Nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) is a bio-based nanomaterial with no intrinsic antibacterial properties. In the present study, an NFC derivative with antibacterial properties was prepared by chemical grafting of a novel quinolinium silane salt containing a reactive trimethoxysilane group on the surface of its nano fibrillar network. First, (3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)quinolinium iodide (TMSQI) was synthesized using (3- chloropropyl trimethoxysilane) (CPTMS) and quinoline in the presence of potassium iodide. Then, the synthesized TMSQI was covalently grafted on the surface of NFC by a simple adsorption-curing process. The synthesized TMSQI was characterized by 1 H and 13 C NMR spectroscopies. The grafted NFC samples were also characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray di ffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis and also tested for antibacterial activity against Gram-positive (S. aureus) and Gram-negative (E. coli ) bacteria. The TMSQI-grafted NFC exhibited a successful killing e ffect against Gram-positive bacteria, whereas bacteriostatic efficiency was found in the grafted NFC samples against Gram-negative bacteria.
