There is provided an absorbent system for wound care products having a liquid-absorbing, wound-contacting, lower layer and a more highly absorbent upper layer in liquid communication with said lower layer. Liquid communication may be provided by pores running between the layers. The dressing may include antimicrobial agents, agents to promote healing and other functional agents.

In various embodiments, the present invention provides a functionalized thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) containing bulk incorporated or surface-grafted quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC)s for contact-killing of a variety of microbes, where the QACs are on the surface of TPU to provide a sterile surface material that prevents bacteria commonly involved in device-associated infections (DAIs) from proliferating. The functionalized TPUs of the present invention can be formed into a wide variety of 3-dimensional shapes, such as catheters, medical tubing, laryngeal or tracheal stents, sutures, prosthetics, wound dressings, and/or a coating for medical devices and contains the residue of either a QAC containing diol monomer or an alkene functional diol monomer, which then allows the TPU to be functionalized with a QAC containing disulfide or free thiol compound, to form a quaternary ammonium functionalized thermoplastic polyurethane compound having antimicrobial properties for use in medical devices.

Bacteria-responsive core-shell nanofibers and a process for the preparation thereof are described. The nanofibers release of an antibacterial agent in response to the presence of bacteria. The core of the nanofiber comprises a biocompatible polymer together with an antibacterial agent such as a quaternary ammonium compound, for example benzyl dimethyl tetradecyl ammonium chloride (BTAC). Surrounding the core is shell comprised of a bacterially degradable polymer, which is susceptible to break-down by bacterial enzymes such as lipase, or to acidic pH conditions. The shell may comprise, for example, polycaprolactone (PCL) and poly(ethylene succinate) (PES). The nanofibers may be incorporated into wound dressings

The present invention relates to specialty pulp products produced using bifunctional reagents composed of polymeric chain and end caps. The polymeric chain is preferably a polyalkylene glycol based polymer and the end caps are preferably a cationic quaternary ammonium. The bifunctional reagents are especially useful in making specialty fluff with dual functional propertieseasy defiberization and antimicrobial properties. The specialty fluff of the present invention prevents odor by inhibiting bacteria growth and production of organic matters, especially when used in an absorbent article intended for body waste management such as baby diapers and adult incontinence device.

Antimicrobial and antithrombogenic polymer or polymeric blend, compounds, coatings, and materials containing the same, as well as articles made with, or coated with the same, and methods of making the same exhibiting improved antimicrobial properties and reduced platelet adhesion. Embodiments include polymers with antimicrobial and antithrombogenic groups bound to a single polymer backbone, an antimicrobial polymer blended with an antithrombogenic polymer, and medical devices coated with the antimicrobial and antithrombogenic polymer or polymeric blend.

The present invention relates to a mattress for preventing and treating bedsores comprising a main body (1) and an exchangeable element (2, 3, 4), said exchangeable element (2, 3, 4) comprising an absorbent composition (7) and a disinfectant composition (8).

The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a mattress, and comprising the following steps: production of the main body (1), covered with a cover (5), in particular in plasticized jersey, with a housing for at least one exchangeable element (2, 3, 4), production of an exchangeable element (2, 3, 4) in honeycomb cardboard or viscoelastic cellular foam, deposition of an absorbent composition (7) in the exchangeable element, deposition of a disinfectant composition (8) on the absorbent composition, arrangement of an envelope (11) around the exchangeable element (2, 3, 4), made in particular of a permeable nonwoven textile, placement of the exchangeable element (2, 3, 4) in the car responding housing of the main body (1).

A cell growth inhibiting polymer for use in an ophthalmic implant includes at least one cell growth inhibiting monomer; and at least one other monomer selected from an acrylic monomer, a hydrophobic acrylic monomer, a hydrophilic acrylic monomer, a silicone monomer, a vinyl monomer and/or a collagen monomer.

Compositions for treating a biofilm comprising viable microorganisms are provided. The compositions include a suspending medium, a bioactive glass comprising B.sub.2O.sub.3, and an effective amount of an antimicrobial compound selected from the group consisting of antimicrobial biguanide, quaternary ammonium compound, silver or copper deposited as a coating on the surface of the bioactive glass, and antimicrobial lipid component. Methods of treating a biofilm or a surface with the compositions are also provided.

The invention relates to the field of antimicrobial materials, in particular to implantable and other medical devices exhibiting antimicrobial activity. Provided is a method for providing a substrate with an antimicrobial coating by immobilizing a quaternary ammonium compound onto the surface of said substrate, comprising the polycondensation of AB.sub.2 monomers comprising a secondary amine as A-group and blocked isocyanates as B-groups to obtain a low number average molecular weight polyurea of at least 2500 Da, contacting said polyurea with a surface grafted with coupling agent to covalently anchor the polyurea, and continuing polycondensation to obtain a hyperbranched polyurea coating; followed by immobilizing onto said coating a hydrophobic N-alkylated polyethylenimine (PEI) having antimicrobial properties.

The present invention relates to specialty pulp products produced using bifunctional reagents composed of polymeric chain and end caps. The polymeric chain is preferably a polyalkylene glycol based polymer and the end caps are preferably a cationic quaternary ammonium. The bifunctional reagents are especially useful in making specialty fluff with dual functional propertieseasy defiberization and antimicrobial properties. The specialty fluff of the present invention prevents odor by inhibiting bacteria growth and production of organic matters, especially when used in an absorbent article intended for body waste management such as baby diapers and adult incontinence device.