Surface Properties and Antibacterial Activity of Quaternized Polysulfones

Novel quaternized polysulfones (PSFs) with two ionic chlorine contents were investigated, namely, their morphology and antimicrobial activity. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies on their membranes showed ordered domains, in which pores and nodules of different sizes and intensities were distributed. The charge density of the quaternized PSFs and the history of the membranes formed from solutions in solvent/nonsolvent mixtures influenced the different aspects of the surface images. The adhesion of Esche-richia coli ATCC 10536 and Staphylococcits aureus ATCCC 6538 microorganisms to solutions of the modified PSFs is discussed in correlation with the hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties of the studied polymers and microorganisms. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 112:1808-1816, 2009