Dual action bactericides: Quaternary ammonium/N-halamine-functionalized cellulose fiber

Bi-functional antibacterial material was prepared by co-grafting N -halamine and quaternary ammonium salt monomers from cellulose fiber. The grafted fiber was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra, and X-ray photoelectron spectra. The N -halamine derived from the precursor 4-[(acryloxy)methyl]-4-ethyl-2-oxazolidinone via chlorination treatment and the oxidative chlorine (Cl + ) leaching behavior were investigated. The antibacterial activities of singly (only QAs-functionalized or only Cl + -releasing) and dual (QAs-functionalized and Cl + -releasing) functional cellulose fibers were tested against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus . Compared to singly functionalized formulations, the bi-functional cellulose fiber exhibited excellent and rapid bactericidal performance against both E. coli and S. aureus . © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131 , 40070.