In the fields of healthcare, food processing, and agriculture, vast resources are being directed toward management of microbial contamination risk, yet problems continue to persist.  N-halamines offer an effective and safe means for incorporating potent and rechargeable antimicrobial properties into common-touch surfaces.  The choice of surface functionalization and conjugation methods, however, can have a significant impact on performance, durability, and cost. New inventions are presented that focus on novel incorporation of N-halamines and their commercial application in polymers, paints, and hard surfaces.  Compounds are synthesized as polymeric particles or attached to surfaces using pre-treatment methods such as Layer-by-Layer (LbL) deposition, gas plasma functionalization, silane couplers, and carbodiimide crosslinking chemistry.  Characterization is verified using multiple known methods such as Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and UV/VIS spectroscopy.  Commercial scaling-up of the antimicrobial polymeric additives has been achieved through the identification and control of critical process characteristics (CPC’s) at the nanoscale level (polymerizing emulsion).  Currently, the extent of retention of the antimicrobial properties of N-halamine – based nanoparticles after their application to the explored materials is under investigation.

N-halamines: Antimicrobial surface functionalization of polymers & nanomaterials

251st National Meeting (2016)

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