Antimicrobial star polymers with light-activated enhanced antimicrobial activity

A method, comprising:

• mixing a star polymer with a singlet oxygen generator in anhydrous solvent to form a solution, wherein the singlet oxygen generator generates a singlet oxygen species in response to light, and the star polymer comprising:
• a plurality of non-degradable copolymer arms having respective first ends and respective second ends, wherein the respective first ends are crosslinked to form a vinyl polymer core and the respective second ends have antimicrobial functionality;
• and
• sparging the solution with nitrogen gas for a defined period of time.

A film-forming composition, comprising:

• a solvent;
• and
• a star polymer comprising greater than or equal to 5 weight percent of the film-forming composition and less than or equal to 20 weight percent of the film-forming composition, wherein the star polymer is dispersed in the solvent, and the star polymer comprises:
• a plurality of non-degradable copolymer arms comprising respective first ends and respective second ends, wherein the respective first ends are crosslinked to form a vinyl polymer core and the respective second ends have antimicrobial functionality;
• and
• a singlet oxygen generator loaded within the vinyl polymer core, wherein the singlet oxygen generator generates a singlet oxygen species in response to light.

A method of forming a surface treated article, comprising:

• disposing on a surface of an article a film-forming composition, the film-forming composition comprising:
• a solvent;
• and
• a star polymer comprising greater than or equal to 5 weight percent of the film-forming composition and less than or equal to 20 weight percent of the film-forming composition, wherein the star polymer is dispersed in the solvent and the star polymer comprises:
• a plurality of non-degradable copolymer arms comprising respective first ends and respective second ends, wherein the respective first ends are crosslinked to form a vinyl polymer core and the respective second ends have antimicrobial functionality;
• and
• a singlet oxygen generator loaded within the vinyl polymer core, wherein the singlet oxygen generator generates a singlet oxygen species in response to light;
• and
• removing the solvent from the surface of the article.

A method of killing a pathogen, comprising:

• contacting the pathogen with a polymer, the polymer comprising:
• a plurality of non-degradable copolymer arms comprising respective first ends and respective second ends, wherein the respective first ends are crosslinked to form a vinyl polymer core and the respective second ends have antimicrobial functionality;
• and
• a singlet oxygen generator loaded within the vinyl polymer core, wherein the singlet oxygen generator generates a singlet oxygen species in response to light, wherein upon contact with the pathogen, the polymer electrostatically disrupts a membrane of the pathogen.