Protein Adsorption Research Articles

Effect of Uremic Toxins and Methoxy-PEO Chain Density on Plasma Protein Adsorption.

Protein adsorption can direct the host response to blood-contacting biomaterials. Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) is commonly employed to minimize nonspecific protein adsorption. Although chain density has been observed to play a role in the inherent resistance of protein adsorption by end-tethered films of PEO, only a few papers correlate the change in PEO chain densities with the adsorbed plasma protein composition. Almost all studies rely upon blood from healthy patients for these studies even though they are applied to the unhealthy. In the case of patients with kidney failure, there is a remarkable change in the blood composition due to retained metabolites. In the pursuit of personalized dialysis, we must address this dearth in the literature regarding the effect of metabolite accumulation in the blood compartment on the adsorption of protein to blood-contacting biomaterials. To this end, surface films of different methoxy-PEO (mPEO) chain densities were used to evaluate the changes in adsorbed proteins in the presence of uremic metabolites (i.e., uremic toxins). End-tethered mPEO films were characterized using contact angles, ellipsometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Plasma protein adsorption was conducted with and without uremic toxins commonly found in patients with end stage kidney disease, and the adsorbed protein profile was identified using immunoblots. It was found that the presence of uremic toxins led to a notable increase in the adsorption of almost all of the proteins. It was evident that while chain density plays a role in overall protein resistance, the effect of uremic toxins led to substantial increases in adsorbed proteins and needs to be considered when designing next-generation blood-contacting materials.

Enhanced sludge solid-liquid separation based on Fe2+/periodate conditioning coupled with polyoxometalates: Cell destruction and protein adsorption

Dewatering of waste activated sludge is a necessary step for achieving subsequent reduction, stabilization, and resource utilization. In this study, Fe2+/periodate (PI) coupled with polyoxometalates (POMs) conditioning was tested for realizing sludge deep dewatering. After the addition of POMs (0.20 mmol g−1 VSS), Fe2+/PI/POMs conditioning enhanced the efficiency of sludge dewatering by 42.93% compared to Fe2+/PI conditioning. It was found that the electrostatic repulsion posed a significant influence on the interaction between POMs and proteins. The reduction of electrostatic repulsion facilitated the proximity of POMs to the sludge flocs and promoted its reaction. The strong acidity and interaction with cells of POMs could induce the damage or apoptosis in sludge cells, resulting in the release of intracellular substances. The active radicals generated by Fe2+/PI process attacked TB-EPS, causing the dissolution of EPS and the decomposition of hydrophilic substances. With the assistance of Fe2+/PI process, POMs exhibited an enhanced cell-disruptive effect, thereby inducing the liberation of a greater quantity of intracellular substances. Moreover, Fe2+/PI/POMs conditioning effectively lowered the zeta potential of sludge system, facilitating the interaction between negatively charged POMs anions and the positively charged regions of proteins. This interaction tended to favor adsorption and precipitation rather than destruction. The adsorption and sedimentation of proteins by POMs further reduced the hydrophilicity of sludge system, thereby enhancing sludge dewaterability. Furthermore, POMs could enhance the electron transfer capacity of sludge system, which was beneficial for subsequent filtrate denitrification treatment.

Functional Efficacy of Tissue-Engineered Small-Diameter Nanofibrous Polyurethane Vascular Grafts Surface-Modified by Methacrylated Sulfated Alginate in the Rat Abdominal Aorta.

Improved design to imitate natural vascular scaffolds is critical in vascular tissue engineering (VTE). Smooth muscle cells originating from surrounding tissues require larger pore sizes relative to those of endothelial progenitor cells found in the bloodstream. Furthermore, biofunctionalized scaffolds mimic the microenvironment, cellular function, and tissue morphogenesis. Here, we fabricated macroporous and nanofibrous polyurethane (PU) bilayer tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) by a salt-leaching method to achieve high porosities up to 30 μm. These grafts have a low porosity on the luminal side and a high porosity on the abluminal side. To enhance their properties, we surface-modified the PU scaffolds using heparin-mimicking methacrylated sulfated alginate (PU-MSA). We then evaluated these tubular scaffolds for their anticoagulation effect, protein adsorption, and cell attachment in vitro. The results revealed that TEVGs modified with sulfated alginate (PU-MSA) exhibited better anticoagulation (25 ± 1 min) and higher VEGF protein adsorption (75 ± 5 ng/mL) compared to other scaffolds. Moving to in vivo testing, we examined the TEVGs in a rat model for either 1 or 5 months. Through ultrasonication and various histological analyses, we assessed the functionality and biocompatibility of the TEVGs. Notably, the PU-MSA scaffold created a microenvironment conducive to cell homing and regeneration in the field of VTE.

