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Abstract
Different synthetic strategies for the formation of contact active antimicrobial materials
utilizing covalent linkage of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) were reviewed.
There is a demand to find methods that will prevent bacterial fouling without the
release of antimicrobial agents, because biocides cause environment pollution and
promote the development of bacteria resistance mechanisms. The contact active antimicrobial
surfaces may provide a useful tool for this purpose. The covalent surface grafting
of QACs seems to be a feasible and promising approach for the formation of safe and
effective antimicrobial materials that could be utilized for medical devices, food
industry, water treatment systems and other applications. This manuscript reviews
covalent attachment of QACs to form contact active antimicrobial materials based on
glass, metals, synthetic and natural polymers. The review emphasizes the description
of different synthetic methods that are used for the covalent linkage. Direct covalent
linkage of QACs to the material surfaces, a linkage via auxiliary nanoparticles (NPs),
or spacers, controlled radical polymerization techniques and a linkage to pre-activated
surfaces are discussed. The physico-chemical properties and biological activity of
the modified surfaces are also described. This review does not cover non-covalent
grafting of QACs and incorporation of QACs into a bulk material.