Abstract: Two series of cationic polyacrylamide of quaternary pyridine salt-type were synthesized, which have different cationic degrees and molecular weights respectively. The antibacterial property of QPAV was investigated, the influence of various factors on the antibacterial property was examined by using E. Coli as the disease-leading bacterium and the method of plate counting live bacterium. The antibacterial mechanism of QPAV was studied by using the method of measuring the activity of β-D-galactosidase. The experiment results show that QPAV possesses an excellent antibacterial property. The higher the cationic degree of QPAV is, the stronger the antibacterial property is. In certain range of molecular weight, the higher molecular weight of QPAV is, the better the antibacterial effect is. The pH value also influences the antibacterial property of QPAV. The antibacterial effect of QPAV is based on sterilization action certainly and is not only a restraining action.

Key words: Macromolecular antimicrobial, Quaternary pyridine salt, Cationic polyacrylamide, Antibacterial property, Antibacterial mechanism, Sterilization