Patent ID: 7858141

Claim:
A method of imparting sustained antimicrobial properties throughout a copolymer substrate, the method comprising: (a) providing an antimicrobial first polymerizable silicon-containing quaternary ammonium salt monomer in a solvent to form a quaternary ammonium salt solution; (b) providing a bulk material comprising at least one of a second monomer and a polymer, each containing functionality that will react with the first silicon-containing quaternary ammonium salt monomer under reaction conditions whereby the first silicon-containing quaternary ammonium salt monomer is polymerized with at least one of the second monomer and the polymer of the bulk material to form a copolymer substrate; and (c) reacting the silicon-containing quaternary ammonium salt solution with at least one of the second monomer and the polymer of the bulk material under reaction conditions whereby the first silicon-containing quaternary ammonium salt monomer is polymerized with at least one of the second monomer and the polymer to form a copolymer substrate from the bulk material, such that the copolymer substrate has sustained antimicrobial properties throughout the substrate.