The composition of temperature-responsive copolymer brushes based on oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylates is tuned to obtain a collapse temperature of approximate to 35 degrees C. The chains are grafted by antibacterial magainin I peptide, whose activity is tested at different temperatures against various bacteria. The brushes switch from bactericidal to cell-repellent below and slightly above 35 degrees C, respectively, due to the progressive vertical collapse of the brush.