Hydrophilic polymer-based anti-biofouling coatings: Preparation, mechanism, and durability

Fabrication of PVA Coatings Applied to Electrospun PLGA Scaffolds to Prevent Postoperative Adhesions

There is currently a demand for anti-adhesive materials that are capable of preventing the formation of intra-abdominal adhesions. In this study, electrospun poly(lactide-co-glycolide) scaffolds were dip-coated in aqueous solutions of polyvinyl alcohol with concentrations of 3 wt.%, 6 wt.% and 9 wt.% to obtain a nontoxic and anti-adhesive biomedical material. The viscosities of the applied 3 wt.%, 6 wt.% and 9 wt.% polyvinyl alcohol solutions were 7.7 mPa∙s, 38.2 mPa∙s and 180.8 mPa∙s, respectively, and increased exponentially. It is shown that increasing the viscosity of the polyvinyl alcohol solution from 6 wt.% to 9 wt.% increases the thickness of the polyvinyl alcohol layer from (3.32 ± 0.97) µm to (8.09 ± 1.43) µm. No pronounced polyvinyl alcohol layer can be observed on samples dip-coated in 3 wt.% PVA solution. Increasing the viscosity of the polyvinyl alcohol solution from 3 wt.% to 9 wt.% increases the mechanical properties of the poly(lactide-co-glycolide) samples by a factor of 1.16-1.45. Cytotoxicity analysis of all samples reveals that none is toxic to 3T3-L1 fibroblast cells. A cell adhesion assay indicates that the anti-adhesion properties increase with increasing viscosity of the polyvinyl alcohol solution and the thickness of the polyvinyl alcohol layer on the poly(lactide-co-glycolide) scaffolds. Fluorescence images of the cells show that as the thickness of the polyvinyl alcohol coating increases, the number of cells decreases, and they do not cover the surface of the samples and form spherical three-dimensional agglomerates. The highest mechanical and anti-adhesion properties are obtained with the poly(lactide-co-glycolide) scaffold sample dip-coated in the 9 wt.% polyvinyl alcohol solution. This is because this sample has the thickest polyvinyl alcohol coating.

Sticky tubes co-assembled by functionalised diphenylalanine and polydopamine nanoparticles form biocompatible antifouling coating

The persistent challenge of biofouling, driven by the accumulation of microorganisms and biological residues on surfaces, undermines operational efficiency and safety across multiple industries. Functionalized peptide based biocompatible and supramolecular coating can provide a substantial solution to this crucial issue. This present study describes the formation of polydopamine-comprised sticky tubes through the co-assembly of an antifouling peptide P1 (FF-PFB) and Polydopamine Nanoparticles (PDA NPs) with an adhesive catechol moiety. To overcome the synthetic complications associated with the attachment of adhesive l-DOPA or dopamine with antifouling peptides, we have employed a simple co-assembly strategy. These co-assembled sticky tubes form a stable, biocompatible coating on desired surfaces (glass and aluminium) and resist fouling. The design consists of a diphenylalanine-based antifouling peptide covalently coupled with pentafluoro benzaldehyde (PFB), which could self-assemble into a stable functional coating through the adhesive catechol moiety of PDA NPs. This functional coating effectively resists bacterial and protein adhesion. These sticky tubes coated desired surfaces (glass and aluminium) exhibit excellent antifouling activity against both tested Gram (+)ve (S. aureus) and Gram (-)ve (E. coli) bacterial strains. More importantly, this simple co-assembly and drop-coating method has significant promise, primarily attributed to its simplicity of operation, which reduces production costs and expands the potential for widespread commercialization. This study not only contributes to the fundamental understanding of the antifouling process but also offers a practical and sustainable solution to the challenges caused by biofouling. Our findings, achieved through the simple and effective co-assembly strategy with two different functional components, pave the way for developing promising antifouling materials with broad applications in industries where effective biofouling resistance is crucial.

