Robust Thin Film Surface with a Selective Antibacterial Property Enabled via a Cross-Linked Ionic Polymer Coating for Infection-Resistant Medical Applications

Abstract

Fabrication of new antibacterial surfaces has become a primary strategy for preventing device-associated infections (DAIs). Although considerable progress has recently been made in reducing DAIs, current antibacterial coating methods are technically complex and do not allow selective bacterial killing. Here, we propose novel anti-infective surfaces made of a cross-linked ionic polymer film that achieve selective bacteria killing while simultaneously favoring the survival of mammalian cells. A one-step polymerization process known as initiated chemical vapor deposition was used to generate a cross-linked ionic polymer film from 4-vinylbenzyl chloride and 2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate monomers in the vapor phase. In particular, the deposition process produced a polymer network with quaternary ammonium cross-linking sites, which provided the surface with an ionic moiety with an excellent antibacterial contact-killing property. This method confers substrate compatibility, which enables various materials to be coated with ionic polymer films for use in medical implants. Moreover, the ionic polymer-deposited surfaces supported the healthy growth of mammalian cells while selectively inhibiting bacterial growth in coculture models without any detectable cytotoxicity. Thus, the cross-linked ionic polymer-based antibacterial surface developed in this study can serve as an ideal platform for biomedical applications that require a highly sterile environment.

Poly(ionic liquid) composites

“…To date, PILs have successfully formed many functional composites with metal salts or metal nanostructures, polyoxometalates (POMs), silicas, organic compounds, polymers, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), carbons (amorphous carbons, graphene, carbon nanotubes), biomaterials, and more. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] Such composites are intensively explored for use in sorption, separation and catalysis processes and in products including batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, photovoltaic devices, sensing platforms, and so on. [21][22][23][24][25] This review will expound this research trend and promote efforts to understand the fundamentals of the role of PILs as an active component for composite design and applications.…”

Antibacterial Nanopillar Array for an Implantable Intraocular Lens

“…The QAC‐containing polymer film was expected to increase the electrostatic interaction between the bacteria and nanopillars, and enhance the antibacterial activity of NPA through contact‐killing. [ 36 ] The pVD film was synthesized using VBC and DMAEMA copolymerization. The ionic QAC crosslinking sites were produced using a Menshutkin reaction between two monomers (chloride and tertiary amine).…”

“…A crosslinking reaction between the two monomers occurred during the iCVD process, forming a crosslinked ionic polymer film using a single step. [ 36,37 ] The mild process conditioning of iCVD prevented the deposition process from damaging the NPA. Therefore, the nanostructure was completely retained owing to the excellent conformal coverage characteristics of the iCVD method.…”

“…The degree of crosslinking of the synthesized polymer was 38.4%, which was calculated by dividing the average number of ionic elements by the sum of the atomic percentage of the total components that participated in the crosslinking reaction. [ 36,37 ]…”

“…The negatively charged bacterial membrane interacted with the positively charged QACs to induce destabilization or a rupture of the bacterial cell membrane. [ 36,43 ] Furthermore, the conformal pVD coating on the NPA enabled electrostatic interactions, which increased the interaction between the bacteria and NPA. Moreover, the nanotopological interactivity between functional polymer coated NPA and bacteria can damage to the bacteria membrane.…”