Antibacterial activity of hydrogels. CFU count of bacteria after treatment of hydrogels incubated at (a) pH 3, (b) pH 8.5 (HMDc and HMDcA), at pH 9 (HM, HMD and HMDA), (c) pH 8.5, then pH 3 (HMDc and HMDcA); pH 9, then at pH 3 (HM, HMD and HMDA). *p < 0.05 when compared to the untreated control sample at the given pH.