Polyamino Acid Based Zwitterionic Coating can Inhibit Coagulation and Inflammation Through Anti-Fouling and Restoring Microenvironment

Protein adhesion and thrombosis formation caused by limited surface properties pose great challenges to biomedical implants. Although various hydrophilic coating or drug release coatings are reported, the single coating cannot cope with cases under the condition of complex physiological environment, which causes the coating effect is limited. In this study, a polyamino acid-derived zwitterionic coating is constructed to eliminate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the microenvironment. It is demonstrated that the coating has excellent hydrophilicity, stability, and lubricity, and can obviously prevent protein adhesion. At the same time, the coating can eliminate hydrogen peroxide and maintain the stability of the microenvironment. The in vivo and in vitro experiments show that the coating has good biocompatibility, and inhibits thrombus. Amino acid zwitterion coating prevents protein deposition, alleviates the inflammatory process, inhibit of thrombosis, reduces the risk of implantable medical devices, and prolongs their service time. Hence, the work paves a new way to develop amino acid based zwitterionic polymer coating that can reduce the implant complications.

Antibiofilm Effects of Modifying Polyvinylidene Fluoride Membranes with Polyethylenimine, Poly(acrylic acid) and Graphene Oxide

Biofouling in membrane filtration systems poses significant operational challenges, leading to decreased permeate flux. The aim of this work was to study the anti-biofilm properties of new nanofiltration membranes produced via layer-by-layer, LBL, assembly by coating a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) support with a polyethylenimine (PEI) and poly(acrylic acid)/graphene oxide (PAA-GO) mixture. The membranes were characterized according to contact angle, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy and their Z-potential. Biofilm quantification and characterization were carried out using crystal violet staining and SEM, while bacterial viability was assessed by using colony-forming units. The membrane with three bilayers ((PAA-PEI)3/PVDF) showed a roughness of 77.78 nm. The incorporation of GO ((GO/PAA-PEI)3/PVDF) produced a membrane with a smoother surface (roughness of 26.92 nm) and showed salt rejections of 16% and 68% for NaCl and Na2SO4, respectively. A significant reduction, ranging from 82.37 to 77.30%, in biofilm formation produced by S. aureus and E. coli were observed on modified membranes. Additionally, the bacterial viability on the modified membranes was markedly reduced (67.42-99.98%). Our results show that the modified membranes exhibited both antibiofilm and antimicrobial capacities, suggesting that these properties mainly depend on the properties of the modifying agents, as the initial adherence on the membrane surface was not totally suppressed, but the proliferation and formation of EPSs were prevented.

Development of Functionalized Polylactide Thin Films Using Poly(methylhydrogenosiloxane) Sol-Gel Process with Improved Antifouling Properties

Biobased polylactide (PLA) films were modified with low reticulate polysiloxane gel acting as a scalable platform for the hydrophilization of polymeric film surface. The PLA thin film was first coated with poly(methylhydrogenosiloxane) (PMHS) by the sol-gel transition via the condensation of diethoxymethylsilane (DH) and triethoxysilane (TH) using trifluoromethanesulfonic acid as a catalyst. Then, hydrosilylation of Si-H bonds in the presence of Karstedt's catalyst allowed the covalent grafting of hydrophilic alkene-containing molecules, i.e., triethylene glycol monomethyl allyl (TEGMEA) and a new zwitterionic allylcarboxybetaine (ACB) synthesized for the first time by the quaternization of dimethyl allyl amine (DMAA) with β-propiolactone. PMHS coating on the PLA film was evidenced by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The observation by atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed a homogeneous coating with low roughness (RMS = 0.29 nm). The hydrophilicity of functionalized PLA films was determined by water contact angle (WCA) measurements using the captive bubble method. A large increase in wettability properties was observed for both grafting with TEGMEA (WCA = 38°) and ACB (WCA = 42°) in comparison with the native PLA film (WCA = 80°). Moreover, the biocompatibility and antifouling efficiency of functionalized PLA films were evaluated by protein adsorption, bacterial adhesion, and cytotoxicity tests. The results indicate that the grafting of the two types of hydrophilic compounds does not affect the biocompatibility of PLA while significantly reducing protein adsorption and bacterial adhesion, thus showing the great potential of this surface functionalization strategy for applications in the medical field.

Guardians of Future Food Safety: Innovative Applications and Advancements in Anti-biofouling Materials

Biofilm formation is a widespread natural phenomenon that poses a substantial threat to food microbiological safety, with direct implications for consumer health. To combat this challenge effectively, one promising strategy involves the development of functional anti-biofouling layers on food-contact surfaces to deter microbial adhesion. Herein, we explore the methodologies for fabricating both hydrophilic and hydrophobic anti-biofouling materials, along with a detailed examination of their inherent antiadhesive mechanisms. Furthermore, we provide concise insights into exemplary applications of anti-biofouling materials within the context of the food industry. This comprehensive analysis not only advances our understanding of biofilm prevention but also sets the stage for innovative developments in anti-biofouling materials and their future applications in food science. These advancements hold the potential to significantly enhance food microbiological safety, ensuring that consumers can confidently enjoy food products of the highest standards in terms of hygiene and quality.

