The effect of various pore formers on the controlled release of an antibacterial agent from a polymeric device was examined in order to develop a novel biomaterial that prevents bacterial adhesion and growth on its surface. Cefadroxil was chosen as the model antibiotic and was incorporated into a polyurethane matrix by the solvent-casting method. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) 1450, D-mannitol, or bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as a pore former. The amount of cefadroxil released from various formulations at 37 degrees C was measured by HPLC. The morphological change of matrices before and after release studies was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The duration of antimicrobial activities of matrices against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis was evaluated by measuring the diameters of the inhibition zone. Changing the weight fraction and particle size of the pore formers/drug mixtures could control the release of cefadroxil from the matrix. The release rate of cefadroxil increased as the loading dose of the pore former increased (15<20<25%). Cefadroxil released from these devices exhibited antibacterial activity for 5-6 days. These results imply that an antibiotic-loaded polymeric device that could prevent bacterial infection on its surface can be formulated using appropriate pore formers.