Polymer-based antimicrobial agents, methods of making said agents, and products incorporating said agents

The present invention relates to antimicrobial agents, methods for the production of these agents, and the use of these agents. The antimicrobial agent of the present invention includes a water-soluble polymer and oligodynamic metal ions which interact with counter-ions of the polymer such that the metal ions are bound to corresponding counter-ions. The water-soluble polymer controls a sustained release of the metal ions. The oligodynamic metal ions preferably include small size metal particles (e.g., nano-sized silver particles) that interact to the water-soluble polymer as well as metal ions derived from one or more water-soluble oligodynamic metal compositions (e.g., metal sulfates and/or metal nitrates). The agent may also include one or more acids, including organic acids (such as sulfates, carboxylic acids, amines, hydroxyls, nitrates, and phosphates) and/or non-organic acids (such as boric acid and dioctylborate).