Bioelectronics for electrical stimulation: materials, devices and biomedical applications

Bioelectronics is a hot research topic, yet an important tool, as it facilitates the creation of advanced medical devices that interact with biological systems to effectively diagnose, monitor and treat a broad spectrum of health conditions. Electrical stimulation (ES) is a pivotal technique in bioelectronics, offering a precise, non-pharmacological means to modulate and control biological processes across molecular, cellular, tissue, and organ levels. This method holds the potential to restore or enhance physiological functions compromised by diseases or injuries by integrating sophisticated electrical signals, device interfaces, and designs tailored to specific biological mechanisms. This review explains the mechanisms by which ES influences cellular behaviors, introduces the essential stimulation principles, discusses the performance requirements for optimal ES systems, and highlights the representative applications. From this review, we can realize the potential of ES based bioelectronics in therapy, regenerative medicine and rehabilitation engineering technologies, ranging from tissue engineering to neurological technologies, and the modulation of cardiovascular and cognitive functions. This review underscores the versatility of ES in various biomedical contexts and emphasizes the need to adapt to complex biological and clinical landscapes it addresses.

Graphene Oxide Surface Modification of Reverse Osmosis (RO) Membrane via Langmuir-Blodgett Technique: Balancing Performance and Antifouling Properties

The reverse osmosis water treatment process is prone to fouling issues, prompting the exploration of various membrane modification techniques to address this challenge. The primary objective of this study was to develop a precise method for modifying the surface of reverse osmosis membranes to enhance their antifouling properties. The Langmuir-Blodgett technique was employed to transfer aminated graphene oxide films assembled at the air-liquid interface, under specific surface pressure conditions, to the polyamide surface with pre-activated carboxylic groups. The microstructure and distribution of graphene oxide along the modified membrane were characterized using SEM, AFM, and Raman mapping techniques. Modification carried out at the optimal surface pressure value improved the membrane hydrophilicity and reduced the surface roughness, thereby enhancing the antifouling properties against colloidal fouling. The flux recovery ratio after modification increased from 65% to 87%, maintaining high permeability. The modified membranes exhibited superior performance compared to the unmodified membranes during long-term fouling tests. This membrane modification technique can be easily scaled using the roll-to-roll approach and requires minimal consumption of the modifier used.

Novel Antifouling Coatings by Zwitterionic Silica Grafting on Glass Substrates

Zwitterionic silica coatings for surface functionalization are greatly prominent because of their simple and fast preparation, high availability, and effective antifouling properties. In this work, two zwitterionic sulfobetaine silane coatings, i.e., mono-SBSi and tris-SBSi, were deposited on glass surfaces and tested for antifouling of biological material and biofilm using human cancer cell and seawater, respectively. The used zwitterionic precursors mono-SBSi and tris-SBSi differ by the number of hydrolyzable silane groups: mono-SBSi contains one trimethoxysilane group, whereas tris-SBSi contains three of these functions. First, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates the successful grafting of zwitterionic coatings onto a glass surface. Characterization using atomic force microscopy shows the different morphologies and roughness of the two coatings. The glass surface became more hydrophilic after the grafting of zwitterionic coatings than the bare glass substrate. The antifouling properties of two coatings were evaluated via human cancer cell adsorption. Interestingly, the tris-SBSi coating displays a significantly lower level of cell adsorption compared to that of both mono-SBSi coating and the non-modified control surface. The same trend was observed for biofilm formation in seawater. Finally, the toxicity of mono-SBSi and tris-SBSi coatings was evaluated on zebrafish embryos, indicating the good biocompatibility of both coatings. Our results indicate interesting antifouling properties of zwitterionic coatings. The chemical constitution of the used precursor has an impact on the antifouling properties of the formed coating: the tris-SBSi-based zwitterionic silica coatings display improved antifouling properties compared to those of the mono-SBSi-based coating. Besides, the use of trisilylated precursors should result in the formation of more resistant and robust coatings due to the higher number of grafting functions. For all these reasons, we anticipate that tris-SBSi coatings will open new perspectives for antifouling applications for biological environments and implants.

