Cross-Linked Polymer Brushes Containing -Halamine Groups for Antibacterial Surface Applications.

Microbial contamination is a significant issue in various areas, especially in the food industry. In this study, to overcome microbial contamination, cross-linked polymer brushes containing -halamine were synthesized, characterized, and investigated for antibacterial properties. The cross-linked polymer brushes with different -halamine ratios were synthesized by in-situ cross-linking methods with reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization using a bifunctional cross-linker. The RAFT agent was immobilized on an amine-terminated silicon wafer surface and utilized in the surface-initiated RAFT polymerization of [-(2-methyl-1-(4-methyl-2,5-dioxoimidazolidin-4-yl)propane-2-yl)acrylamide] (hydantoin acrylamide, HA), and -(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide) (HPMA) monomers. Measurement of film thickness, contact angle, and surface morphology of the resulting surfaces were used to confirm the structural characteristics of cross-linked polymer brushes. The chlorine content of the three different surfaces was determined to be approximately 8-31 × 10 atoms/cm. At the same time, it was also observed that the activation-deactivation efficiency decreased during the recharge-discharge cycles. However, it was determined that the prepared -halamine-containing cross-linked polymer brushes inactivated approximately 96% of and 91% of . In conclusion, in the framework of this study, high-performance brush gels were produced that can be used on antibacterial surfaces.