A simultaneously antimicrobial, protein-repellent, and cell-compatible surface-attached polymer network is reported, which reduces the growth of bacterial biofilms on surfaces through its multifunctionality. The coating was made from a poly(oxonorbornene)-based zwitterion (PZI), which was surface-attached and cross-linked in one step by simultaneous UV-activated CH insertion and thiol-ene reaction. The process was applicable to both laboratory surfaces like silicon, glass, and gold and real-life surfaces like polyurethane foam wound dressings. The chemical structure and physical properties of the PZI surface and the two reference surfaces SMAMP ("synthetic mimic of an antimicrobial peptide"), an antimicrobial but protein-adhesive polymer coating, and PSB (poly(sulfobetaine)), a protein-repellent but not antimicrobial polyzwitterion coating were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ellipsometry, contact angle measurements, photoelectron spectroscopy, swellability measurements (using surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy, SPR), zeta potential measurements, and atomic force microscopy. The time-dependent antimicrobial activity assay (time-kill assay) confirmed the high antimicrobial activity of the PZI; SPR was used to demonstrate that it was also highly protein-repellent. Biofilm formation studies showed that the material effectively reduced the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. Additionally, it was shown that the PZI was highly compatible with immortalized human mucosal gingiva keratinocytes and human red blood cells using the Alamar Blue assay, the live-dead stain, and the hemolysis assay. PZI thus may be an attractive coating for biomedical applications, particularly for the fight against bacterial biofilms on medical devices and in other applications.

A poly­(oxanorbornene)-based polyzwitterion with primary ammonium and carboxylate groups (PZI) has been reported previously as the first simultaneously antimicrobial and protein-repellent polyzwitterion. Here, additional physical and biological properties of three poly­(oxanorbornene)-based polyzwitterions with different functional groups (PZI, the polycarboxybetaine (PCB), and the polysulfobetaine (PSB)) are compared to understand the molecular origins of this unusual bioactivity. Additionally, the three polyzwitterions and the antimicrobial polycationic SMAMP are exposed to proteins, bacteria suspensions, human plasma, and serum. These interactions are investigated by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. In protein adhesion studies, neither fibrinogen nor lysozyme adhere irreversibly to PZI, yet reversible interaction with lysozyme is observed at pH 7 and 8. In the presence of bivalent cations, reversible fibrinogen adhesion is observed on PZI and PSB but not on PCB. This might explain why mammalian cells grow on PZI and PSB but not on PCB. PZI does not show human plasma adhesion, whereas PCB and PSB have 0.27 and 0.48 ng mm–2 adhered plasma and SMAMP even at 6.3 ng mm–2. Both PZI and SMAMP show strong serum adhesion, whereas no serum adhered to PCB and only a little adhered to PSB. This could be related to the pH difference between serum and plasma to which the pH-responsive primary ammonium groups are susceptible while the permanently charged NR4 + groups are unaffected. Both PZI and PCB showed no or only a little bacterial adhesion. PCB is also intrinsically antimicrobial against E. coli and S. aureus bacteria and thus is also simultaneously protein-repellent and antimicrobially active. Thus, although the carboxylate groups of PZI and PCB seem to be a prerequisite for the dual antimicrobial activity and protein-repellency, the pH responsiveness of the primary ammonium group seems to make the PZI molecule vulnerable for protein adhesion in fluids that are slightly out of the physiological range.

The synthesis and characterization of a series of green‐, blue‐, and red‐fluorescent exo‐oxanorbornene acid and imide monomers carrying nitrobenzofurazan, coumarin, and rhodamin B, respectively, as fluorophores are presented. These monomers carry oxanorbornene as polymerizable unit, and are readily copolymerized with bioactive functional oxanorbornene monomers by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization, as demonstrated by gel permeation chromatography and NMR spectroscopy. Due to the ease of synthesis of these monomers, and their cost‐effectiveness compared many to other fluorescent probes, they are useful for biomaterial applications.