APTES-mediated Cu2(OH)3(NO3) nanomaterials on the surface of silicone catheters for abscess

Metal-based nanomaterials have remarkable bactericidal effects; however, their toxicity cannot be disregarded. To address this concern, we developed a simple synthesis route for antibacterial catheters using metal-based nanomaterials to reduce toxicity while harnessing their excellent bactericidal properties. The grafting agent (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) forms -NH2 groups on the catheter surface, onto which copper ions form a nanomaterial complex known as Cu2(OH)3(NO3) (defined as SA-Cu). The synthesized SA-Cu exhibited outstanding contact antibacterial effects, as observed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which revealed cell membrane crumbing and bacterial rupture on the catheter surface. Furthermore, SA-Cu exhibited excellent biosafety characteristics, as evidenced by the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, which showed no significant cytotoxicity. SA-Cu demonstrated sustained antimicrobial capacity, with in vivo experiments demonstrating over 99% bactericidal efficacy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) for two weeks. The transcriptome sequencing results suggested that SA-Cu may exert its bactericidal effects by interfering with histidine and purine metabolism in MRSA. This study presents a straightforward method for synthesizing antimicrobial silicone catheters containing copper nanomaterials using copper ions.

Comparison of the efficacy of physical and chemical strategies for the inactivation of biofilm cells of foodborne pathogens

Biofilm formation is a strategy in which microorganisms generate a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances to increase survival under harsh conditions. The efficacy of sanitization processes is lowered when biofilms form, in particular on industrial devices. While various traditional and emerging technologies have been explored for the eradication of biofilms, cell resistance under a range of environmental conditions renders evaluation of the efficacy of control challenging. This review aimed to: (1) classify biofilm control measures into chemical, physical, and combination methods, (2) discuss mechanisms underlying inactivation by each method, and (3) summarize the reduction of biofilm cells after each treatment. The review is expected to be useful for future experimental studies and help to guide the establishment of biofilm control strategies in the food industry.

Recyclable Superhydrophobic Surface Prepared via Electrospinning and Electrospraying Using Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate for Self-Cleaning Applications

Superhydrophobic surfaces, i.e., surfaces with a water contact angle (WCA) ≥ 150°, have gained much attention as they are multifunctional surfaces with features such as self-cleaning, which can be useful in various applications such as those requiring waterproof and/or protective films. In this study, we prepared a solution from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and fabricated a superhydrophobic surface using electrospinning and electrospraying processes. We observed that the fabricated geometry varies depending on the solution conditions, and based on this, we fabricated a hierarchical structure. From the results, the optimized structure exhibited a very high WCA (>156.6°). Additionally, our investigation into the self-cleaning functionality and solar panel efficiency of the fabricated surface revealed promising prospects for the production of superhydrophobic surfaces utilizing recycled PET, with potential applications as protective films for solar panels. Consequently, this research contributes significantly to the advancement of environmentally friendly processes and the progress of recycling technology.

Design, fabrication, and applications of bioinspired slippery surfaces

Bioinspired slippery surfaces (BSSs) have attracted considerable attention owing to their antifouling, drag reduction, and self-cleaning properties. Accordingly, various technical terms have been proposed for describing BSSs based on specific surface characteristics. However, the terminology can often be confusing, with similar-sounding terms having different meanings. Additionally, some terms fail to fully or accurately describe BSS characteristics, such as the surface wettability of lubricants (hydrophilic or hydrophobic), surface wettability anisotropy (anisotropic or isotropic), and substrate morphology (porous or smooth). Therefore, a timely and thorough review is required to clarify and distinguish the various terms used in BSS literature. This review initially categorizes BSSs into four types: slippery solid surfaces (SSSs), slippery liquid-infused surfaces (SLISs), slippery liquid-like surfaces (SLLSs), and slippery liquid-solid surfaces (SLSSs). Because SLISs have been the primary research focus in this field, we thoroughly review their design and fabrication principles, which can also be applied to the other three types of BSS. Furthermore, we discuss the existing BSS fabrication methods, smart BSS systems, antifouling applications, limitations of BSS, and future research directions. By providing comprehensive and accurate definitions of various BSS types, this review aims to assist researchers in conveying their results more clearly and gaining a better understanding of the literature.

