Synergistic effects of borneol and zwitterionic coating on enhanced antimicrobial and anti-biofilm performance

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Infectious Diseases
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Medical implant and device surface infections pose a significant clinical challenge.
• Existing antimicrobial coatings primarily target bacterial contamination, often neglecting mold adhesion.
• Mold contamination on medical devices is an underestimated but critical issue.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel bi-molecular composite coating to prevent microbial adhesion on medical device surfaces.
• To address the dual challenge of bacterial and mold contamination, including biofilm formation.
• To evaluate the efficacy and biocompatibility of the developed coating.

Main Methods:

• Modification of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates using a bi-molecular composite coating of sulfobetaine and borneol units.
• Tuning the ratio of sulfobetaine and borneol groups to achieve desired anti-microbial properties.
• In vivo subcutaneous implantation in mice to assess biocompatibility.

Main Results:

• The bi-molecular coating demonstrated simultaneous anti-bacterial and anti-mold adhesion properties.
• The coating effectively inhibited bacterial biofilm formation through a synergistic effect.
• In vivo studies confirmed the favorable biocompatibility of the modified PDMS substrates.

Conclusions:

• The developed sulfobetaine and borneol composite coating offers a promising strategy for preventing microbial adhesion and biofilm formation on medical devices.
• This approach provides novel insights for designing advanced antimicrobial coatings with dual efficacy.
• The study highlights the importance of addressing both bacterial and mold contamination in medical device applications.