Enlarged Cleavable Linkages in Shuriken-like Quaternary Ammonium Compounds Providing Safer Bactericides

Abstract

Although they offer great convenience in preventing microbial infections, the nondegradable feature of most commercial quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) has led to persistent environmental accumulation, raising significant concerns about their detrimental impacts on public and ecological health. In this study, we report a kind of shuriken-like QACs with rapid hydrolysis properties under mild conditions, enabled by the introduction of enlarged cleavable linkages as backbones. Such shuriken-like QACs present potent bactericidal activity owing to the multicationic “heads” yet can be converted to entirely harmless forms of choline and silicone oil after degradation. Both the cytotoxicity assessment and the biosafety evaluation confirm the nontoxic nature of the degradation products. The bactericidal performance in fruit preservation and infection prevention on fabric surfaces further illustrates the broad application prospects of such degradable QACs within the realm of food safety and public health. With the advantages of rapid hydrolysis, environmental friendliness, and low biotoxicity, the concept of an “enlarged cleavable linkage” strategy will pave the way for exploiting a generation of degradable disinfectants that can effectively combat microbial threats while ensuring a minimal ecological footprint.