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Dynamic Antimicrobial Poly(disulfide) Coatings Exfoliate Biofilms On Demand Via Triggered Depolymerization
Yang Lou1, Edmund F Palermo1,2
1Materials Science and Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th St., Troy, NY, 12180, USA.
Advanced Healthcare Materials
|January 30, 2024
Summary
This study presents a novel antimicrobial coating that kills bacteria on contact. The coating can be mechanically delaminated on demand using UV light, offering a reusable solution for biofilm control.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biotechnology
- Surface Chemistry
Background:
- Bacterial biofilms pose significant challenges in biomedical and industrial applications.
- Current antimicrobial coatings lose efficacy over time due to fouling and require harsh cleaning methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a dynamically reversible antimicrobial surface coating with on-demand biofilm removal capabilities.
- To create a coating that combines contact-killing antimicrobial activity with triggered mechanical delamination.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized antimicrobial polymer derivatives based on alpha-lipoic acid (LA) and quaternary ammonium salt groups.
- Investigated dynamic and reversible polymerization into polydisulfides.
- Evaluated coating performance against Staphylococcus aureus under varying microbial challenges.
- Assessed biofilm removal via UV-triggered depolymerization.
Main Results:
- Coatings demonstrated >99.9% killing of Staphylococcus aureus over 15 cycles for moderate challenges.
- Fouling occurred under intense microbial challenges after 5 days.
- UV-triggered degradation in aqueous solution at neutral pH successfully exfoliated attached biofilms.
Conclusions:
- Developed a simple strategy for antimicrobial coatings with sustained contact-killing activity.
- Achieved on-demand mechanical delamination of biofilms under mild conditions.
- Offers a promising approach for long-term biofilm management in various applications.
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