LACTAM COMPOSITION AND USE

The invention relates to a composition comprising: (a) from 0.0001 to 5 wt.% of a lactam; (b) 0.5 to 95 wt.% of a solvent; and, (c) from 0.1 to 80 wt.%, of a film-forming polymer; wherein the film-forming polymer is selected from polysaccharides, quaternised polysaccharide derivatives, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and co-polymers thereof, and, polyvinylalcohol (PVA) and co-polymers of polyvinylalcohol, and/or mixtures thereof; and, wherein the lactam is of formula (I) or (II), wherein: R1 and R2 are each independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, oxoalkyl, alkenyl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, aryl and aralalkyl; and R3 is selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, oxoalkyl, alkenyl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralalkyl, -C(O)CR6=CH2, and (CH2)nN +(Ra)3, where n is an integer from 1 to 16, and where each Ra is independently H or C1-4 alkyl; R4 and R5 are independently selected from hydrogen, aryl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, and arylalkyl; and R6 is selected from hydrogen and methyl; and R7 is selected from hydrogen and -C(O)CR6=CH2; the invention also relates to a method of treatment of a surface, to improve resistance of said surface to bacterial fouling; and also to the use of a combination of a lactam and a film forming polymer as defined earlier to improve inhibition of bacterial species.