Patent ID: 7022214

Claim:
A compound having the formula X (CH 2 ) m —Y n (CH 2 ) m -Z in which: m is 1 to 6; n is 1 to 20; when n is 2 or greater, either all Y is the same or Y differs among different (—(CH 2 ) m —Y—) groups; and X, Y, and Z are independently selected from the group consisting of amine groups and guanidine groups such that at least one group represented by X, Y, and Z, but not all, is a guanidine group; and at least one amine group represented by X, Y, or Z is substituted with at least one carboxylate substituent having the formula in which: R 1 is a member selected from the group consisting of H, C 1-4 alkyl, C(O)OH, C(O)O—(C 1-4 alkyl), (C 1-4 alkylene)-C(O)OH, and (C 1-4 alkylene)-C(O)O—(C 1-4 alkyl); R 2 is a member selected from the group consisting of H, C 1-4 alkyl, C(O)OH, C(O)O—(C 1-4 alkyl), (C 1-4 alkylene)-C(O)OH, and (C 1-4 alkylene)-C(O)O—(C 1-4 alkyl); and R 3 is a member selected from the group consisting of H and C 1-4 alkyl.