Main description:

This book provides an introductory and general overview of advances in polymers towards their employment as antimicrobial materials. The author describes current approaches for avoiding microbial contamination, toward macro-molecular antibiotics, and prevention of antibiotic-resistant bacteria by use of polymers. He establishes the remaining issues and analyzes existing methodologies for treating bacterial infections and for preparing antimicrobial materials.

Contents:

1 Polymers Against Microorganisms2 Bacterial infections: few concepts3 Chemical approaches to prepare antimicrobial polymers4 Nano-micro polymeric structures with antimicrobial activity in solution5 Antimicrobial/antifouling surfaces obtained by surface modification6 Nano/microstructured Antibacterial Surfaces7 Antimicrobial fibers and fabrics obtained by electro/melt spinning8 Antimicrobial hydrogels9 Antibacterial polymeric membranes10 Environmental and safety issues11 Applications and current status of antimicrobial polymers