Star-shaped poly(styrene)-block-poly(4-vinyl-N-methylpyridiniumiodide) for semipermanent antimicrobial coatings

Goal of the present work is to develop an antimicrobial coating that can be applied from an aqueous solution and resists short washing cycles, but can be rinsed off by thorough washing. To this end, a series of star-shaped polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinyl-N-methylpyridinium iodide) polymers are synthesized by anionic polymerization using a core-first approach. The optimal resulting polymers are applied as coatings on glass slides, showing high antimicrobial efficiency against Staphylococcus aureus as well as Escherichia coli. The coatings, characterized by atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, stay at the surface even after at least 20 flush-like washings with water, and retain their antimicrobial activity.