POLYMER-BASED ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS, METHODS OF MAKING SAID AGENTS, AND PRODUCTS INCORPORATING SAID AGENTS

An antimicrobial agent includes a metal ion in a hydrophilic polymer binder or carrier. The metal ion is preferably a silver ion and the hydrophilic polymer preferably comprises a sulfonated polyurethane or sulfonated polystyrene. According to a method of the invention, the antimicrobial agent is dissolved in dimethyl acetamide DMA, applied to paper by spraying, squeegee or the like and dried in an oven to flash off the solvent. The antimicrobial agent can be applied to other products by spraying and/or dipping and then drying to flash off solvent. According to another embodiment of the invention, the antimicrobial agent includes a water soluble polymer, at least one organic acid (e.g., one or more carboxylic acids such as acetic acid, formic acid, citric acid, malefic acid, ascorbic acid, salicyclic acid), and oligodynamic metal ions which react with counter-ions of the polymer such that the metal ions are bound to corresponding counter-ions, and the polymer controls a sustained release of said metal ion. The agent may also include a non-organic acid. (preferably boric acid and/or dictylborate). The water soluble polymer is preferably a sulfonated polymer (e.g., a sulfonated polyurethane, a sulfonated polystyrene, or a mixture thereof). Un agente antimicrobial incluye un ion metalico en un aglomerante o portador de polimero hidrofilico. El ion metalico de preferencia es un ion de plata y el polimero hidrofilico de preferencia comprende un poliuretano sulfonado o poliestireno sulfonado. De acuerdo con un metodo de la invencion, el agente antimicrobial se disuelve en dimetil acetamida DMA, aplicado al papel mediante rociado, rodillo de goma o los similares y se seca en un horno para disolver el solvente. El agente antimicrobial puede aplicarse a otros productos mediante rociado y/o sumersion y posteriormente se secan para disolver el solvente. De conformidad con otra modalidad de la invencion, el agente antimicrobial incluye un polimero soluble en agua, al menos un acido organico (es decir, uno o mas acidos carboxilicos tales como acido acetico, acido formico, acido citrico, acido maleico, acido ascorbico, acido salicilico) y iones metalicos oligodinamicos que reaccionan con contra-iones del polimero de manera que los iones metalicos se unen a los contra-iones correspondientes y el polimero controla una liberacion sostenida de dicho ion metalico. El agente ademas puede incluir un acido no organico (de preferencia acido borico y/o dictilborato). El polimero