A smart antibacterial surface with switchable bacteria-antifouling and killing capabilities

Abstract

A single layer zwitterionic polymer brush grafted surface with pH-responsive charge reversal capacity was prepared in a simple and widely used strategy. The amide bond of the zwitterionic polymer will break under acidic condition and undergo a charge reversal, resulting the surface to convert from an antifouling zwitterionic surface to a bactericidal cationic surface. The surface we constructed can successfully resist the attachment of initial bacteria at physiological conditions and kill bacteria on demand to defend bacterial infection, showing an attractive application in implantable medical devices.