Antimicrobial fabrics

Abstract

The present invention is directed to surface functionalized fabrics, particularly those based on non-woven polypropylene, wherein the functional groups are capable of binding antimicrobial agents through ionic conjugation to control their release and prolong their antimicrobial activity. The invention also deals with Nylon 6 fabric that is complexed with iodine to control its release and to achieve prolonged antimicrobial activities. Similarly, polypropylene and cellulosic fabrics grafted with N-vinylpyrrolidone are disclosed. The N-vinylpyrrolidone can also complex with iodine to control its release and provide antimicrobial activity over desired periods of time.

1 . An antimicrobal non-woven fabric comprising: 
 a polymeric fiber substrate comprising ionically conjugated antimicrobal agents bonded thereto.    
     
     
         2 . An antimicrobal non-woven fabric as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the fabric comprises polypropylene and wherein the polypropylene fiber substrate comprises phosphonic acid groups covalently bonded thereto and wherein said antimicrobal agents are ionically bonded to the phosphonic acid groups.  
     
     
         3 . An antimicrobal non-woven fabric as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the antimicrobal agents comprise chlorhexidine.  
     
     
         4 . An antimicrobal non-woven fabric as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the antimicrobal agents comprise benzalkonium chloride.  
     
     
         5 . An antimicrobal non-woven fabric as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the antimicrobal agents comprise Zn +2 .  
     
     
         6 . An antimicrobal non-woven fabric comrising: 
 a polymeric fiber substrate comprising phosphonyl groups covalently bonded thereto and diamines bonded to the phosphonyl groups.    
     
     
         7 . An antimicrobal non-woven fabric as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the fabric comprises polypropylene and the polymeric fiber substrate comprises a polypropylene fiber substrate.  
     
     
         8 . An antimicrobal non-woven fabric as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the diamines comprise hexanediamine.  
     
     
         9 . An antimicrobal non-woven fabric as set forth in  claim 8  wherein the free amine group of the bonded diamine is ionically conjugated to an anionic antimicrobal agent.  
     
     
         10 . An antimicrobal non-woven fabric as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the antimicrobal agent comprises mupirocin.  
     
     
         11 . An antimicrobal fabric comprising polymeric fibers and a triclosan salt physically trapped within the fibers.  
     
     
         12 . An antimicrobal fabric as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the triclosan salt comprises a sodium salt.  
     
     
         13 . An antimicrobal fabric as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the fabric comprises polypropylene.  
     
     
         14 . An antimicrobal fabric as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the fabric comprises polyamide.  
     
     
         15 . An antimicrobal fabric as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the fabric comprises Nylon 6.  
     
     
         16 . A polyamide fabric comprising a polymeric fiber substrate and iodine chemically bonded to the fabric fibers.  
     
     
         17 . A polyamide fabric as set forth in  claim 16  wherein the fabric comprises a non-woven Nylon 6 fabric.  
     
     
         18 . A fabric comprising a polymeric fiber substrate and N-vinylpyrrolidone grafted to the fiber substrate.  
     
     
         19 . A fabric as set forth in  claim 18  wherein the N-vinylpyrrolidone is complexed with iodine.  
     
     
         20 . A fabric as set forth in  claim 19  wherein the fabric comprises non-woven polypropylene.  
     
     
         21 . A fabric sa set forth in  claim 19  wherein the fabric comprises non-woven polyethylene.  
     
     
         22 . A fabric as set forth in  claim 19  wherein the fabric comprises cotton fibers.