Construction of a temperature-responsive terpolymer coating with recyclable bactericidal and self-cleaning antimicrobial properties

Abstract

Once a biomedical implant is implanted into a human body, proteins and bacteria can easily colonize the implant, and subsequently, a biofilm can grow on the surface. A biofilm can protect the inhabiting bacteria against macrophages and neutrophil cell attack from the host immune system. The most important issue for artificial antibacterial surfaces is the accumulation of the bacteria corpse after they are killed by contact, which promotes further adhesion of bacteria and biofilm formation. Therefore, we constructed a novel multifunctional bactericidal and fouling release antibacterial surface through the combination of temperature-responsive N-vinylcaprolactam (VCL), hydrophilic 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) and a bactericidal quaternary ammonium salt (2-(dimethylamino)-ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA)). The terpolymer coating was prepared through surface-initiated reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization and characterized using water contact angle measurements, atomic force microscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry. At a temperature above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), the P(VCL-co-DMAEMA-co-MPC) terpolymer coating was in a compressed and hydrophobic state with low moisture content, which displayed bactericidal efficiency against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. The coating could be switched into a relatively hydrophilic surface at a temperature below the LCST, which showed self-cleaning properties against both bacteria and bovine serum albumin. The functionalized surface showed good biocompatibility against human lens epithelial cells as evaluated by morphology studies and activity measurements.

Quaternary ammonium-based biomedical materials: State-of-the-art, toxicological aspects and antimicrobial resistance

“…When the modified materials were exposed to E. coli, cellulose fibers with the highest degree of quaternization or quaternized with the shortest alkyl chains exhibited more potent antimicrobial activities. Recently, Wang et al reported the synthesis of a temperature-triggered, recycable bactericidal and antifouling surface [126,127]. At a temperature above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), the biomaterial surface is able to capture and effectively kill bacteria due to the presence of quaternized p(DMAEMA).…”

Responsive and Synergistic Antibacterial Coatings: Fighting against Bacteria in a Smart and Effective Way

“…Following this strategy, a series of smart antibacterial coatings were developed by integration of bactericidal components with temperature‐responsive polymers (such as PNIPAAm or poly( N ‐vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL)). In most cases, the two functional components were introduced to the surface in form of either copolymer brushes or mixed polymer brushes and thus multistep reactions are needed. In contrast, a AgNP/PNIPAAm hybrid film prepared using a one‐step photopolymerization method showed a more facial and reliable approach to design a film with smart antibacterial activity .…”

Dual bioresponsive antibiotic and quorum sensing inhibitor combination nanoparticles for treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms in vitro and ex vivo

“…9 Novel therapeutic strategies are thus urgently needed to combat the threat of biofilm-centred infections. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] One of the most promising approaches is the combined-use of antibiotics with adjuvants that do not affect the pathways essential for the bacterial growth and viability, and as a consequence are less likely to select for resistance. Such agents have various modes of action including (i) increasing bacterial cell membrane permeability, (ii) impairing biofilm formation, and/ or the production of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance elements, (iii) blocking antibiotic efflux pumps and (iv) changing phenotype from the biofilm to the planktonic state through biofilm dispersal.…”