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Flexible and Biocompatible Antifouling Polyurethane Surfaces Incorporating Tethered Antimicrobial Peptides through
Mattias Berglin1,2, Jorunn Pauline Cavanagh3,4, Josefin Seth Caous1
1Department of Materials and Production, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Gothenburg, 413 46, Sweden.
Macromolecular Bioscience
|November 27, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed a new polyurethane material that can be easily coated with antibacterial peptides. This versatile, biocompatible material shows promise in preventing bacterial biofilm formation on medical devices, reducing implant-associated infections.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biotechnology
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Implant-associated infections pose a significant clinical challenge, driving demand for novel antibacterial materials.
- Current strategies often face limitations in efficacy, biocompatibility, or ease of application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a versatile polyurethane platform for the "click on demand" attachment of antibacterial compounds.
- To create a biocompatible and scalable material for preventing bacterial colonization and biofilm formation on medical implants.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of alkyne-containing polyurethane (thermoset and thermoplastic) using various polyols, isocyanates, and chain extenders.
- Design and synthesis of short antimicrobial peptides (AMPs).
- Covalent attachment of AMPs to the polyurethane backbone via click chemistry, followed by biocompatibility testing (ISO, OECD guidelines) and in vitro evaluation against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis.
Main Results:
- A robust, flexible polyurethane material comparable to commercial thermoplastic polyurethane was successfully synthesized.
- Antimicrobial peptides were efficiently conjugated to the polyurethane, forming a homogenous coating.
- The resulting peptide-coated material demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, no cytotoxicity, and significant efficacy in preventing bacterial colonization and biofilm formation on plastic films and central venous catheters.
Conclusions:
- The developed polyurethane system offers a versatile and scalable approach for creating antibacterial medical materials.
- This technology has the potential to significantly reduce the incidence and impact of bacterial biofilms in clinical settings.
- The "click on demand" strategy enables facile functionalization for broad applications in combating implant-associated infections.
