Study on PTFE superhydrophobic coating modified by IC@dMSNs and its enhanced antibacterial effect

Vascular catheter-related infections and thrombosis are common and may lead to serious complications after catheterization. Reducing the incidence of such infections has become a significant challenge.

This study aims to develop a super hydrophobic nanocomposite drug-loaded vascular catheter that can effectively resist bacterial infections and blood coagulation.

In this study, a SiO₂ nanocoated PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) catheter (PTFE-SiO₂) was prepared and further optimized to prepare a SiO₂ nanocoated PTFE catheter loaded with imipenem/cilastatin sodium (PTFE-IC@dMSNs). The catheters were characterized for performance, cell compatibility, anticoagulant performance, in vitro and in vivo antibacterial effect and biological safety.

PTFE-IC@dMSNs catheter has efficient drug loading performance and drug release rate and has good cell compatibility and anticoagulant effect in vitro. Compared with the PTFE-SiO₂ catheter, the inhibition ring of the PTFE-IC@dMSNs catheter against Escherichia coli increased from 3.98 mm² to 4.56 mm², and the antibacterial rate increased from about 50.8 % to 56.9 %, with a significant difference (p < 0.05). The antibacterial zone against Staphylococcus aureus increased from 8.63 mm² to 11.74 mm², and the antibacterial rate increased from approximately 83.5 % to 89.3 %, showing a significant difference (p < 0.05). PTFE-IC@dMSNs catheter also has good biocompatibility in vivo. Furthermore, the PTFE-IC@dMSNs catheter can reduce the adhesion of blood cells and have excellent anticoagulant properties, and even maintain these properties even with the addition of imipenem/cilastatin sodium.

Compared with PTFE, PTFE-SiO₂ and PTFE-IC@dMSNs catheters have good characterization performance, cell compatibility, and anticoagulant properties. PTFE SiO₂ and PTFE-IC@dMSNs catheters have good antibacterial performance and tissue safety against E. coli and S. aureus. Relatively, PTFE-SiO₂ and PTFE-IC@dMSNs catheter has better antibacterial properties and histocompatibility and has potential application prospects in anti-bacterial catheter development and anticoagulation.