Contact antimicrobial kill, rather than biocide release, is desired for soft materials such as catheters or coatings in nosocomial environments. In such applications long term durability of biocidal function is desired. Previously, we described modification of linear and network HMDI/BD-PTMO polyurethanes with 2 wt% or less copolyoxetane-based soft block polyurethanes. The soft block contained a semifluorinated side chain �chaperone� and quaternary ammonium side chain. High antimicrobial activity was found, but slow surface phase separation occurred that sequestered quaternary function. A new approach using 4FOx (2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy-methyl) side chain 'chaperones' has resulted in temporal stability of quaternary antimicrobial function. XPS, dynamic contact angle measurements and TM-AFM have been used to characterize the modified surfaces. Antimicrobial activity has been correlated with zeta potential measurements. The results are important to the development of contact antimicrobial coatings with long term effectiveness.*Support from the Division of Materials Research, National Science Foundation is gratefully acknowledged.

Copolyoxetane soft blocks with 4FOx (2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxymethyl) side chains: An amphiphilic chaperone for quaternary antimicrobial surface modification

243rd National Meeting (2012)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.