Edible Oil-Based Metal-Containing Bioactive Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization, Physicochemical and Biological Studies

Zinc containing edible oil (coconut oil) based polyesteramide resins were synthesized by condensation polymerization between N,N′-bis (2-hydroxyethyl) coconut oil fatty amide (HECA), Zn (OH)2 and citric acid/tartaric acid. The structural studies were carried out by FT-IR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopic techniques. Standard laboratory methods were used to study the physiochemical characteristics like acid value, hydroxyl value, saponification value, iodine value, specific gravity, and viscosity. The thermal behaviour of the polymers was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Both polymers were examined for antifungal and antibacterial properties and the results were compared with a standard drug. In the case of fungi, the growth curve (turbidometric measurement) was performed using a conventional spectrophotometer for the tartaric polymer, which showed higher biological activity against one of the Candida species.