Acyclic N-halamine-based biocidal tubing: preparation, characterization, and rechargeable biofilm-controlling functions.

In this study, the surfaces of polypropylene tubing were hydroxylated with potassium persulfate. The resultant tubing surfaces were grafted with methacrylamide (MAA) using ceric(IV) ammonium nitrate as an initiator. Upon chlorination treatment with diluted chlorine bleach, some of the amide groups in the grafted MAA side chains were transformed into stable acyclic N-halamines. The reactions were confirmed with attenuated total reflectance infrared, X-ray photoelectron spectra, and iodimetric titration. The resultant tubing was challenged with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) in a continuous flowing model. Bacteria culturing and scanning electron microscope studies showed that the chlorinated MAA-grafted tubing could provide potent and rechargeable biofilm-controlling functions against the test microorganisms. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.