Surface engineering 'liquid-like' solid surfaces with nitric oxide releasing polymers to combat biofouling.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Medical Device Coatings

Background:

• 'Liquid-like' solid surfaces offer passive antifouling but lack bioactivity.
• Existing surfaces struggle with microbial contamination and thrombosis.
• Nitric oxide (NO) is a bioactive gasotransmitter with antibacterial and antithrombotic properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a combinatorial anti-biofouling platform integrating 'liquid-like' surfaces with nitric oxide (NO) release.
• To address limitations of passive antifouling and conventional bioactive coatings.
• To create a cytocompatible and hemocompatible material for medical devices.

Main Methods:

• Co-condensation of tetramethyl orthosilicate and n-octyltriethoxysilane onto NO-releasing medical-grade polymers.
• Engineering an omniphobic 'liquid-like' solid coating.
• Experimental quantification of cytocompatibility and hemocompatibility.

Main Results:

• The combinatorial coating eliminated surface-adhered and planktonic bacterial growth.
• Resisted long-term biofilm formation and repelled human fibrinogen adhesion.
• Inhibited platelet adhesion and activation, outperforming individual approaches.

Conclusions:

• This novel platform integrates passive antifouling with active bioactivity for enhanced performance.
• The material demonstrates significant potential for medical devices like catheters and extracorporeal circuits.
• Represents a promising advancement for 'in vivo' applications requiring robust anti-biofouling and antithrombotic properties.