Biocompatible fluorinated wrinkled hydrogel films with antimicrobial activity

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Controlling bacterial adhesion and promoting cell growth on biomaterials are critical for medical applications.
• Hydrogel films offer versatile platforms for surface modification.
• Tailoring surface properties influences biological interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design surface-modified hydrogel films for controlled bacterial colonization and enhanced cell proliferation.
• To investigate the effect of monomer composition and surface topography on biological responses.
• To evaluate the antimicrobial and cell-promoting capabilities of the developed hydrogel films.

Main Methods:

• Hydrogel films were fabricated using spin-coating on mica substrates.
• Surface topography was modified by external stimuli to create wrinkled patterns.
• Surface hydrophobicity was tuned by varying monomer ratios.
• Characterization included contact angle and confocal Raman spectroscopy.
• Biological assessments involved cell proliferation assays (C2C12-GFP, RAW 264.7) and antimicrobial tests (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli).

Main Results:

• Varying monomer composition altered the hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance of the hydrogel films.
• Surface modification led to the formation of wrinkled patterns.
• The inclusion of 2-(perfluorohexyl)ethyl methacrylate (TFPMA) significantly increased cell proliferation.
• TFPMA-containing hydrogels demonstrated a notable decrease in viable bacterial colonies (Gram-positive and Gram-negative) after 48 hours.

Conclusions:

• Surface-modified hydrogel films can be engineered to modulate bacterial adhesion and promote host cell growth.
• The hydrophobic functional monomer TFPMA plays a key role in enhancing cell proliferation and exhibiting antimicrobial activity.
• These findings suggest potential applications in developing advanced wound dressings or implantable biomaterials.