A novel amine methacrylate monomer trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate-piperazine-ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (TMPTMA-PPZ-EGDMA) was synthesized by amination of trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TMPTMA) with excess of piperazine (PPZ) followed by reaction with ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). Copolymerization of TMPTMA-PPZ-EGDMA with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was carried out by free radical polymerization using ammonium persulfate (APS) and N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl ethylenediamine (TEMED) as a redox initiator. The copolymers obtained were then quaternized with 1-iodooctane. The monomers were characterized by FTIR and H-1 NMR spectral studies. The molecular weights and polydispersity values of the monomers were determined with gel permeation chromatography. Quaternized copolymers containing more than 20% amine methacrylate monomer showed microporosity in the range of 9.9-10.4 mu m pm. The antibacterial activity of the quaternized copolymers against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was studied using UV-vis spectrophotometer and scanning electron microscopy. Quaternized copolymers showed broad-spectrum contact-killing antibacterial properties without releasing any active agent as checked by iodide selective ion meter. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.