Recent Developments in the Preparation of Silicones with Antimicrobial Properties

This Focus Review describes state-of-the-art methods for the preparation of antimicrobial silicones. Given the diversity of antimicrobial activity and their mechanisms, the performance of these materials is highly dependent on the characteristics of the polymeric matrix. Therefore, different synthetic routes have been developed, such as 1) physical treatments, 2) chemical transformations, and 3) copolymerization. This classification is not exclusive, so some products belong to more than one class. Herein, we attempt to present a handy overview of the development of antimicrobial silicones, their most important application fields, the most relevant antimicrobial assays, and, as the title suggests, an overview of the most relevant preparation methods.