Synthesis of Hydroxypropyltrimethyl Ammonium Chloride Chitosan and Study on Their Antibacterial Films

Three kinds of 2-hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan (HACC) with different degrees of substitution (DS: 37.3%, 56.0%, 81.5%) were synthesized by the reaction of chitosan with glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTMAC), and characterized by FT-IR and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Their properties such as water solubility, aqueous solution stability upon pH, moisture absorption ability were determined, following with the studies of filmforming capability and the antibacterial property of films. Results indicated that the water solubility, aqueous solution stability upon pH and moisture absorption ability increased with increasing DS of HACC. Additionally, HACC films, prepared by tape casting with their dilute solutions, were presented as transparent films with favorable mechanical performance and better antibacterial property against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli than chitosan film.