This invention relates to antimicrobial wound dressings having a non-leaching antimicrobial activity, releasable antimicrobial and antiprotease agents, and a controlled-release bioactive agent such as doxycycline. The Wound dressing material is absorbent and acts as a substrate for antimicrobial and antiprotease agents as well as bioactive agents. More generally, this invention relates to methods and compositions for materials having a non-leaching coating that has antimicrobial properties. The coating is applied to substrates such as gauze-type wound dressings, powders and other substrates. Covalent, non-leaching, non-hydrolyzable bonds are formed between the substrate and the polymer molecules that form the coating. A high concentration of anti-microbial groups on multi-length polymeric molecules and relatively long average chain lengths, contribute to an absorbent or superabsorbent surface with a high level antimicrobial efficacy. Utilization of non-leaching coatings having a plurality of anionic or cationic sites is used according to this invention to bind a plurality of oppositely charged biologically or chemically active compounds, and to release the bound oppositely charged biologically or chemically active compounds from said substrate over a period of time to achieve desired objectives as diverse as improved wound healing to reduction in body odor.