Polystyrene nanoplastics enhance thrombosis through adsorption of plasma proteins

Plastic products offer remarkable convenience for modern life. However, growing concerns are emerging regarding the potential health hazards posed by nanoplastics, which formed as plastics break down. Currently, the biological effects and mechanisms induced by nanoplastics are largely underexplored. In this study, we report that polystyrene nanoplastics can enter the bloodstream and enhance thrombus formation. Our findings show that polystyrene nanoplastics adsorb plasma proteins, particularly coagulation factor XII and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, play a key role in this process, as demonstrated by proteomics, bioinformatic analyses, and molecular dynamics simulations. The adsorption of these proteins by nanoplastics is an essential factor in thrombosis enhancement. This newly uncovered pathway of protein adsorption leading to enhanced thrombosis provides new insights into the biological effects of nanoplastics, which may inform future safety and environmental risk assessment of plastics.

Plasma Protein Adsorption on Melphalan Prodrug Bearing Liposomes - Bare, Stealth, and Targeted

Background: Plasma protein binding is inevitable for nanomaterials injected into blood circulation. For liposomes, this process is affected by the lipid composition of the bilayer. Membrane constituents and their ratio define liposome characteristics, namely, surface charge and hydrophobicity, which drive protein adsorption. Roughly 30 years ago, the correlation between the amount of bound proteins and the resulting circulation time of liposomes was established by S. Semple, A. Chonn, and P. Cullis. Here, we have estimated ex vivo plasma protein binding, primarily to determine the impact of melphalan prodrug inclusion into bilayer on bare, PEGylated (stealth), and Sialyl Lewis X (SiaLeX)-decorated liposomes. Experimental: Liposomes were allowed to bind plasma proteins for 15 minutes, then liposome-protein complexes were isolated, and protein and lipid quantities were assessed in the complexes. In addition, the uptake by activated HUVEC cells was evaluated for SiaLeX-decorated liposomes. Results:: Melphalan moieties on the bilayer surface enrich protein adsorption compared to pure phosphatidylcholine sample. Although PEG-lipid had facilitated a significant decrease in protein adsorption in the control sample, when prodrug was added to the composition, the degree of pro-tein binding was restored to the level of melphalan liposomes without a stealth barrier. A similar effect was observed for SiaLeX-decorated liposomes. Conclusion: None of the compositions reported here should suffer from quick elimination from circulation, according to the cut-off values introduced by Cullis and colleagues. Nevertheless, the amount of bound proteins is sufficient to affect biodistribution, namely, to impair receptor recog-nition of SiaLeX and reduce liposome uptake by endothelial cells.

Osteogenic potential of esculetin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles in microporous alginate/polyvinyl alcohol scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.

Bone tissue engineering (BTE) is an emerging strategy for the treatment of critical bone defects using biomaterials and cells. Esculetin (ES), a coumarin phytocompound, has demonstrated therapeutic potential, although its osteogenic effects remain insufficiently explored. Owing to its hydrophobic nature, which limits its bioavailability, this study developed a drug delivery system using chitosan nanoparticles (nCS) to achieve sustained release of ES. These ES-loaded nCS nanoparticles were incorporated into biocomposite scaffolds composed of alginate (Alg) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) using freeze-drying. The synthesized nCS-ES nanoparticles exhibited spherical morphology with a uniform size distribution, ranging from 105 to 117 nm, and demonstrated excellent entrapment efficiencies (94.07 to 97.61 %). The nanoparticles displayed high zeta potential values (+27.8 to +33.2 mV), ensuring stable dispersion. The biocomposite scaffolds exhibited a uniform distribution of pores, with pore diameters ranging from 106 ± 14 μm to 112 ± 14 μm. The biocomposite scaffolds exhibited excellent swelling, protein adsorption, biodegradation, and biomineralization properties. The ES-loaded scaffolds showed sustained ES release, promoting osteogenesis in vitro, with the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In vivo studies using a rat tibial bone defect model further confirmed that these scaffolds stimulated new bone formation, highlighting the ES's potential for BTE applications.

