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One-step surface modification strategy with composition-tunable microgels: From bactericidal surface to cell-friendly
Jie Shen1, Rui Chen1, Jinghong Wang1
1State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China.
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces
|February 3, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed novel poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgels (ZQP) for biomaterial surface modification. These microgels offer tunable anti-fouling and bactericidal properties, creating effective and biocompatible surfaces resistant to bacterial adhesion and challenging treatments.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Surface Chemistry
Background:
- Soft colloidal particles are effective biomaterial surface modifiers, offering film-forming, chemical, and biological functionalities.
- Controlling microgel properties for optimized film formation and biological function remains a challenge in surface modification.
- Existing methods lack fine-tuned control over particle characteristics for specific anti-fouling and bactericidal applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgels (ZQP) with tunable anti-fouling and bactericidal properties.
- To investigate the relationship between microgel composition and film-forming capabilities for surface modification.
- To evaluate the anti-bacterial efficacy, cytocompatibility, and durability of ZQP-coated biomaterial surfaces.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgels (ZQP) incorporating zwitterionic (Z) and quaternary ammonium salt (Q) components.
- Fine-tuning of Z and Q content to control microgel particle size, size distribution, charge, and film-forming properties.
- Coating various substrates (silicon wafer, PDMS, PU, PVC) and evaluating anti-bacterial activity, cytocompatibility, and resistance to chemical/mechanical treatments.
Main Results:
- Microgel composition was successfully tuned to control particle properties and film formation.
- ZQP films demonstrated anti-adhesion and contact-killing effects against Escherichia coli (E. coli).
- Coated substrates exhibited long-term antibacterial activity and durability against various treatments, with excellent cytocompatibility for L929 cells.
Conclusions:
- The developed ZQP microgels provide an effective strategy for creating bactericidal and cytocompatible surfaces.
- Microgel composition can be precisely regulated to fine-tune surface properties for specific applications.
- This surface modification approach is versatile and applicable to a wide range of substrates.