Fabrication of Transparent PEGylated Antifouling Coatings via One-Step Pyrogallol Deposition

Antifouling coatings are critical for many biomedical devices. A simple and universal technique used to anchor antifouling polymers is important in order to expand its applications. In this study, we introduced the pyrogallol (PG)-assisted immobilization of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to deposit a thin antifouling layer on biomaterials. Briefly, biomaterials were soaked in a PG/PEG solution and PEG was immobilized onto the biomaterial surfaces via PG polymerization and deposition. The kinetics of PG/PEG deposition started with the deposition of PG on the substrates, followed by the addition of a PEG-rich adlayer. However, prolonged coating added a top-most PG-rich layer, which deteriorated the antifouling efficacy. By controlling the amounts of PG and PEG and the coating time, the PG/PEG coating was able to reduce more than 99% of the adhesion of L929 cells and the adsorption of fibrinogen. The ultrathin (tens of nanometers) and smooth PG/PEG coating was easily deposited onto a wide variety of biomaterials, and the deposition was robust enough to survive harsh sterilization conditions. Furthermore, the coating was highly transparent and allowed most of the UV and Vis light to pass through. The technique has great potential to be applied to biomedical devices that need a transparent antifouling coating, such as intraocular lenses and biosensors.

Antibacterial Thin Films Deposited from Propane-Butane Mixture in Atmospheric Pressure Discharge

Antibacterial coatings on biomedical instruments are of great interest because they can suppress bacterial colonization on these instruments. In this study, antibacterial polymeric thin coatings were deposited on teflon substrates using atmospheric pressure plasma polymerization from a propane-butane mixture. The plasma polymerization was performed by means of surface dielectric barrier discharge burning in nitrogen at atmospheric pressure. The chemical composition of plasma polymerized propane-butane films was studied by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and FTIR. The film surface properties were studied by SEM and by surface energy measurement. The EDX analysis showed that the films consisted of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen from ambient air. The FTIR analysis confirmed, in particular, the presence of alkyl, nitrile, acetylene, imide and amine groups. The deposited films were hydrophilic with a water contact angle in the range of 13-23°. The thin film deposited samples were highly active against both S. aureus and E. coli strains in general. On the other hand, the films were cytocompatible, reaching more than 80% of the cell viability threshold compared to reference polystyrene tissue.

Biological Effects, Applications and Design Strategies of Medical Polyurethanes Modified by Nanomaterials

Polyurethane (PU) has wide application and popularity as medical apparatus due to its unique structural properties relationship. However, there are still some problems with medical PUs, such as a lack of functionality, insufficient long-term implantation safety, undesired stability, etc. With the rapid development of nanotechnology, the nanomodification of medical PU provides new solutions to these clinical problems. The introduction of nanomaterials could optimize the biocompatibility, antibacterial effect, mechanical strength, and degradation of PUs via blending or surface modification, therefore expanding the application range of medical PUs. This review summarizes the current applications of nano-modified medical PUs in diverse fields. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms in efficiency optimization are analyzed in terms of the enhanced biological and mechanical properties critical for medical use. We also conclude the preparation schemes and related parameters of nano-modified medical PUs, with discussions about the limitations and prospects. This review indicates the current status of nano-modified medical PUs and contributes to inspiring novel and appropriate designing of PUs for desired clinical requirements.

Hybrid heart valves with VEGF-loaded zwitterionic hydrogel coating for improved anti-calcification and re-endothelialization

With the aging of the population in worldwide, valvular heart disease has become one of the most prominent life-threatening diseases in human health, and heart valve replacement surgery is one of the therapeutic methods for valvular heart disease. Currently, commercial bioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs) for clinical application are prepared with xenograft heart valves or pericardium crosslinked by glutaraldehyde. Due to the residual cell toxicity from glutaraldehyde, heterologous antigens, and immune response, there are still some drawbacks related to the limited lifespan of bioprosthetic heart valves, such as thrombosis, calcification, degeneration, and defectiveness of re-endothelialization. Therefore, the problems of calcification, defectiveness of re-endothelialization, and poor biocompatibility from the use of bioprosthetic heart valve need to be solved. In this study, hydrogel hybrid heart valves with improved anti-calcification and re-endothelialization were prepared by taking decellularized porcine heart valves as scaffolds following grafting with double bonds. Then, the anti-biofouling zwitterionic monomers 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were utilized to obtain a hydrogel-coated hybrid heart valve (PEGDA-MPC-DHVs@VEGF). The results showed that fewer platelets and thrombi were observed on the surface of the PEGDA-MPC-DHVs@VEGF. Additionally, the PEGDA-MPC-DHVs@VEGF exhibited excellent collagen stability, biocompatibility and re-endothelialization potential. Moreover, less calcification deposition and a lower immune response were observed in the PEGDA-MPC-DHVs@VEGF compared to the glutaraldehyde-crosslinked DHVs (Glu-DHVs) after subcutaneous implantation in rats for 30 days. These studies demonstrated that the strategy of zwitterionic hydrogels loaded with VEGF may be an effective approach to improving the biocompatibility, anti-calcification and re-endothelialization of bioprosthetic heart valves.