How surface electronegativity and calcium release of enamel mediate the adsorption and lubrication of salivary proteins: The role of interfacial water

How surface electronegativity and calcium release of enamel mediate the adsorption and lubrication of salivary proteins: The role of interfacial water

Impact of high-intensity ultrasound on interfacial protein adsorption of non-dairy whipping cream: Whipping properties and foam stabilization model

In this paper, the competitive adsorption and practical application characteristics of ultrasound treatment on the oil-water interface in non-dairy whipping cream were explored. The results showed that ultrasound treatment promoted the competitive adsorption of casein, resulting in an increase of interfacial protein loading in the system by 4.82 mg/m2 and a decrease in oil droplet size by 0.20 μm. In addition, due to the increase of interfacial protein in the system, the partial coalescence of the fat globule of systems decreased, which led to a rapid collapse of the foam after 2 days of storage. Ultrasound weakened the strength of the gel network inside emulsions, which weakened the anti-deformation ability of emulsions. Although the LVR of the ultrasonically treated samples narrowed after churning, the G′ value increased. In addition, the stress yield point of the foams shifted to higher strains as the ultrasonic power increased, implying better resistance to deformation.

Synergistic effects of silica-enriched bioactive glass and tri-calcium phosphate nanocomposites on BMP2 gene expression for bone repair and regeneration applications.

This study focuses on the development of biomaterials for bone regeneration highlighting 59S bioactive glass (59S BG), tri-calcium phosphate (TCP), and their 1:1 composite (59S BG/TCP). The synthesized materials demonstrated excellent properties for bone tissue engineering. Characterization revealed their thermal stability up to 900 °C, as confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), while X-ray diffraction (XRD) identified calcium phosphate and silicate phases. Functional groups and chemical bonding were elucidated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The composite exhibited remarkable mechanical properties, with a hardness of 167.87 HV and a strength of 680.52 MPa, indicating its suitability for load-bearing applications. Biological evaluations confirmed promising performance, with in-vitro bioactivity showing apatite formation and reduced XRD peak intensity. Biocompatibility assessments revealed hemolysis below 5 % and a 300 % cell proliferation rate by day three ensuring minimal cytotoxicity and favorable blood compatibility. Protein adsorption studies demonstrated strong interactions with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme, supporting protein stability. Additionally, the composite showed enhanced osteogenic potential with elevated BMP2 gene expression indicating its capacity to promote robust bone regeneration. The synergy between 59S BG and TCP underscores the composite's potential as a promising material for effective bone repair and regeneration.

Fabrication and evaluation of Zn-EGCG-loaded chitosan scaffolds for bone regeneration: From cellular responses to in vivo performance.

We have synthesized a flavonoid metal complex (FMC) by chelating zinc to epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a flavonoid present in green tea and incorporated into chitosan (CS) to form 3D constructs by freeze drying method. Scanning electron microscopy characterized The scaffolds for surface morphology and pore dimensions and depicted the presence of interconnected porous network. The scaffolds exhibited optimal pore size (>50μm), facilitating bone tissue ingrowth and neovascularization. Inclusion of Zn-EGCG into CS matrix improved the mechanical property by increasing compressive strength (0.53±0.045MPa) and reducing enzymatic degradation with controlled swelling. In addition, increased protein adsorption was observed during the initial hour, which is crucial for cell attachment. Furthermore, the FMC inclusion promoted exogenous biomineralization of CS scaffolds as early as 4d in simulated body fluid. Indirect cytotoxicity measurements indicated the scaffolds with Zn-EGCG had no toxic effects on mouse mesenchymal stem cells (mMSCs). Under osteogenic environment, the scaffold promoted calcium deposition of mMSCs by upregulation of ALP activity and increased expression of osteoblast differentiation markers such as Runx2, ColI, OC and OPN. We found that the involvement of miR-15b/smurf-1 signalling pathway behind the osteogenic potential of the scaffold. In vivo assessments using the chick embryo CAM assay showed enhanced angiogenesis and confirmed the scaffold's biocompatibility with no toxicity. Additionally, in a zebrafish scale regeneration model, the scaffold enhanced calcium deposition and osteoblast marker expression, aligning with the in vitro findings. Overall, form the study it is clear that the osteogenic potential of the scaffold is as follows chitosan<EGCG-Chitosan<Zn-EGCG-Chitosan.

