Polymer-based antimicrobial compositions and methods of use thereof

An antimicrobial film comprising:

• (a) a polymeric antimicrobial agent consisting of cationic, linear, non-chemically modified polyethylenimine hydrochloride, and
• optionally a second cationic polymer selected from a polydiallyldialkylammonium salt, an acryloxyalkyltrialkylammonium salt, a vinylphenalkyltrialkylammonium salt, an acrylamidoalkyltrialkylammonium salt, a polyethylenimine-based polymer, chitosan optionally in combination with an anionic polymer, and a combination thereof, and
• (b) at least one adhesion promoter selected from a titanate, a branched polyethylenimine-based polymer having carboxylic acid groups, a linear polyethylenimine-based polymer having carboxylic acid groups, a silane compound, cationic block copolymers, a nonionic polymer comprising at least one acyl group, carboxylic acid group, carboxylic acid derivative, a sulfur-containing group, an amino group, hydroxyl, or a halo-containing group, and a combination thereof,
• wherein
• the antimicrobial film does not comprise an antimicrobial metal, a non-polymer germicidal compound, or a polymeric antimicrobial agent other than (a),
• the components of the film are not covalently bound to one another, and
• the antimicrobial film is in accordance with one or more of the following tests:
• (i-a) kills at least 95% of log 5 population of a gram positive or gram negative bacteria in 30 minutes,
• (i-b) kills at least 80% of log 5 population of an enveloped or non-enveloped virus within 30 minutes of contact of contact, and/or
• (i-c) kills at least 90% of a log 4 population of Clostridium difficile bacteria within 24 hours of contact,
• in accordance with Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) Z 2801 (2006) test or EPA Protocol #01-1A.

An antimicrobial film consisting of:

• (a-1) cationic, linear, non-chemically modified polyethylenimine (PEI) having a number average molecular weight of 15,000 g/mol or more or
• (a-2) cationic, linear, non-chemically modified polyethylenimine hydrochloride, and
• (b) at least one adhesion promoter, selected from a titanate, a branched polyethylenimine-based polymer having carboxylic acid groups, a linear polyethylenimine-based polymer having carboxylic acid groups, a silane compound, cationic block copolymers, a nonionic polymer comprising at least one acyl group, carboxylic acid group, carboxylic acid derivative, a sulfur-containing group, an amino group, hydroxyl, or a halo-containing group, and a combination thereof,
• (c) optionally a cationic polymer selected from a polydiallyldialkylammonium salt, an acryloxyalkyltrialkylammonium salt, a vinylphenalkyltrialkylammonium salt, an acrylamidoalkyltrialkylammonium salt, a polyethylenimine-based polymer, chitosan optionally in combination with an anionic polymer, and a combination thereof,
• (d) optionally particles that are photocatalytically active in visible light that are selected from the group consisting of graphene, g-C3N4, a dye sensitizer, a conjugated polymer, W- and N-doped TiO2 particles that have been hydrolyzed under ultraviolet (UV) light, and a mixture thereof, and
• (e) optionally one or more non-electrolyte polymers selected from a polyacrylamide, a polyamine, a polyamidoamine, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, a polyacrylate, and any combination thereof,
• wherein the components of the film are not covalently bound to one another.