Affiliation:
1. Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Luminescence from Molecular Aggregates South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510640 China
2. Nanshan District Key Lab for Biopolymers and Safety Evaluation Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Technology Guangdong Research Center for Interfacial Engineering of Functional Materials College of Materials Science and Engineering Shenzhen University Shenzhen 518060 P. R. China
Abstract
AbstractA challenge remains in the development of anti‐infectious coatings for the inert surfaces of biomedical devices that are prone to bacterial colonization and biofilm formation. Here, a facile photocuring method to construct functionalized polymeric coatings on inert polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surfaces, is developed. Using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiator bearing thymol group, hydrophilic DMAEMA and benzophenone (BP)‐containing monomers are copolymerized to form polymers with end functional groups. An end‐functionalized biocidal coating is then constructed on the inert PDMS surface in one step using a photocuring reaction. The functionalized PDMS surfaces show excellent antibacterial and antifouling properties, are capable of completely eradiating MRSA within ≈6 h, and effectively inhibit the growth of biofilms. In addition, they have good stability and long‐lasting antibacterial activity in body fluid environments such as 0.9% saline and urine. According to bladder model experiments, the catheter's lifespan can be extended from ≈7 to 35 days by inhibiting the growth and migration of bacteria along its inner surface. The photocuring technique is therefore very promising in terms of surface functionalization of inert biomedical devices in order to minimize the spread of infection.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China