Chiral structures of polymers influence their resistance to protein adsorption and bacterial adhesion as investigated by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation

Chiral stereochemical strategy for antimicrobial adhesion is a newly-developed method with growing interest. However, the effect of chiral structures on the anti-biofouling property is still unclear. Herein, we employed quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) to study the ability of two polyurethanes modified by distinct isomers of chiral borneol compounds to inhibit proteins adsorption and bacteria adhesion. Two types of polyurethanes containing endo-L-borneol-based side chains (PLBA) or exo-iso-borneol-based side chains (PIBA) were synthesized through a thiol-ene ‘click’ reaction and polyaddition polymerization. The structure, chirality and surface wettability of the polyurethanes (PLBA-PU/PIBA-PU) were investigated, confirming the intact molecular chirality of borneol and the improved surface hydrophobicity of the polyurethanes after introducing borneol-based side chains. We monitored the protein adsorption and bacteria adhesion on these polyurethane surfaces by QCM-D. The PLBA-PU and PIBA-PU surfaces exhibit enhanced protein resistance and antimicrobial adhesion properties. Moreover, significant difference in anti-biofouling performance was found by QCM-D between PLBA-PU and PIBA-PU, where L-configuration of borneol on the polyurethane surfaces provides enhanced anti-biofouling function compared to exo-iso-borneol.

Conformation Influences Biological Fates of Peptide-Based Nanofilaments by Modulating Protein Adsorption and Interfilament Entanglement.

Filamentous structures exert biological functions mediated by multivalent interactions with their counterparts in sharp contrast with spherical ones. The physicochemical properties and unique behaviors of nanofilaments that are associated with multivalent interaction with protein are poorly understood. Here, peptide-based nanofilaments containing different homotetrapeptidic inserts are reported and their protein adsorption and biological fates are tested. By altering the homotetrapeptides, different peptidic conformations are imposed within the nanofilaments, which result in notable differences in the density of the intermolecular hydrogen bond, determining the amount of adsorbed proteins. The adsorbed proteins can further induce interfilament entanglement of different degrees and patterns, which influences biodistribution and phagocytosis. The nanofilaments with tetrahydroxyproline segment exhibit diminish interfilament entanglement, phagocytosis, and improve circulation, biodistribution, and antitumor efficacy. These findings can deepen the understanding of nanofilament-protein interactions and filament-filament interactions as in the case of amyloid-β plaque, and facilitate the rational design of nanofilaments through peptide conformation control for chemical engineering and anticancer drug delivery.

Thioether-Functionalized Cellulose for the Fabrication of Oxidation-Responsive Biomaterial Coatings and Films.

Biomaterial coatings and films can prevent premature failure and enhance the performance of chronically implanted medical devices. However, current hydrophilic polymer coatings and films have significant drawbacks, including swelling and delamination. To address these issues, hydroxyethyl cellulose is modified with thioether groups to generate an oxidation-responsive polymer, HECMTP. HECMTP readily dissolves in green solvents and can be fabricated as coatings or films with tunable thicknesses. HECMTP coatings effectively scavenge hydrogen peroxide, resulting in the conversion of thioether groups to sulfoxide groups on the polymer chain. Oxidation-driven, hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic transitions that are isolated to the surface of HECMTP coatings under physiologically relevant conditions increase wettability, decrease stiffness, and reduce protein adsorption to generate a non-fouling interface with minimal coating delamination or swelling. HECMTP can be used in diverse optical applications and permits oxidation-responsive, controlled drug release. HECMTP films are non-resorbable in vivo and evoke minimal foreign body responses. These results highlight the versatility of HECMTP and support its incorporation into chronically implanted medical devices.

Post-Sterilization Physicochemical Characterization and Biological Activity of Cellulose Nanocrystals Coated with PDDA.

The rapid expansion of medical nanotechnology has significantly broadened the potential applications of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). While CNCs were initially developed for drug delivery, they are now being investigated for a range of advanced biomedical applications. As these applications evolve, it becomes crucial to understand the physicochemical behavior of CNCs in biologically relevant media to optimize their design and ensure biocompatibility. Functionalized CNCs can adsorb biomolecules, forming a "protein corona" that can impact their physicochemical properties, including alterations in particle size, zeta potential, and overall functionality. In this study, CNCs were coated with low (8500 Da)- and high (400,000-500,000 Da)-molecular-weight cationic polymer (poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride-(PDDA) via non-covalent grafting, and their physicochemical characteristics, as well as their biological effects, were assessed in physiologically relevant media after sterilization. Our findings show that autoclaving significantly alters the physicochemical properties of CNC-PDDA, particularly when coated with low-molecular-weight (LMW) polymer. Furthermore, we observed that CNC-PDDA of a high molecular weight (HMW) has a greater impact on cell viability and blood biocompatibility than its LMW counterpart. Moreover, cellular immune responses to both CNC-PDDA LMW and HMW vary in the presence or absence of serum, implying that protein adsorption influences cell-nanomaterial recognition and their biological activity. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing CNC-based nanomaterials for therapeutic applications.

