Polymeric phosphonium salts as a novel class of cationic biocides. III. Immobilization of phosphonium salts by surface photografting and antibacterial activity of the surface‐treated polymer films

Abstract

Abstract Immobilized polycationic biocides with phosphonium salt on the surface of poly(propylene) film were prepared by surface photografting and surface antibacterial activity of the resulting films against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was explored by the viable cell counting method. These films with phosphonium salts were found to exhibit high antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli —particularly against E. coli. Furthermore, morphological changes of the cells of S. aureus and E. coli in contact with the immobilized phosphonium salt were estimated by scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the immobilized biocides exhibited surface bactericidal activity against both strains as evidenced by shrunken and deformed cells of these species in contact with the immobilized biocides. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.