FTIR metabolomic fingerprint reveals different modes of action exerted by structural variants of N-alkyltropinium bromide surfactants on Escherichia coli and Listeria innocua cells.

Surfactants are extremely important agents to clean and sanitize various environments. Their biocidal activity is a key factor determined by the interactions between amphiphile structure and the target microbial cells. The object of this study was to analyze the interactions between four structural variants of N-alkyltropinium bromide surfactants with the Gram negative Escherichia coli and the Gram positive Listeria innocua bacteria.