ML-based Read-Across Structure-Property Relationship (RASPR) strategy for predicting protein resistance of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as anti-biofouling materials

Designing highly effective antifouling materials is essential in many medical applications like implantable devices, regenerative medicine, biosensors etc. The experimental design based on a trial and error strategy of antifouling materials is difficult and requires a huge amount of time and money. Machine learning (ML) based read across strategy is a relatively novel strategy that may speed up the discovery of novel biofouling-resistant surfaces against protein adsorption making them suitably used in different medical applications. In this study, we developed data-driven machine learning-based quantitative read-across structure-property relationship (q-RASPR) models for protein adsorption data (in the case of fibrinogen and lysozyme) of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as antifouling materials by utilizing a mix of linear and non-linear algorithms, including Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), AdaBoost (ADB), Support Vector Regression (SVR), Linear Support Vector Regression (LSVR), Ridge Regression (RR), Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boost (GB), and Extreme Gradient Boost (XGB). The performances of all models were compared for their acceptable levels of goodness of fit, robustness, and external predictivity. The best q-RASPR models demonstrate superior performances (internal and external validation parameters) than the corresponding QSPR models and are interpreted concerning crucial molecular descriptors controlling the anti-biofouling property enabling further modifications of previous antifouling SAMs to novel antifouling SAMs with promising properties. Overall, the study demonstrates the effectiveness of the machine learning-based q-RASPR approach over the QSPR approach to understand the fundamental structure-anti-biofouling property relationships systematically with the potential to expedite the discovery of novel antifouling materials.

Exploration of modified Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIM) for extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO)

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is the most important supporting therapy to rescue patients with respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), for which the membrane oxygenator offers a place for CO2 and O2 exchange. Although Poly (4-methyl-1-pentene) (PMP) has been extensively used as ECMO material, the problems of protein adsorption fouling and the need for anticoagulation remain challenging for clinical applications. Additionally, the challenges associated with the functional modification of PMP material underscore the importance of finding a new material with excellent gas permeability and blood compatibility. On the other hand, Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIM) has been extensively studied in the field of gas separation due to their unique twisted helical structure and high free volume. However, its hydrophobic nature also raises concerns about its anti-fouling ability and hemocompatibility, which restricts the exploration of PIM in ECMO applications. Herein, we modify the PIM-1 membrane and study the hemocompatibility of PIM-1, carboxylated-PIM-1, and amidoxime-functionalized-PIM-1, and explore their gas permeability by molecular dynamics simulation and experimental verification. The modified PIM membranes exhibit remarkable comprehensive performance, including effective anti-protein adhesion and hemocompatibility, high oxygen permeability, and CO2 removal rate. Blood oxygenation tests also reveal that the modified membranes prepared in this work fully meet practical requirements, exhibiting great application potential.

Quantitatively Elucidating the Trade-Off between Zwitterionic Antifouling Surfaces and Bioconjugation Performance.

Zwitterionic materials, known for their high hydrophilicity, are widely used to minimize the nonspecific adsorption of biomolecules in complex biological solutions. However, these materials can also reduce the capture efficiency between targets and peptide probes. To demonstrate how antifouling surfaces affect capture efficiency, we utilize a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)-based surface incorporating varying ratios of phosphorylcholine (PEDOT-PC) and maleimide functional groups to achieve both antifouling properties and peptide-protein binding. As a model system, the peptide YWDKIKDFIGGSSSSC, attached via maleimide groups, is used to capture the target protein, calmodulin (CaM). By systematically monitoring protein binding on both antifouling and peptide-immobilized PEDOT surfaces using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation, the results reveal that PEDOT-PC reduces both the specific binding between peptides and target proteins as well as the rate of protein fouling on the electrode surface. From these findings, we propose an equation for quantitative analysis. Furthermore, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and differential pulse voltammetry are performed to measure the changes in the impedance in CaM solutions. The data indicate that impedance increases with protein adsorption, confirming the practical utility of the designed electrode surface.

