Breathable films with microbial barrier properties

A wound dressing film comprising a blend of:

• a base polymeric formulation comprising polyethylene and poly(ethylene oxide);
• and
• a microbial agent comprising:
• an olefin-poly(ethylene oxide) amphiphilic graft copolymer, wherein a portion of the poly(ethylene oxide) comprises end groups converted to a nitric oxide-releasing agent;
• wherein the film is breathable and provides a microbial barrier.

A method of making a medical device comprising:

• obtaining a polyethylene-poly(ethylene oxide) amphiphilic graft copolymer (PE-g-PEO);
• combining the PE-g-PEO with a base polymeric formulation comprising a polyethylene and a poly(ethylene oxide) to form a blend, which comprises:
• the polyethylene in an amount in the range of about 50 to less than 70% by weight;
• the poly(ethylene oxide) in an amount in the range of greater than 25 to about 50% by weight;
• the PE-g-PEO in an amount in the range of about 0.01 to about 5.0% by weight;
• forming a film from the blend;
• and
• treating the film or the PE-g-PEO with a nitric oxide-releasing agent to convert end groups of a portion of the PEO such that the end groups are directly bonded to the nitric oxide-releasing agent;
• wherein the film is both breathable and a microbial barrier.