Toward Self-Regenerating Antimicrobial Polymer Surfaces

Abstract

Regeneration of functional polymer surfaces after damage or contamination is an unresolved scientific challenge, and also of practical importance. In this proof-of-concept study, we present a method to regenerate a functional surface property using a polymer multi-layer architecture. This is exemplified using antimicrobially active surfaces. The idea is to shed the top layer of the polymer layer stack, like a reptile shedding its skin. The proof-of-concept stack consists of two antimicrobial layers and a degradable interlayer. Shedding of the top layer is enabled by degrading that interlayer. The shedding process was analyzed by quantitative fluorescence microscopy, ellipsometry, and FTIR spectroscopy. Antimicrobial assays revealed that the functionality of the emerging antimicrobial layer was fully retained after shedding.

Surface Properties and Antimicrobial Activity of Poly(sulfur‐co‐1,3‐diisopropenylbenzene) Copolymers

“…Whether sulfur‐containing polymer coatings are useful as antimicrobial materials will depend on the area of application, and the exact mechanism of their antimicrobial activity. For example, polymer surfaces made from cationic antimicrobial polymers, which have much higher initial antimicrobial activities, eventually fail because they are contact active and become contaminated by the debris of the dead bacteria . Thus, if the mode of action of the sulfur polymers is not based on contact, but on release of an active compound that is formed when they are in contact with bacteria, they might have improved long‐term activity compared to contact‐active surfaces.…”

Polymer‐Based Surfaces Designed to Reduce Biofilm Formation: From Antimicrobial Polymers to Strategies for Long‐Term Applications

“…The SMAMP bottom layer before degradation is included as reference (yellow curve). Panels (a–g) reproduced with permission . Copyright 2015, American Chemical Society.…”

Non‐Delaminating Polymer Hydrogel Coatings via C,H‐Insertion Crosslinking (CHic)—A Case Study of Poly(oxanorbornenes)

“…From these, surface‐attached polymer networks were obtained that were much more homogeneous than analogous materials made by the addition of a low molecular weight crosslinker to the poly(oxanorbornene), and had a significantly higher gel content. This is particularly important when planning polymer multilayer systems, for example for the purpose of layer shedding from polymer multi‐stacks . In such system, any layer inhomogeneity will have an impact both on the morphology of the consecutive layers and on the layer interfaces.…”