Surface Modification of Medical-Grade Titanium and Polyvinyl Chloride with a Novel Catechol-Terminated Compound...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Infectious Disease Prevention

Background:

• Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a significant problem, often stemming from medical device contamination.
• Bacterial adhesion, proliferation, and biofilm formation on device surfaces are primary causes of HAIs.
• Existing bactericidal surfaces face challenges with dead microbe adherence, limiting long-term use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple, effective method for creating microbial adhesion-resistant surfaces on medical devices.
• To evaluate a novel mussel-inspired catechol compound with zwitterionic sulfobetaine (ZDS) functionality for surface modification.
• To assess the antibacterial efficacy and cytotoxicity of modified titanium and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) substrates.

Main Methods:

• A simple immersion method was used to modify titanium and PVC substrates with a zwitterionic sulfobetaine (ZDS) compound.
• The effects of dopamine, NaIO4 oxidants, and ionic interaction modifiers (NaCl, polyethyleneimine) on surface modification were investigated.
• A layer-by-layer immersion technique was also explored for PVC modification.

Main Results:

• ZDS-modified titanium and PVC substrates demonstrated significant antibacterial capabilities against *Staphylococcus aureus* (84.2% and 81.7% reduction, respectively).
• Optimized surface modification, including NaIO4 oxidation, enhanced antibacterial performance.
• No cytotoxicity was observed on the modified surfaces, indicating biocompatibility.

Conclusions:

• The mussel-inspired ZDS coating provides an effective and simple approach to create antifouling surfaces for medical devices.
• This method offers a feasible alternative to traditional bactericidal coatings, mitigating concerns about dead microbe adherence.
• The developed technique shows potential for reducing medical device-associated infections without adverse cytotoxic effects.