A conformally adapted all-in-one hydrogel coating: towards robust hemocompatibility and bactericidal activity

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Medical Device Engineering
• Infectious Disease Prevention

Background:

• Hospital-acquired infections and thrombosis are significant healthcare challenges linked to medical device contamination.
• Current strategies often struggle to balance hemocompatibility with effective antimicrobial properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an adaptable, all-in-one hydrogel coating for medical devices.
• To evaluate the coating's hemocompatibility, bactericidal activity, and antithrombotic potential.

Main Methods:

• Surface-initiated polymerization to create hydrogel coatings with tunable monomer ratios.
• Loading and assessment of various antimicrobial agents (nano-Ag, antibiotics, peptides).
• Hemocompatibility tests (hemolysis, platelet adhesion/activation) and ex vivo blood circulation studies.

Main Results:

• The hydrogel coating demonstrated good hemocompatibility and efficient bactericidal activity.
• Antimicrobial and antifouling properties were maintained for four weeks.
• The coating significantly reduced platelet adhesion/activation without causing hemolysis, showing antithrombotic effects.

Conclusions:

• The developed hydrogel coating offers a promising solution for preventing infections and thrombosis on medical devices.
• Its adaptability, sustained antimicrobial efficacy, and hemocompatibility make it suitable for blood-contacting applications.