Laser Flash Melting Cryo-EM Samples to Overcome Preferred Orientation.

Sample preparation remains a bottleneck for protein structure determination by cryo-electron microscopy. A frequently encountered issue is that proteins adsorb to the air-water interface of the sample in a limited number of orientations. This makes it challenging to obtain high-resolution reconstructions or may even cause projects to fail altogether. We have previously observed that laser flash melting and revitrification of cryo samples reduces preferred orientation for large, symmetric particles. Here, we demonstrate that our method can in fact be used to scramble the orientation of proteins of a range of sizes and symmetries. The effect can be enhanced for some proteins by increasing the heating rate during flash melting or by depositing amorphous ice onto the sample prior to revitrification. This also allows us to shed light onto the underlying mechanism. Our experiments establish a set of tools for overcoming preferred orientation that can be easily integrated into existing workflows.

Surface properties and biofilm formation on resins for subtractively and additively manufactured fixed dental prostheses aged in artificial saliva: Effect of material type and surface finishing

Statement of problemAdditive manufacturing (AM) and subtractive manufacturing (SM) have been widely used for fabricating resin-based fixed dental prostheses. However, studies on the effects of material type (AM or SM resin) and surface finishing (polishing or glazing) on the surface properties and biofilm formation are lacking. PurposeThe purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the effects of material type and surface finishing on the surface roughness, wettability, protein adsorption, and microbial adhesion of the AM and SM resins marketed for fixed restorations under artificial saliva-aged conditions. Material and methodsDisk-shaped specimens (∅10×2 mm) were fabricated using 3 types of resins: AM composite resin with fillers (AMC), AM resin without fillers (AMU), and SM composite resin with fillers (SMC). Each resin group was divided into 2 subgroups based on surface finishing: polished (P) and glazed (G). Therefore, 3 polished surface groups (AMCP, AMUP, and SMCP) and 3 glazed surface groups (AMCG, AMUG, and SMCG) were prepared. Specimens were then categorized according to aging condition in artificial saliva. Surface roughness (Ra and Sa), contact angle, surface free energy (SFE), protein adsorption, and microbial adhesion were measured. The data were analyzed using a nonparametric factorial analysis of variances and post hoc tests with Bonferroni correction (α=.05). ResultsWhen nonaged, significant interactions between material type and surface finishing were detected for Ra, contact angle, SFE, protein adsorption, and microbial adhesion (P≤.008). AMCP showed higher Ra and microbial adhesion than AMUP and SMCP, and higher contact angle and protein adsorption than SMCP (P<.001). AMCG had lower SFE than AMUG (P=.005) and higher bacterial adhesion than SMCG (P<.001). AMC had higher Sa than AMU and SMC (P≤.006). When aged, significant interactions between material type and surface finishing were detected for Ra, Sa, protein adsorption, and microbial adhesion (P≤.026). The contact angle and SFE were significantly affected only by the material type (P≤.001), as AMC exhibited higher wettability than SMC (P≤.004). AMCP had higher Ra and microbial adhesion than AMUP and SMCP (P≤.003). AMCP had higher Sa and protein adsorption than SMCP (P≤.004). AMCG showed lower Ra and higher protein adsorption than AMUG (P≤.001). ConclusionsBoth material type and surface finishing significantly affected surface properties and biofilm formation. AMCP exhibited higher surface roughness, protein adsorption, and microbial adhesion compared with SMCP. Glazing may reduce the differences in surface-biofilm interactions between AMC and SMC.

Preparation of Nonfouling Zwitterionic Coatings by Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition under Ambient Pressure.

Nonspecific protein adsorption significantly impacts the performance of biomedical devices in both hemocompatibility and tissue compatibility. Polyzwitterionic coatings are a promising solution. However, conventional zwitterionic coatings always have to rely on sophisticated wet chemistry methods, leading to low controllability and high cost. In this work, zwitterionic coatings were prepared by nitrogen plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) of precursors for 90 s under ambient pressure followed by hydrolysis. The results showed that the PECVD-coated thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), Tecoflex, effectively resists nonspecific protein adsorption, platelet adhesion, and bacterial adhesion without changing the mechanic properties of TPU. This approach simplified the zwitterionic coating process with highly controllability, showing a promising potential for the surface modification of biomedical devices.