Constructing a Contact-Active Antimicrobial Surface Based on Quarternized Amphiphilic Carbonaceous Particles against...

Although contact-active antimicrobial surfaces (CAASs) are efficient, persistent, and safe in inhibiting bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation and much more desirable for applications in the fields ranging from industry to medical devices than others, the intrinsic defects, such as time and cost consumption and uncertainty in the stable immobilization of biocides, of previously established strategies affect their scaling-up preparations. Herein, a CAAS containing amphiphilic carbonaceous particles (ACPs), quarternized polyethyleneimine (QPEI), and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) was constructed by a carrier dispersion strategy. Its procedures included the immobilization of QPEI onto ACPs (ACPs-QPEI) and the incorporation of these modified particles into TPU. Its contact-medicated biocidal activity and other properties mentioned above were confirmed by in vitro/in vivo studies. As a crucial component of this surface, ACPs-QPEI showed good amphiphilic nature and strong antimicrobial activity. Its uniform incorporation not only endowed the TPU membrane with strong antimicrobial activity but also enlarged its strength and hydrophilicity at a proper dosage range. Its lethal dosages for 10⁶ cfu mL^-1 of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and MRSA were all below 0.1 mg mL^-1. Their amphiphilic nature would enable them to be compatible with different polarities of polymers theoretically, which means that much more CAASs could be prepared using this antimicrobial filler. The strategy was facile and feasible and might open an avenue for CAAS construction and applications.