Abstract
A series of novel hydrogels based on carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) has been synthesized by a cross-linking reaction between CMCS and various amounts of N,N′-bis [4-(isothiocyanate carbonyl)phenyl] pyromellitimide as a cross-linker to produce pyromellitimide benzoyl thiourea-CMCS hydrogels designated as PIBTU-CMCS (1-4). Hydrogel structures were identified by elemental analyses and FTIR and
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H-NMR spectroscopy. The prepared hydrogels were characterized for their properties to understand the influence exerted by controlled structural variations in these hydrogels. All the hydrogels showed a greater antibacterial activity on Gram-positive than Gram-negative bacteria. They also exhibited higher antifungal activities. Their antimicrobial activity improved by increasing their cross-linking degree.