Abstract
The antibacterial activity of different antibiotic and metal-free thin polymer coatings was investigated. The films comprised quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC) based on a vinyl benzyl chloride (VBC) building block. Two monomeric QAC of different alkyl chain lengths were prepared, and then polymerized by two different polymerization processes to apply them onto Ti surfaces. At first, the polymeric layer was generated directly on the surface by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). For comparison purposes, in a classical route a copolymerization of the QAC-containing monomers with a metal adhesion mediating phosphonate (VBPOH) monomers was carried out and the Ti surfaces were coated via drop coating. The different coatings were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) illustrating a thickness in the nanomolecular range. The cytocompatibility in vitro was confirmed by both live/dead and WST-1 assay. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by two different assays (CFU and BTG, resp.,), showing for both coating processes similar results to kill bacteria on contact. These antibacterial coatings present a simple method to protect metallic devices against microbial contamination.
Highlights
Bacteria and microbial pathogens, which cause serious infections and diseases, have been a threat to both, human health and social development [1]
In the presented study new ultrathin polymeric coatings based on vinyl benzyl monomeric units bearing quaternary ammonium moieties have been prepared and tested with regard to their antimicrobial activity on titanium surfaces
The coatings were prepared by two different methods, on the one hand by direct atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) surface polymerization of the corresponding quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC)-containing monomers on plasma pre-activated titanium substrates, and for comparison, in a classical way by copolymerization of the QAC-containing monomers with a substrate-adhering vinylbenzyl phosphonate monomer and subsequent coating of the titanium substrates with the prepared copolymers by a drop coating procedure
Summary
Bacteria and microbial pathogens, which cause serious infections and diseases, have been a threat to both, human health and social development [1]. The control and prevention of microbial infections, especially in healthcare or public facilities, is a tremendous challenge because microorganisms are omnipresent and can be spread through air, water, and all kind of surfaces [7]. To combat these microbial pathogens, all kinds of antimicrobial agents, including antibiotics, disinfectants, antiseptics, and nano particles, have been developed [8,9,10,11,12,13,14]. In contrast to low molecular weight compounds, antimicrobial polymers show better antimicrobial efficacy and lower residual toxicity due to higher stability and non-volatility, and having a long-term activity [25,26,27,28,29]
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