Thiol-Reactive Polymers for Titanium Interfaces: Fabrication of Antimicrobial Coatings

Abstract

Infection associated with surgical implants is a major cause of their failure. Often in such cases, the implant has to be removed and replaced, which causes undesirable patient discomfort and complications. Bacterial adhesion and growth on implant surface is the primary reason for such infections. Among the approaches to prevent implant associated infections, the conjugation of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) onto the surface of the implant is a very promising approach. In this study, we describe a facile method for the surface modification of titanium (Ti), a widely used material in dental and orthopedic implants, to prevent bacterial adhesion and growth. Thin polymeric films were synthesized on the Ti surface by using a copolymer containing the maleimide group as a thiol-reactive handle to enable the conjugation of AMPs. Robust attachment of the polymeric coating on Ti surfaces was ensured through installation of catechol moieties on the polymer as surface anchoring groups and the variation of the amount of...