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A new and promising strategy of overcoming defects of bioprosthetic heart valves.

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The zwitterionic hydrogel with VEGF is utilized to improve anti-calcification and re-endothelialization properties of heart valves.

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The hybrid heart valves with a VEGF-loaded zwitterionic hydrogel coating exhibits excellent biocompatibility.

Zinc-coordinated polydopamine surface with a nanostructure and superhydrophilicity for antibiofouling and antibacterial applications

A superhydrophilic nanostructured surface of zinc-coordinated polydopamine is formed by the growth and intertwining of the PDA/Zn nanowires via Zn–N and Zn–O bonds, which has potential for preventing biomaterial-associated biofouling and infections.

Carbon-Based Coatings in Medical Textiles Surface Functionalisation: An Overview

The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the need for antimicrobial surfaces, especially those used in a healthcare environment. Textiles are the most difficult surfaces to modify since their typical use is in direct human body contact and, consequently, some aspects need to be improved, such as wear time and filtration efficiency, antibacterial and anti-viral capacity, or hydrophobicity. To this end, several techniques can be used for the surface modification of tissues, being magnetron sputtering (MS) one of [hose that have been growing in the last years to meet the antimicrobial objective. The current state of the art available on textile functionalisation techniques, the improvements obtained by using MS, and the potential of diamond-like-carbon (DLC) coatings on fabrics for medical applications will be discussed in this review in order to contribute to a higher knowledge of functionalized textiles themes.

Fluorinated Carbon Nanotube Superamphiphobic Coating for High-Efficiency and Long-Lasting Underwater Antibiofouling Surfaces

Biofilm formation on the surface of materials has brought great troubles to various industries. Designing surfaces with long-lasting antibiofouling properties can help restrain primary bacterial and protein attachment and subsequent biofilm formation for a long time, which is also of great significance for industrial applications. In this work, we successfully prepared fluorinated carbon nanotubes through a one-step fluorination method using fluorosilane and fabricated a superamphiphobic coating using a simple spray method. This coating with ultralow surface free energy and stable micro/nano structures achieved highly efficient and long-term underwater antibiofouling properties. Tea, milk, BSA, and bacterial solution can bounce highly on this surface without wetting the surface in air. The long-term existence of the underwater air-bubble layer on the surface of the superamphiphobic coating was observed. Thus, this surface can effectively resist BSA and bacterial attachment (E. coli), and the efficiency, respectively, reaches 97.5 and 98.2%. Even if it is fully soaked in BSA and BS solution for 120 h, the whole surface is still able to repel water, BSA, and BS solution very well. In addition, the coating possessed excellent wear resistance, the CAs of BSA and BS solution just decreased slightly (higher than 158°), and the sliding angles increased slightly (lower than 4°) after 50 tape abrasion cycles. Therefore, this superamphiphobic coating may have promising applications for marine devices, biomedical materials, protective clothing, and chemical shielding.

Anti-biofouling assembly strategies for protein & cell repellent surfaces: a mini-review

The protein/cell interactions with the surface at the blood-biomaterial interface generally control the efficiency of biomedical devices. A wide range of active processes and slow kinetics occur simultaneously with many biomaterials in healthcare applications, leading to multiple biological reactions and reduced clinical functions. In this work, we present a brief review of studies as the interface between proteins and biomaterials. These include mechanisms of resistance to proteins, protein-rejecting polyelectrolyte multilayers, and coatings of hydrophilic, polysaccharide and phospholipid nature. The mechanisms required to attain surfaces that resist adhesion include steric exclusion, water-related effects, and volume effects. Also, approaches in the use of hydrophilic, highly hydrated, and electrically neutral coatings have demonstrated a good ability to decrease cell adhesion. Moreover, amongst the available methods, the approach of layer-by-layer deposition has been known as an interesting process to manipulate protein and cell adhesion behavior.