Polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB)

Polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) is a synthetic, water-soluble cationic polymer made of repeating hexamethylene and biguanide units. It acts as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antiviral agent, used in disinfection, wound care, and topical antiseptics. PHMB works by binding to microbial membranes, disrupting their structure, and causing leakage of cellular components. It is active against a broad range of bacteria, fungi, and some parasites, most notably used in the treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis of the eye. PHMB is used widely in medical, household, industrial, and cosmetic formulations. It is not a traditional biological target (like a receptor or enzyme), but a biocidal agent acting directly on pathogens at the cellular level[1][2][7][8]. Summary of appropriateness as "target": PHMB is a molecule with important **biocidal function** but is not a canonical molecular target for drug discovery such as a receptor, enzyme, transporter, or signaling molecule. If your use case is for recognizing target molecules in pharmacology, PHMB does not fit this schema.

Other names

PolihexanidePolyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloridePolyhexanide HClPHMB hydrochloridePoly(hexamethylene biguanide)Poly(hexamethylene biguanide) hydrochlorideBG-1LavaseptBaquacilVantocil

Disrupts microbial cell membranes by binding to phospholipid headgroups and increasing membrane permeability, leading to leakage of cell contents and cell death; inhibits DNA synthesis in some organisms