Application of Gemini quaternary ammonium with ester groups in cationic P(St-co-BA) nanolatex and study on its antibacterial properties

•GQASs with ester groups were synthesized with high yields via a simple method.•Cationic P(St-co-BA) nanolatex were prepared in the presence of GQASs emulsifiers.•Bactericidal activities against S. aureus & E. coli of P(St-co-BA) nanolatex & films.•Antibacterial mechanism of cationic P(St-co-BA) nanolatex was firstly put forward.

Novel Gemini quaternary ammonium salts (GQASs) with ester groups were synthesized. Cationic poly(styrene-co-butyl acrylate) (P(St-co-BA)) nanolatex was synthesized in the presence of GQASs as emulsifier. The structures of GQASs were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; the property of P(St-co-BA) nanolatex was characterized with dynamic light scattering. The results indicated that GQASs and P(St-co-BA) nanolatex with GQASs were successfully synthesized. GQASs, nanolatex, and the polymer films exhibited excellent antibacterial activities against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli. The GQASs performed even better than the corresponding single-stranded quaternary ammoniums. The antibacterial mechanism was also preliminarily studied, and longer, softer hydrophobic chains of GQAS had stronger antibacterial activity. The work provided a novel, simple approach for developing high-efficiency antibacterial polymer material with a low cost, which has broad biomaterial applications.