester-based gemini surfactants betainate gemini surfactants antimicrobial activity DFT calculations |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/12/2648 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT iwonakowalczyk surfaceandantimicrobialpropertiesofesterbasedgeminisurfactants AT adriannaszulc surfaceandantimicrobialpropertiesofesterbasedgeminisurfactants AT annakozirog surfaceandantimicrobialpropertiesofesterbasedgeminisurfactants AT annakomasa surfaceandantimicrobialpropertiesofesterbasedgeminisurfactants AT bogumiłbrycki surfaceandantimicrobialpropertiesofesterbasedgeminisurfactants |