The present disclosure provides an antimicrobial composition including a polycationic amphiphile compound, and the method of making and the method of using such a compound or composition. The compound having the formula R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R10, or R11 is H or a C1-12 alkyl unsubstituted or optionally substituted with a functional group such as —OH, —OR′, —NH2, —NHR′, —NR′2, —N—C(O)R′, —N—C(O)CR′═CR′, —SH, —SR′, —O—C(O)R′, —C(O)R′, —CF3, —OCF3, halogen, benzyl, o-vinylbenzyl, m-vinylbenzyl, p-vinylbenzyl, phenyl, allyl, and substituted allyl. R7, R8 or R9 is a C1-12 alkyl unsubstituted or optionally substituted with a functional group such as —OH, —OR′, —NH2, —NHR′, —SH, —SR′, —O—C(O)R′, —C(O)R′, —CF3, and —OCF3. R′ is H or a C1-4 alkyl. X or Y is a halogen. m and n are integers in the range from 1 to 25.