Grafted α-hydroxyphosphonic acids onto polymeric supports: preparation, characterization, and antimicrobial effect

The paper deals with the preparation and characterization of compounds with antimicrobial activity: α-hydroxyphosphonic acids grafted onto styrene-12%-(15%)-divinylbenzene copolymer. These products proved to have antimicrobial effect against two species of gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and two species of gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus) and a species of yeast (Candida albicans). Tests showed the reduction of bacterial load at different time intervals during the 18 h of contact.