Properties and Applications of Polyhexamethylene Bisoguanide Hydrochloride

Introduction

As a biologically active organic base, guanidine-based polymers are widely used in medicine, agriculture, textile and other fields. 

Guanidine compounds have been found to have bactericidal ability as early as the 1930s, and research on their use in the field of disinfection has also increased day by day.

Antibacterial mechanism of CAS 32289-58-0 Polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride

PHMB is a cell membrane active antibacterial agent, its inhibitory effect on bacterial activity is higher than that on fungi, and its antibacterial mechanism is roughly as follows:

First of all, PHMB is a polycationic compound, which will be adsorbed on the surface of negatively charged microorganisms to prevent its division and reproduction; 

Also, PHMB adsorbed on the surface of microorganisms will act on the phospholipid bilayer in the cytoplasm through transmembrane transport, and combine with negatively charged phosphate groups , thereby changing the selective permeability of the cell membrane, destroying cell metabolism, and thus killing microorganisms.

Advantages of Polyhexamethylene Bisoguanide Hydrochloride

1. Excellent bactericidal ability

PHMB is a broad-spectrum fungicide that has good efficacy against Gram-negative bacteria that are difficult to treat with general fungicides, and can also achieve good bactericidal effects at low concentrations without making bacteria resistant to resistance.

The sterilization speed is fast. After sterilization, the PHMB cation is adsorbed on the surface of the article, so the growth of bacteria can be inhibited for a long time.

2. Good stability

Non-volatile, good water solubility, insensitive to temperature and light, easy to store and transport.

3. Other Characteristics

No toxic and side effects (PHMB itself is a high molecular polymer, not easily absorbed by body tissues), basically non-corrosive, low foam, easy to rinse, etc. In addition, compared with iodophor and other disinfectants, PHMB also has the advantage of not staining.

Applications of Polyhexamethylene Bisoguanide Hydrochloride

1. Agriculture

PHMB has excellent bactericidal activity and excellent bacteriostatic effect, and has inhibitory effects on Botrytis cinerea that causes fruit rot and leaf spot mold.

And PHMB is basically harmless to higher biological cells and is very suitable as a fungicide for some crops

2. Textile Industries

Usually, a certain concentration of PHMB is used as an active substance to prepare an antibacterial agent. 

After dyeing of cloth, cotton and other textiles, it can effectively inhibit the growth of bacteria, and its antibacterial properties are long-lasting, and it still has a good antibacterial effect after multiple washings. 

3. Aquacultures

PHMB can kill pathogenic vibrio, and at the same time has no toxic and side effects on the development of aquaculture aquatic organisms such as variegated abalone, prawn, turbot and sea cucumber, so it can be used for disinfection of aquaculture waters.

It can also reduces ammonia and phosphate in the water environment, inhibits algal growth, and balances the ecosystem of the mariculture environment.