32289-58-0

Description

PHMB is best known for its broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antifungal activity.?It is the standard of care for treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis and an ingredient in multipurpose contact lens solutions, such as Renu (Bauch & Lomb, Rochester, NY). PHMB is a cationic disinfectant that is effective against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria through its electrostatic interaction with negative sites on the lipopolysaccharide component of bacterial cell membranes.

Application

Polyhexanide?(polyhexamethylene biguanide, PHMB) is a?polymer?used as a?disinfectant?and?antiseptic. In?dermatological?use, it is spelled?polihexanide?(INN) and sold under names such as Lavasept, Serasept, Prontosan and Omnicide. PHMB has been shown to be effective against?Pseudomonas aeruginosa,?Staphylococcus aureus?(also the?methicillin-resistant type,?MRSA),?Escherichia coli,?Candida albicans?(yeast),?Aspergillus brasiliensis?(mold),?vancomycin-resistant?enterococci, and?Klebsiella pneumoniae?(carbapenem-resistant?enterobacteriaceae).

Safety

On the 20th of April 2018, the european commission decided to ban preservative uses of PHMB PT9 (Fibre, leather, rubber and polymerised materials preservatives). It’s still allowed for uses as disinfectants PT2 (Disinfectants and algaecides not intended for direct application to humans or animals). Furthermore, PHMB has been declared as a candidate for substitution by the ECHA.

Chemical Properties

Colorless to pale yellow solution

Uses

Broad spectrum antimicrobial polymer; binds and disrupts cytoplasmic membranes

Biological Activity

Polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) is a cationic polymer with antimicrobial and antiviral properties. It has been commonly accepted that the antimicrobial activity is due to the ability of PHMB to perforate the bacterial phospholipid membrane leading ultimately to its death.