Phenothiazinium-based photobactericidal materials

Photosensitisers based on the phenothiazinium chromophore have been reported to be bactericidal on illumination via a singlet oxygen-mediated mechanism. The current work reports on the immobilisation of the methylene blue analogue, new methylene blue, in polymer resins, and the preliminary development of photobactericidal materials. The resultant materials exhibited measurable levels of singlet oxygen and were photobactericidal against both Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli. Such materials may be of use in surface disinfection/infection control in the healthcare milieu.