The aims of the current study were (a) to analyze the differences in game performances of sitting volleyball athletes representing the different types of disabilities and (b) to assess whether the seated position vertical reach is one of the crucial factors in the game performance level of sitting volleyball athletes. One hundred male athletes from various national teams participating in the European Championships in Sitting Volleyball (2009) took part in this study. The athletes were categorized according to type of disability and the results of the vertical reach in a seated position. Thirtysix games were analyzed using the Game Performance Sheet for Sitting Volleyball. Twenty-three game performance parameters were studied. In addition, the sum and effectiveness of attacks, blocks, block services, services, ball receiving, and defensive actions were calculated. The main results indicated significant differences between athletes with minimal disability and athletes with single amputations from above the knee in the level of defensive performances and the summation of defensive actions. There was also a significant difference between athletes in relation to their vertical reach during activity and attacking actions, blocks, and ball receiving. In addition, there were strong relationships between the players' vertical reach scores and their activity and effectiveness in sitting volleyball. In conclusion, the accuracy of the World Organization Volleyball for Disabled classification systems for sitting volleyball players was confirmed. There is a strong relationship between players' vertical reach and their effectiveness in sitting volleyball.

By copolymerizing an amphiphilic oxanorbornene monomer bearing N- tert-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) protected cationic groups with an oxanorbornene-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) macromonomer, bifunctional comb copolymers were obtained. Varying the comonomer ratios led to copolymers with PEG contents between 5–25 mol %. These polymers were simultaneously surface-immobilized on benzophenone-bearing substrates and cross-linked with pentaerythritoltetrakis(3-mercapto­propionate). They were then immersed into HCl to remove the Boc groups. The thus obtained surface-attached polymer hydrogels (called SMAMP*-co-PEG) were simultaneously antimicrobial and protein-repellent. Physical characterization data showed that the substrates used were homogeneously covered with the SMAMP*-co-PEG polymer, and that the PEG moieties tended to segregate to the polymer–air interface. Thus, with increasing PEG content, the interface became increasingly hydrophilic and protein-repellent, as demonstrated by a protein adhesion assay. With 25 mol % PEG, near-quantitative protein-adhesion was observed. The antimicrobial activity of the SMAMP*-co-PEG polymers originates from the electrostatic interaction of the cationic groups with the negatively charged cell envelope of the bacteria. However, the SMAMP*-co-PEG surfaces were only fully active against E. coli, while their activity against S. aureus was already compromised by as little as 5 mol % (18.8 mass %) PEG. The long PEG chains seem to prevent the close interaction of bacteria with the surface, and also might reduce the surface charge density.

A series of catastrophic floods that have occurred over the last twenty years in Poland brought an urgent need for taking preventive steps to monitor river embankment conditions. The main problem seems to be the development of efficient (i.e. fast and economical) measurements for controlling the condition of river embankments, because the execution of the full range of geotechnical measurements is both lengthy and costly. In this situation, a cheap and quick geophysical survey has been proposed to undertake this purpose. In this article the results of geophysical surveys are described which were performed using geoelectric and electromagnetic methods along a section of the Vistula embankment, located near the Maniów area in the Małopolska province. According to the archival data, this region is situated in a high-risk flooding zone. Three geophysical methods were used to recognize conditions of the levee: (i) Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), (ii) Induced Polarization (IP) and (iii) Electromagnetic Conductivity (EMC). Geoelectrical measurement results were presented in the form of resistivity and polarization cross-sections. Results of conductivity measurement were presented in the form of plots. These parameters effectively supplement geotechnical testing, providing spatial information about the changes within the embankment and its substrate. It allows the prediction of potentially vulnerable areas to water percolation during flooding.

For many applications, TiO2 must have a unique surface structure responsible for its desirable physicochemical properties. Therefore the fast and easy methods of TiO2 surface characterization are of great interest. Heated TiO2 samples and dye-modified TiO2 samples were analyzed by laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. In the negative ion mode, two types of ions were detected, namely (TiO2)n− and (TiO2)nOH−. It has been established that the samples can be differentiated based on the relative ion abundances, especially with respect to the free hydroxyl group population. It indicates that laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry has the potential for the investigation of the surface properties of various TiO2 materials.