摘要 |
<p>A method for rendering a carboxyl-containing polymer surface resistant to microbial growth, the method comprising: (i) reacting the carboxyl-containing polymer surface with a metal borohydride in a solvent system comprising a water- soluble alcohol having one to three hydroxy groups and one to four carbon atoms, and optionally up to about fifty percent water, in a temperature range having a minimum of about 60 °C and a maximum of about 80 °C, and for an amount of time sufficient for reducing carboxyl groups on the carboxyl-containing polymer surface to surface hydroxymethyl groups without altering the nature of the bulk of the polymer; and either: (iia) converting hydroxy groups of the surface hydroxymethyl groups to leaving groups and displacing the leaving groups with one or a combination of antimicrobial agents; or (iib) displacing the hydrogen atoms of the hydroxy groups of the surface hydroxymethyl groups with one or a combination of antimicrobial agents.</p> |