Synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of a new photoactive hydrogel against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

In 2013, the World Health Organization reported that 884 million people lack access to clean potable water. Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) is a very promising alternative to conventional antibiotics for the efficient inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms. We report the synthesis, characterization and antibacterial activity of a polyacrylamide-based hydrogel (7), with a new photoactive phenothiazinium compound (6) immobilized on it, to be used as a novel water-sterilizing device.