Slippery bioactive nanoemulsion-infused and nitric oxide-releasing surfaces for anti-fouling biomedical applications

Indwelling medical devices are highly susceptible to infection and thrombosis, two major complications arising from bacterial adhesion, protein deposition, and platelet aggregation on device surfaces. To address these challenges, a multifunctional surface that integrates slippery nanoemulsion (NE) infusion with dual bioactive release of nitric oxide (NO) and eugenol (EG) was developed. N-hexadecane-based NEs, with or without eugenol incorporation, were infused into S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP)-impregnated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to create materials featuring a stable lubricant reservoir that provides anti-fouling properties and is combined with an active antimicrobial and antithrombotic agent. The combined material SNAP-2%EG exhibited low sliding angles (<20°) while maintaining near-physiological NO release for 24 h. The SNAP-2%EG did not elicit cytotoxic effects on mouse fibroblast cells, with relative cell viability >70%, while significantly reducing the adhesion and viability of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli by 2.95 log and 1.76 log, respectively. The combined strategy significantly reduced fibrinogen adsorption by up to 40% and platelet adhesion by 98%, thereby enhancing anti-fouling efficacy. The SNAP-impregnated samples infused with eugenol-NE demonstrated promising results and potential for biomedical applications.