Conjugated Polyelectrolyte Capsules: Light-Activated Antimicrobial Micro Roach Motels

Microcapsules consisting of alternating layers of oppositely charged poly(phenylene ethynylene)-type conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) were prepared via layer-by-layer deposition onto MnCO3 template particles followed by dissolution of the template particles using an ethylenediaminetetraacetate solution. The resulting microcapsules exhibit bright-green fluorescence emission characteristics of the CPEs. Strong antimicrobial activity was observed upon mixing Of polyelectrolyte capsules with Cobetia marina or Pseudomonas aeruginosa followed by white-light irradiation. It was demonstrated that the materials act as highly effective light-activated micro Roach Motels with greater than 95% kill after exposure to similar to 1h of white light.