Absorbent materials with covalently-bonded, nonleachable, polymeric antimicrobial surfaces, and methods for preparation

A superabsorbent material for absorbing biological fluids, comprising a flexible substrate and n enhanced surface area, said enhanced surface area comprising a multitude of non-hydrolyzable, non-leachable polymer chains covalently bonded by non-siloxane bonds to said flexible substrate;

• wherein said non-hydrolyzable, non-leachable polymer chains comprise a multitude of antimicrobial groups attached to said non-hydrolyzable, non-leachable polymer chains by covalent bonds;
• and wherein a sufficient number of said non-hydrolyzable, non-leachable polymer chains are covalently bonded to sites of said flexible substrate to render the material antimicrobial when exposed to aqueous fluids, menses, bodily fluids, or wound exudates;
• wherein said superabsorbent material is capable of absorbing about 30 or more times its own weight of water or other fluids in a single instance;
• and wherein said absorbing capacity is the result of branching or crosslinking of said non-hydrolyzable, non-leachable polymer chains.

A method for the preparation of a non-leaching antimicrobial-coated composition, comprising the steps of:

• a. immersing all or a portion of a substrate into a solution comprising a sufficient quantity of monomer bearing at least one antimicrobial group per monomer molecule, and a sufficient quantity of catalyst, to sustain polymerization reactions to sufficiently coat said substrate to impart an antimicrobial characteristic;
• b. maintaining the contact of said substrate with said solution under acceptable conditions for a sufficient period of time to complete said reaction, wherein said reactions comprise forming polymers of varying lengths, and forming covalent, non-siloxane bonds between the majority of said polymers of varying lengths and binding sites on said substrate.
• c. rinsing saidsubstrate sufficiently to remove non-polymerized monomer molecules, non-stabilized polymer molecules, and catalyst;
• and
• d. drying said substrate to a desired low moisture content, such that the substrate is not a hydrogel.

An antimicrobial-coated composition for destruction of microbes contacting said composition, comprising:

• a. a substrate onto which a coating of antimicrobial polymers is bonded;
• and,
• b. said coating, formed of an effective amount of polymeric molecules having a multiplicity of quaternary ammonium groups, wherein said polymeric molecules are non-leachably and covalently bonded to surface sites of said substrate, wherein said polymers do not form using siloxane bonds, and wherein said coating is absorbent of aqueous liquids,
• whereby said multiplicity of quaternary ammonium groups act to destroy microbes coming in contact with said groups.