Cetylpyridinium chloride is a cationic quaternary ammonium compound that has been used to eliminate oral pathogens. It has shown a high degree of efficacy towards gram-positive, gram-negative bacteria and some pathogenic fungi.

Cetylpyridinium chloride functions as a surfactant, reducing the surface tension between pathogenic membranes and their environments. Greater interaction between the membrane and environment disrupts the cell membrane and osmoregulation. Compromising the membrane ultimately results in cell death.

Chlorhexidine is a cationic polybisbiguanide used as a detergent as well as a bactericidal, anti-viral and antifungal agent. It has been used against an array of oral pathogens, with a high effectiveness toward gram-negative bacteria.

Chlorhexidine, when placed into physiological pH, dissociates into its cationic form and binds to the negatively charged bacterial wall. This binding will cause cytosolic leakage at low concentrations and lytic effects at high chlorohexidine concentrations. However, chlorhexidine activity can be halted upon interaction with anionic compounds.

Chlorhexidine diacetate salt is a diacetate derivative of a cationic polybisbiguanide that has bactericidal, anti-fungal and anti-viral activity. It has also been used for in vivo pharmacokinetic research to investigate drug release rates.

Chlorhexidine, when placed into physiological pH, dissociates into its cationic form and binds to the negatively charged bacterial wall. This binding will cause cytosolic leakage at low concentrations and lytic effects at high chlorohexidine concentrations. However, chlorhexidine activity can be halted upon interaction with anionic compounds.

Chlorhexidine HCl is the cationic salt form of chlorhexidine, a bactericidal detergent. Chlorhexidine HCl has strong bactericidal activity and is used for in vitro bactericidal assays as a positive control.

The compound functions as a bactericidal agent by interacting with the negatively charged bacterial cell wall. Contact of the cationic salt with the cell wall causes cytosolic leakage at low chlorohexidine HCl concentrations and cell lysis at higher concentrations. Duration of antibacterial effects has been shown to be enhanced by incorporating chlorhexidine HCl into human albumin microspheres. This lengthened antibacterial activity against Escheria coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.