The present invention relates to a substrate having antimicrobial and/or antistatic properties. Such properties are imparted by applying a coating or film formed from a cationically-charged polymer composition. The polymer composition includes a noncationic ethylenically unsaturated monomer, an ethylenically unsaturated monomer capable of providing a cationic charge to the polymer composition, and a steric stabilization component incorporated into the cationically-charged polymer composition. The present invention also relates to a polymeric material comprising a base polymer blended with the above cationically-charged polymer composition.