Antimicrobial coating system

Abstract

An antimicrobial coating system, a film-forming composition, and an antimicrobial film. In some embodiments, the antimicrobial coating system can include a film-forming composition comprising a polymer having an effective molecular weight, and an effective amount of an antimicrobial agent dispersed within the polymer. The film-forming composition can form a water-insoluble, biocidal antimicrobial film when applied to a surface.

1 . A film-forming composition comprising:
 a polymer comprising at least one of polyvinyl alcohol having an effective molecular weight, acrylic, urethane, and a combination thereof;   an effective amount of an antimicrobial agent dispersed within the polymer, the antimicrobial agent comprising at least one of a fatty acid monoester, a fatty acid monoether, and a combination thereof; and   a solvent, wherein the film-forming composition includes a solid concentration of no greater than about 50% by weight,   the film-forming composition forming a water-insoluble, biocidal antimicrobial film when applied to a surface.   
     
     
         2 . The film-forming composition of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial agent constitutes about 0.1% by weight to about 20% by weight of the film-forming composition. 
     
     
         3 . The film-forming composition of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial agent constitutes about 1% by weight to about 10% by weight of the film-forming composition. 
     
     
         4 . The film-forming composition of  claim 1 , wherein the film-forming composition further comprises a fast-acting antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium salts, benzalkonium chlorides, biguanide compounds, alcohols, bleach, hydrogen peroxide, urea hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen peroxide stabilized in a sodium pyrophosphate matrix, hydrogen peroxide chelated in polyvinylpyrrolidone, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . An antimicrobial film comprising:
 a polymer having an effective molecular weight, such that the antimicrobial film is water-insoluble; and   an effective amount of an antimicrobial agent, such that the antimicrobial film is biocidal, the antimicrobial agent comprising at least one of a fatty acid monoester, a fatty acid monoether, and a combination thereof,   wherein the antimicrobial film includes about 70% by weight to about 99.9% by weight of the polymer.   
     
     
         6 . The antimicrobial film of  claim 5 , wherein the antimicrobial film exhibits microbial load reductions of at least about 99% for gram positive pathogens and gram negative pathogens, when tested pursuant to ASTM E2180-01. 
     
     
         7 . The antimicrobial film of  claim 5 , wherein the antimicrobial film comprises a cross-linked polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The antimicrobial film of  claim 5 , wherein the antimicrobial film comprises an end-of-service indicator. 
     
     
         9 . A method of verifying the presence of an antimicrobial film, the method comprising:
 providing the antimicrobial film of  claim 5  applied to a surface;   wetting the surface; and   based on whether a color change occurred upon wetting the surface, determining whether the antimicrobial film is still intact on the surface.   
     
     
         10 . The antimicrobial film of  claim 5 , wherein the antimicrobial film includes about 90% by weight to about 99% by weight of the polymer.