Structures that inhibit microbial growth

An anti-microbial structure comprising of:

• a dry base structure;
• and
• a microbiological interception enhancing agent comprising of a water-soluble cationic material and a biologically active metal salt, said water-soluble cationic material having a counter ion associated therewith on at least a portion of said dry base structure, said biologically active metal salt provided in direct proximity to said cationic material on said base structure whereby the counter ion associated with the cationic material preferentially precipitates with at least a portion of the biologically active metal to generate a colloidal metal precipitate adjacent the cationic material, said colloidal metal precipitate residing on said dry base structure;
• wherein said dry base structure comprises a polymeric resin wherein said polymeric resin is coated or compounded with said microbiological interception enhancing agent wherein the water-soluble cationic material is a polymer.

An anti-microbial structure comprising of:

• a dry base structure;
• and
• a microbiological interception enhancing agent comprising of a water-soluble cationic material and a biologically active metal salt, said water-soluble cationic material having a counter ion associated therewith on at least a portion of said dry base structure, said biologically active metal salt provided in direct proximity to said cationic material on said base structure whereby the counter ion associated with the cationic material preferentially precipitates with at least a portion of the biologically active metal to generate a colloidal metal precipitate adjacent the cationic material, said colloidal metal precipitate residing on said dry base structure;
• wherein said dry base structure comprises a membrane wherein said membrane is coated with or contains said microbiological interception enhancing agent wherein the water-soluble cationic material is a polymer.

An anti-microbial structure comprising of:

• a dry base structure;
• and
• a microbiological interception enhancing agent comprising of a water-soluble cationic material and a biologically active metal salt, said water-soluble cationic material having a counter ion associated therewith on at least a portion of said dry base structure, said biologically active metal salt provided in direct proximity to said cationic material on said base structure whereby the counter ion associated with the cationic material preferentially precipitates with at least a portion of the biologically active metal to generate a colloidal metal precipitate adjacent the cationic material, said colloidal metal precipitate residing on said dry base structure;
• wherein said dry base structure comprises a woven or non-woven textile wherein said woven or non-woven textile is treated with or contains said microbiological interception enhancing agent wherein the water-soluble cationic material is a polymer.

An anti-microbial structure comprising of:

• a microbiological interception enhancing agent comprising of a water-soluble cationic material having a counter ion associated therewith, in combination with a biologically active metal salt, wherein the counter ion associated with the cationic material preferentially precipitates with at least a portion of the biologically active metal cation such that precipitation of the biologically active metal cation and the counter ion occurs in proximity to the cationic material;
• and
• a base structure treated with said microbiological interception enhancing agent, wherein said microbiological interception enhancing agent is stable on said base structure;
• wherein said base structure comprises a wound dressing wherein said wound dressing is treated with or contains said microbiological interception enhancing agent wherein the water-soluble cationic material is a polymer.

An anti-microbial structure comprising of:

• a microbiological interception enhancing agent comprising of a water-soluble cationic material having a counter ion associated therewith, in combination with a biologically active metal salt, wherein the counter ion associated with the cationic material preferentially precipitates with at least a portion of the biologically active metal cation such that precipitation of the biologically active metal cation and the counter ion occurs in proximity to the cationic material;
• and
• a base structure treated with said microbiological interception enhancing agent, wherein said microbiological interception enhancing agent is stable on said base structure;
• wherein said dry base structure comprises a sponge wherein said sponge is treated with or contains said microbiological interception enhancing agent wherein the water-soluble cationic material is a polymer.

An anti-microbial structure comprising of:

• a dry base structure;
• and
• a microbiological interception enhancing agent comprising of a water-soluble cationic material and a biologically active metal salt, said water-soluble cationic material having a counter ion associated therewith on at least a portion of said dry base structure, said biologically active metal salt provided in direct proximity to said cationic material on said base structure whereby the counter ion associated with the cationic material preferentially precipitates with at least a portion of the biologically active metal to generate a colloidal metal precipitate adjacent the cationic material, said colloidal metal precipitate residing on said dry base structure;
• wherein said dry base structure comprises metal, glass, wood, polymer, or a composite thereof treated with or containing said microbiological interception enhancing agent, wherein the metal, glass, wood, polymer, or composite thereof is extruded, molded, blown, or cast wherein the water-soluble cationic material is a polymer.

An anti-microbial structure comprising of:

• a microbiological interception enhancing agent comprising a homopolymer of diallyl dimethyl ammonium halide, wherein the halide is a counter ion of the ammonium cation, and a silver salt, wherein the halide counter ion preferentially precipitates with at least a portion of the silver cation such that precipitation of the silver cation and the halide counter ion occurs in proximity to the homopolymer of diallyl dimethyl ammonium halide;
• and
• a dry base structure treated with said microbiological interception enhancing agent, wherein said precipitation generated by said microbiological interception enhancing agent resides on said dry base structure;
• wherein said dry base structure comprises a plurality of fibers wherein the plurality of fibers are coated with or contain said microbiological interception enhancing agent.

An anti-microbial structure comprising of:

• a microbiological interception enhancing agent comprising a homopolymer of diallyl dimethyl ammonium halide, wherein the halide is a counter ion of the ammonium cation, and a silver salt, wherein the halide counter ion preferentially precipitates with at least a portion of the silver cation such that precipitation of the silver cation and the halide counter ion occurs in proximity to the homopolymer of diallyl dimethyl ammonium halide;
• a dry base structure treated with said microbiological interception enhancing agent, wherein said precipitation generated by said microbiological interception enhancing agent resides on said dry base structure;
• and
• a polymeric resin wherein said polymeric resin is coated or compounded with said microbiological interception enhancing agent, said polymeric resin is a thermoset or thermoplastic resin.

