Infections caused by bacteria and biofilms on the surfaces of biomedical devices and implants pose serious threats to public health. Herein, a nitric oxide (NO) gas-releasing quaternary ammonium-type ionic liquid (IL)-based coating on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), PDIL-NO, with effective and long-acting antibacterial and antifouling properties was prepared. N-(2-((2, 3-Dimethylbut-3-enoyl)­oxy)­ethyl)-N, N-dimethyloctan-1-aminium bromide (IL-Br), and 2-methyl-2-propenoic acid 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethyl ester were covalently grafted onto the surfaces of PDMS by a thiol–ene click chemical reaction, followed by incorporation of l-proline anions (Pro–) through anion exchange with Br– to adsorb NO gas. The prepared PDIL-NO showed a prolonged NO-releasing time (>1440 min) and a relatively high concentration (88 μM). Additionally, PDIL-NO possessed good and long-term antimicrobial activity, and could effectively reduce the adsorption of bovine serum albumin and adhesion of bacteria, as well as inhibit wound infection and reduce inflammation in vivo due to the synergetic effect of IL and the released NO. This study may provide a new approach to combat bacterial infections associated with biomedical devices and implants.

It is highly challenging to separate stabilized water/oil emulsions with sizes below 20 μm. Here, we propose a simple and scalable process via the in situ grafting of ZIF-8 nanoparticles and a poly­(ionic liquid) (PIL) onto a commercial cotton cloth (CC) fabric. Switchable wettability between superhydrophilicity/underwater superoleophobicity and superhydrophobicity/superoleophilicity was easily realized via the anion exchange of the PIL. ZIF-8 nanoparticles effectively improved the superhydrophilicity and superolelphilicity of ZIF-8@PIL-grafted cotton cloth (CC-ZIF-PIL), while also performing the dual functions of the separation of oil-in-water (O/W) and water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions. Accordingly, effective water/oil emulsion separation with a high efficiency (η > 99%), selectivity, stability, and durability was obtained using the CC-ZIF-PIL. These features indicate that CC-ZIF-PIL has promising application in switchable water/oil emulsion separation devices.