Fadida, T., Department of Food Quality and Safety, The Volcani Center, ARO, PO Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel, Department of Biochemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
Kroupitski, Y., Department of Food Quality and Safety, The Volcani Center, ARO, PO Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel, Department of Biochemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
Peiper, U.M., Department of Agricultural Engineering, The Volcani Center, ARO, PO Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Bendikov, T., Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
Sela Saldinger, S., Department of Food Quality and Safety, The Volcani Center, ARO, PO Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Poverenov, E., Department of Food Quality and Safety, The Volcani Center, ARO, PO Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel

Air-ozonolysis was revealed as an accessible and effective approach for surface activation and further functionalization of hydrocarbon polymers. Antimicrobial contact active polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) were designed by generation on their surfaces OH-functional groups and covalent graft of dimethyloctadecyl [3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl] ammonium chloride (C18-TSA) quaternary ammonium salt. The shortened analog, trimethyl [3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl] ammonium chloride (C1-TSA), was also covalently attached to the activated PE and PS surfaces. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and FTIR confirmed the surface modifications. Scanning electron (SEM) and confocal microscopy were utilized to monitor surface morphology and bacteria interactions. The antimicrobial effect of the C18-TSA grafted polymer surfaces was demonstrated on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria species including human pathogen, Salmonella enterica. The shorter C1-TSA grafted polymers did not demonstrate bactericidal activity, suggesting the critical role of the alkyl chain length. The described strategy may establish a new general and safe platform for future development and application of contact active antimicrobial polymers. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.