An anti-microbial structure comprising of:

• a microbiological interception enhancing agent comprising of a water-soluble cationic material having a counter ion associated therewith, in combination with a biologically active metal salt, wherein the counter ion associated with the cationic material preferentially precipitates with at least a portion of the biologically active metal cation such that precipitation of the biologically active metal cation and the counter ion occurs in proximity to the cationic material;
• and
• a starting material of said structure comprising a base structure treated with said microbiological interception enhancing agent prior to forming said structure, wherein said microbiological interception enhancing agent is stable on said base structure;
• and
• wherein said base structure comprises a cellular foam structure wherein said cellular foam structure is coated with or contains said microbiological interception enhancing agent wherein the water-soluble cationic material is a polymer.

An anti-microbial structure comprising of:

• a microbiological interception enhancing agent comprising of a water-soluble cationic material having a counter ion associated therewith, in combination with a biologically active metal salt, wherein the counter ion associated with the cationic material preferentially precipitates with at least a portion of the biologically active metal cation such that precipitation of the biologically active metal cation and the counter ion occurs in proximity to the cationic material;
• and
• a starting material of said structure comprising a base structure treated with said microbiological interception enhancing agent prior to forming said structure, wherein said microbiological interception enhancing agent is stable on said base structure;
• and
• wherein said base structure comprises a woven or non-woven textile wherein said woven or non-woven textile is treated with or contains said microbiological interception enhancing agent wherein the water-soluble cationic material is a polymer.

An anti-microbial structure comprising of:

• a microbiological interception enhancing agent comprising of a water-soluble cationic material having a counter ion associated therewith, in combination with a biologically active metal salt, wherein the counter ion associated with the cationic material preferentially precipitates with at least a portion of the biologically active metal cation such that precipitation of the biologically active metal cation and the counter ion occurs in direct proximity to the cationic material to generate a colloidal metal precipitate adjacent the cationic material while avoiding uncontrolled precipitation of said biologically active metal cation at sites remote from said cationic material;
• and
• a base structure treated with said microbiological interception enhancing agent, wherein said microbiological interception enhancing agent is stable on said base structure, and said base structure comprises nanofiber-based structures, membranes, high-loft structures, textile fibers, non-fibrous structures, non-permeable structures, or non-absorbent structures,
• wherein said nanofiber-based structures are used in the fabrication of articles selected from the group consisting of wovens, non-wovens, membranes, webs, high-loft structures, whiskers, or micro-particulates, said membranes are made from material compositions selected from the group consisting of polymers, ion-exchange resins, engineered resins, ceramics, cellulose, rayon, ramie, wool, silk, glass, metal, activated alumina, activated carbon, silica, zeolites, diatomaceous earth, activated bauxite, fuller's earth, calcium hydroxyappatite, or titanate, said high-loft structures are used in the fabrication of articles selected from the group consisting of low density foam, sponges, wound dressings, or wipes, and said textile fibers include woven fabrics used in the fabrication of articles selected from the group consisting of socks, shoe linings, foundation garments, sportswear, children's clothing, diapers, sheets, pillowcases, mattress padding, mattress covering, surgical drapes, carpet underpadding, carpeting, blankets, towels, tents, tarps, or auto covers wherein the water-soluble cationic material is a polymer.

An anti-microbial structure comprising of:

• a dry base structure;
• and
• a microbiological interception enhancing agent comprising of a water-soluble cationic material and a biologically active metal salt, said water-soluble cationic material having a counter ion associated therewith residing on at least a portion of said dry base structure and said water-soluble cationic material having a counter ion associated therewith,
• said biologically active metal salt provided in direct proximity to said cationic material on said base structure whereby the counter ion associated with the cationic material preferentially precipitates with at least a portion of the biologically active metal to generate a colloidal metal precipitate adjacent the cationic material residing on said base structure while avoiding uncontrolled precipitation of said biologically active metal salt at sites of said base structure remote from said cationic material, said colloidal metal precipitate residing on said dry base structure,
• wherein said dry base structure comprises a starting material for use in fabricating an article wherein the water-soluble cationic material is a polymer.

An anti-microbial structure comprising:

• a base structure;
• a water-soluble cationic material on at least a portion of said base structure, said water-soluble cationic material having a counter ion associated therewith, and
• a colloidal metal precipitate adjacent the cationic material, whereby said cationic material has preferentially precipitated with at least a portion of a biologically active metal salt provided in direct proximity to said cationic material on said at least portion of said base structure to generate said colloidal metal precipitate adjacent the cationic material while avoiding uncontrolled precipitation of said biologically active metal salt at sites of said base structure remote from said cationic material,
• wherein said water-soluble cationic material and said biologically active metal salt comprise a microbiological interception enhancing agent wherein the water-soluble cationic material is a polymer.

An anti-microbial structure comprising:

• a dry base structure;
• a water-soluble cationic material on at least a portion of said dry base structure, said water-soluble cationic material having a counter ion associated therewith, and
• a colloidal metal precipitate adjacent the cationic material, whereby said cationic material has preferentially precipitated with at least a portion of a biologically active metal salt provided in direct proximity to said cationic material on said at least portion of said dry base structure to generate said colloidal metal precipitate adjacent the cationic material while avoiding uncontrolled precipitation of said biologically active metal salt at sites of said dry base structure remote from said cationic material,
• wherein said water-soluble cationic material and said biologically active metal salt comprise a microbiological interception enhancing agent wherein the water-soluble cationic material is a polymer.