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A Natural Biomolecule-Based Coating with Antifouling and Quorum-Sensing Inhibition Properties for Preventing Biofilm
Xin Chen1, Xinran Gao1, Anzhuo Weng1
1State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China.
Biomacromolecules
|January 14, 2026
Summary
This study introduces an all-natural coating using bovine serum albumin and quercetin to prevent biofilm infections on medical implants. The coating inhibits bacterial adhesion and biofilm maturation, offering a safe, long-lasting antibiofilm solution.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Infectious Disease Research
- Surface Chemistry
Background:
- Biofilm-associated infections pose significant healthcare challenges, driven by antibiotic resistance and medical implant colonization.
- Conventional antifouling coatings offer limited efficacy against long-term biofilm development and bacterial adhesion.
- Developing effective, safe antibiofilm strategies is crucial for preventing implant-associated infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a versatile, all-natural coating with dual-action antibiofilm properties.
- To combine a structural matrix with a natural quorum-sensing inhibitor for enhanced efficacy.
- To evaluate the coating's performance against clinically relevant pathogens and its cytocompatibility.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a coating using phase-transited bovine serum albumin (PTB) as a matrix and quercetin (Qe) as an active agent.
- Assessment of the PTB framework's adhesive properties and immediate antifouling capabilities.
- Evaluation of sustained Qe release and its impact on bacterial quorum sensing and biofilm maturation.
- Testing broad-spectrum antibiofilm activity against pathogens like *Pseudomonas aeruginosa* and *Staphylococcus aureus*.
Main Results:
- The all-natural coating demonstrated stable adhesion to various substrates and immediate antifouling effects.
- Sustained release of quercetin effectively disrupted bacterial communication, inhibiting biofilm maturation without causing bacterial death.
- The dual-action coating exhibited broad-spectrum and prolonged antibiofilm activity against key pathogens.
- The coating showed excellent cytocompatibility, indicating its safety for biomedical applications.
Conclusions:
- The developed all-natural coating provides a safe and effective dual-action strategy against biofilm formation.
- This facilely fabricated coating shows promise for preventing biofilm-associated infections in biomedical settings.
- Combining structural integrity with quorum-sensing inhibition offers a novel approach to antibiofilm surface modification.
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