Process for the surface-immobililzation of anti-microbial polymers by metal deposition

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for the surface-immobilization of antimicrobial polymers, where the surface-immobilization of the antimicrobial polymers takes place by metal deposition, and also to a metal coating having antimicrobial properties.

1 . A process for the surface-immobilization of antimicrobial polymers, comprising: 
 forming a process bath comprising at least one antimicrobial polymer; and    surface-immobilize the antimicrobial polymers to a surface of a workpiece by coating the workpiece by metal deposition.    
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said metal deposition is electrochemical metal deposition.  
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said coating comprises immersing said workpiece in said process bath for a time and under conditions suitable for forming a metal layer of a desired of a desired thickness.  
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said workpiece is a tube or a cathode.  
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the metals deposited during said metal deposition is selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper, silver, gold, and platinum.  
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said metal deposition is conducted without an external current.  
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said metal deposition is conducted using an external current.  
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial polymer is prepared from nitrogen-functionalized polymers or phosphorus-functionalized polymers.  
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial polymer is a copolymer comprising at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of 2-tert-butylaminoethyl methacrylate, 2-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate, 2-diethylaminomethyl methacrylate, 2-tert-butylaminoethyl acrylate, 3-dimethylaminopropyl acrylate, 2-diethylaminoethyl acrylate, 2-dimethylaminoethyl acrylate, dimethylamino-propylmethacrylamide, diethylaminopropylmethacrylamide, N-3-dimethylaminopropylacrylamide, 2-methacryloyloxyethyltrimethylammonium methosulfate, 2-methacryloyloxyethyltrimethylammonium chloride, 3-methacryloylaminopropyltrimethylammonium chloride, 2-acryloyloxyethyl-4-benzoylbenzyldimethylammonium bromide, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl-4-benzoylbenzyldimethylammonium bromide, allyltriphenylphosphonium bromide, allyltriphenylphosphonium chloride, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid, 2-diethylaminoethyl vinyl ether, 3-aminopropyl vinyl ether, 3-aminopropyl methacrylate, 2-aminoethyl methacrylate, 4-aminobutyl methacrylate, 5-aminopentyl methacrylate, 3-aminopropyl acrylate, 2-aminopropyl acrylate, 4-aminobutyl acrylate, 5-aminopentyl acrylate, 2-aminoethyl vinyl ether, 4-aminobutyl vinyl ether, and 5-aminopentyl vinyl ether.  
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 9 , wherein the antimicrobial polymer further comprises an aliphatically unsaturated monomer.  
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial polymer is suspended in an aqueous dispersions.  
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 11 , wherein the process bath comprises from 0.01 to 30% by volume of the aqueous dispersion of the antimicrobial polymer.  
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous dispersion further comprises an acid.  
     
     
         14 . A metal coating which comprises one or more antimicrobial polymers, wherein the surface of the metal coating comprises from 0.1 to 20% by surface area of said antimicrobial polymers.  
     
     
         15 . The metal coating according to  claim 14 , wherein the antimicrobial polymers are prepared from nitrogen-functionalized monomers or phosphorus-functionalized monomers.  
     
     
         16 . The metal coating according to  claim 14 , wherein the antimicrobial polymer is a copolymer comprising at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of 2-tert-butylaminoethyl methacrylate, 2-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate, 2-diethylaminomethyl methacrylate, 2-tert-butylaminoethyl acrylate, 3-dimethylaminopropyl acrylate, 2-diethylaminoethyl acrylate, 2-dimethylaminoethyl acrylate, dimethylamino-propylmethacrylamide, diethylaminopropylmethacrylamide, N-3-dimethylaminopropylacrylamide, 2-methacryloyloxyethyltrimethylammonium methosulfate, 2-methacryloyloxyethyltrimethylammonium chloride, 3-methacryloylaminopropyltrimethylammonium chloride, 2-acryloyloxyethyl-4-benzoylbenzyldimethylammonium bromide, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl-4-benzoylbenzyldimethylammonium bromide, allyltriphenylphosphonium bromide, allyltriphenylphosphonium chloride, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid, 2-diethylaminoethyl vinyl ether, 3-aminopropyl vinyl ether, 3-aminopropyl methacrylate, 2-aminoethyl methacrylate, 4-aminobutyl methacrylate, 5-aminopentyl methacrylate, 3-aminopropyl acrylate, 2-aminopropyl acrylate, 4-aminobutyl acrylate, 5-aminopentyl acrylate, 2-aminoethyl vinyl ether, 4-aminobutyl vinyl ether, and 5-aminopentyl vinyl ether.  
     
     
         17 . The metal coating according to  claim 14 , wherein the antimicrobial polymer further comprises an aliphatically unsaturated monomer.  
     
     
         18 . A metal coating, produced by a process as according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         19 . A building, comprising a coated workpiece produced by a process according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         20 . A monument, comprising a coated workpiece produced by a process according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         21 . A galvanic cell, comprising a coated workpiece produced by a process according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         22 . A process for preparing a building, a monument, or a galvanic cell comprising: 
 forming a process bath comprising at least one antimicrobial polymer;    surface-immobilize the antimicrobial polymers to a surface of a workpiece by coating the workpiece by metal deposition; and then    constructing a building, a monument, or a galvanic cell with a workpiece coated with a surface-immobilized antimicrobial polymer.