Antibacterial activity or reactive quaternary ammonium compounds is solution and in non-leachable coatings

Antibacterial polymers suitable for coating applications without leaching of the biocide component were obtained by UV photopolymerization of acrylic monomers containing quaternary ammonium moieties. Suitable quaternary ammonium monomers (QAMs) endowed with reactive undecylacryloil group and alkyl chains with 2, 8 and 16 carbon atoms have been synthesised and their biocide activity in solution has been verified against E. coli, S. aureus and L. monocytogenes strains in suspension or adhered to stainless steel surfaces. The QAMs showed sufficient reactivity to be copolymerized with a commercial urethane acrylic resin by UV irradiation. Crosslinked coatings containing QAM structural units linked to the polymer network have been obtained. The antibacterial properties of the coatings containing the quaternary ammonium biocide were tested and the biocidal activity ofthe coating surface was ascertained.