UV-Responsive Multilayers with Multiple Functions for Biofilm Destruction and Tissue Regeneration

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Medical Device Engineering

Background:

• Biofilm contamination on medical implants hinders host cell adhesion and leads to long-term application failure.
• Developing effective anti-infection strategies for implantable devices is crucial for surgical success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate UV-responsive multilayers for simultaneous antibiofilm activity and enhanced tissue integration on medical implants.
• To investigate the mechanism of UV-induced biofilm destruction and its impact on host cell behavior.

Main Methods:

• Stepwise assembly of poly(pyrenemethyl acrylate- co-acrylic acid) (P(PA- co-AA)) micelles and chitosan to create UV-responsive multilayers.
• UV irradiation to induce cleavage of pyrene ester bonds, increasing surface roughness and hydrophilicity, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS).
• In vitro and in vivo evaluation of antibiofilm efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus and assessment of host cell attachment and tissue integration.

Main Results:

• UV irradiation generated ROS within 10 s, achieving >99.999% antibacterial rate by destroying Staphylococcus aureus biofilms.
• The modified surfaces promoted attachment and proliferation of fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells.
• In vivo implantation showed significantly reduced bacterial density and inflammation, with observed neo-vascularization around implants.

Conclusions:

• Photoresponsive multilayers offer a dual function of antibiofilm protection and tissue integration for medical implants.
• This technology holds promise for improving the long-term performance and biocompatibility of various implantable devices.
• The findings provide a new avenue for surface modification strategies in long-term implant applications.