Patent ID: 8658192

Claim:
A polymer, comprising: (a) polymer backbone; (b) a plurality of cationic centers, each cationic center covalently coupled to the polymer backbone by a first linker; (c) a counter ion associated with each cationic center; and (d) a hydrolyzable group covalently coupled to each cationic center through a second linker, wherein the hydrolyzable group is hydrolyzable to an anionic center to provide a zwitterionic polymer having the anionic center covalently coupled to the cationic center through the second linker, wherein at least a portion of the counter ions are antimicrobial agents, antibacterial agents, or antifungal agents, and/or wherein at least a portion of the hydrolyzable groups release an antimicrobial agent, an antibacterial agent, or an antifungal agent.