Fabrication of Antifouling/Antimicrobial Polysulfonium‐Coated Surface Against Biofilms and Water Bacterial Contamination

Abstract

Bacterial attachment and colonization on the surface have caused a severe threat to human healthcare. The development of surface coatings with high antibacterial activity and low toxicity is highly desired. Herein, a series of sulfonium‐containing polypeptoids with various structural motifs on the side chains is synthesized, which are efficiently grafted on the silicone surface via plasma and ultraviolet light treatment. The resulting coating demonstrates excellent antibacterial properties against both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, as well as a sustained antibacterial effect at ambient temperature for up to one week. Moreover, the coating exhibits excellent in vitro antibiofilm and protein resistance properties, as well as excellent hemo/biocompatibility. Further, by fabricating a decontamination system with the coated substrates, the obtained coating materials show high efficiency in bacterial decontamination of water, which has great potential for use in water disinfection systems. All these results suggest that prepared coating with dual antibacterial and antifouling properties has great potential in combating bacterial contamination.