Patent ID: 8092854

Claim:
A method of imparting non-leachable antimicrobial properties to a substrate consisting essentially of, in sequence, the steps of: a) providing a substrate for use in textiles, medical applications, filters, absorbent materials, or packaging materials, comprised in whole or in part of a cellulosic material, b) treating the substrate by applying an aqueous solution of an antimicrobial cationic polyelectrolyte to the substrate comprised in whole or in part of a cellulosic material wherein the antimicrobial cationic polyelectrolyte has an average degree of polymerization of at least 3, and an excess cationic charge density of at least 1 mole per 25,000 grams; wherein the solution concentration of the antimicrobial cationic polyelectrolyte is at least 0.01 weight percent, c) thoroughly drying the treated substrate, d) performing an assay to verify that non-leachable antimicrobial properties have been imparted to said substrate, whereby non-leachable bonding is effected between at least a portion of the antimicrobial cationic polyelectrolyte and the substrate comprised in whole or in part of a cellulosic material.