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Surface modification of polymeric films and membranes to achieve antibacterial properties
Author(s) -
Cen L.,
Neoh K. G.,
Ying L.,
Kang E. T.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
surface and interface analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.52
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1096-9918
pISSN - 0142-2421
DOI - 10.1002/sia.1745
Subject(s) - pyridinium , membrane , surface modification , materials science , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , fluoride , chemistry , organic chemistry , inorganic chemistry , biochemistry , engineering
A surface modification technique was developed to impart antibacterial properties on polymeric films and membranes. Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) films and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes were first graft‐copolymerized with 4‐vinylpyridine (4VP) and subsequently quaternized with hexylbromide. Both these substrates can be functionalized with varying amounts of pyridinium groups and these groups possess antibacterial properties as shown by assay using waterborne Escherichia coli . The stability of the antibacterial properties of the N ‐hexyl pyridinium groups on the PET film was investigated and the same efficiency in killing the E. coli on contact was observed for the modified film after a 60 day storage in air. Thus, the present surface modification method offers the advantages of simplicity in processing, good control over the surface concentration of pyridinium groups, long‐term stability as well as wide applicability. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.