Surface with antimicrobial activity obtained through silane coating with covalently bound polymyxin B

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Microbiology

Background:

• Medical devices require surfaces with antimicrobial properties to prevent infections.
• Polymyxin B is a potent polycationic lipopeptide with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity.
• Covalent immobilization is preferred for bioactive agents to ensure stability and prevent leaching.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare and characterize antimicrobial surfaces via covalent immobilization of polymyxin B.
• To evaluate the bioactivity and stability of the immobilized peptide.
• To assess the potential of these surfaces for medical applications.

Main Methods:

• Sol-gel technology was used to functionalize glass substrates with epoxide-containing silane coatings.
• Polymyxin B was covalently coupled to the functionalized surface using a catalyst.
• Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were employed for characterization.

Main Results:

• Successful covalent immobilization of polymyxin B onto the functionalized glass surface was confirmed.
• The immobilized polymyxin B retained its bioactivity, exhibiting significant antimicrobial effects.
• The coated surface reduced Escherichia coli counts by over five orders of magnitude within 24 hours.

Conclusions:

• Bioactive coatings with covalently bound polymyxin B demonstrate potent antimicrobial activity.
• This approach offers a stable and effective method for creating antimicrobial surfaces for medical devices.
• The developed material has potential for preventing bacterial growth and biofilm formation on medical implants and equipment.