Antibacterial and hemolytic activities of pyridinium polymers as a function of the spatial relationship between the positive charge and the pendant alkyl tail

(Figure Presented) The benefits of separation: For homologous polymers having similar backbone composition and charge/tail ratios, placing the charge and alkyl tail on spatially separated centers results in a higher membrane-disrupting ability, as evident from the increased antibacterial and hemolyticac tivities. The spatial separation particularly amplifies mammalian cell toxicity (see picture).