92%, MW: 50–190 kDa), pentafluoropropionic anhydride, pentadecafluorooctanoyl
chloride, 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzaldehyde, glycidyl trimethylammonium
chloride (GTMAC), and silver nitrate (AgNO3) were purchased
from Sigma-Aldrich. Glacial acetic acid (AcOH), acetone, and all other
chemicals were purchased from reputable local commercial suppliers
and were of analytical reagent grade unless otherwise stated. The
water used in all experiments was double distilled.
Clinical
isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were obtained from Lancet Laboratories, Durban, South Africa,
with ethical approval BE394/15 from the Biomedical Research Ethical
Committee of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Other reference strains
of bacteria, namely Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Streptococcus sanguinis ATCC 10556, Salmonella enterica ATCC
10708, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC
12228, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6051,
and S. aureus ATCC 29213 and 43300
were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC).