A simple one-step modification of various materials for introducing effective multi-functional groups

Dual-Grafting of Microcrystalline Cellulose by Tea Polyphenols and Cationic ε-Polylysine to Tailor a Structured Antimicrobial Soy-Based Emulsion for 3D Printing

An imperative processing way to produce 3D printed structures with enhanced multifunctional properties is printing inks in the form of a gel-like colloidal emulsion. The surface-modified microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is an excipient of outstanding merit as a particulate emulsifier to manufacture a stable Pickering emulsion gel. The tuning of the MCC structure by cationic antimicrobial compounds, such as ε-polylysine (ε-PL), can offer a surface activity with an antimicrobial effect. However, the MCC/ε-PL lacks the appropriate emulsifying ability due to the development of electrostatic complexes. To overcome this challenge, (i) a surface-active MCC conjugate was synthesized by a sustainable dual-grafting technique (ii) to produce a highly stable therapeutic soy-based Pickering emulsion gel (iii) for potential application in 3D printing. In this regard, the tea polyphenols were initially introduced into MCC by the free-radical grafting method to decrease the charge density of anionic MCC. Then, the antioxidative MCC-g-tea polyphenols were reacted by ε-PL to produce a dual-grafted therapeutic MCC conjugate (micro-biosurfactant), stabilizing the soy-based emulsion system. The results indicated that the dual-grafted micro-biosurfactant formed a viscoelastic and thixotropic soy-based emulsion gel with reduced droplet size and long-term stability. Besides, there was an improvement in the interfacial adsorption features of soy-protein particles after micro-biosurfactant incorporation, where the interfacial pressure and surface dilatational viscoelastic moduli were enhanced. Consequently, it was revealed that the therapeutic Pickering emulsion gel was more suitable to manufacture a well-defined 3D architecture with high resolution and retained permanent deformation after unloading (i.e., a recoverable matrix). This work established that the modification of the MCC backbone by tea polyphenols and ε-PL advances its bioactive properties and emulsifying performance, which finally obtains a soy-based 3D printed structure with noteworthy mechanical strength.

Heparinized anticoagulant coatings based on polyphenol-amine inspired chemistry for blood-contacting catheters

Blood-contacting catheters occupy a vital position in modern clinical treatment including but not limited to cardiovascular diseases, but catheter-related thrombosis associated with high morbidity and mortality remains a major health concern. Hence, there is an urgent need for functionalized catheter surfaces with superior hemocompatibility that prevent protein adsorption and thrombus formation. In this work, we developed a strategy for constructing a kind of polyphenol-amine coating on the TPU surface (TLA) with tannic acid and lysine via simple dip-coating, inspired by dopamine adhesion. Based on the long-term stability and modifiable properties of TLA coatings, heparin was introduced by an amide reaction to provide anticoagulant activity (TLH). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and surface zeta potential measurements fully indicated the successful immobilization of heparin. Water contact angle measurements demonstrated good hydrophilicity and stability for 15 days of TLH coatings. Furthermore, the TLH coatings exhibited significant hemocompatibility and no cytotoxicity. The good antithrombotic properties of the functionalized surfaces were confirmed by an ex vivo blood circulation model. The present work is supposed to find potential clinical applications for preventing surface-induced thrombosis of blood-contacting catheters.

A Promising Therapeutic Soy-Based Pickering Emulsion Gel Stabilized by a Multifunctional Microcrystalline Cellulose: Application in 3D Food Printing

The feasible application of additive manufacturing in the food and pharmaceutical industries strongly depends on the development of highly stable inks with bioactive properties. Surface-modified microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) shows the potential of being a useful particulate (i.e., Pickering)-type emulsifier to stabilize emulsions. To attain desired therapeutic properties, MCC can also be tuned with cationic antimicrobial compounds to fabricate an antimicrobial printable ink. However, due to the formation of complex coacervates between the two, the Pickering emulsion is very susceptible to phase separation with an insufficient therapeutic effect. To address this drawback, we reported a green method to produce antioxidant and antimicrobial three-dimensional (3D)-printed objects, illustrated here using a printable ink based on a soy-based particulate-type emulsion gel stabilized by a surface-active MCC conjugate (micro-biosurfactant). A sustainable method for the modification of MCC is investigated by grafting gallic acid onto the MCC backbone, followed by in situ reacting via lauric arginate through Schiff-base formation and/or Michael-type addition. Our results show that the grafted micro-biosurfactant was more efficient in providing the necessary physical stability of soy-based emulsion gel. The grafted micro-biosurfactant produced a multifunctional ink with viscoelastic behavior, thixotropic property, and outstanding bioactivities. Following the 3D printing process, highly porous 3D structures with a more precise geometry were fabricated after addition of the micro-biosurfactant. Dynamic sensory evaluation showed that the micro-biosurfactant has a remarkable ability to improve the temporal perceptions of fibrousness and juiciness in printed meat analogue. The results of this study showed the possibility of the development of a therapeutic 3D-printed meat analogue with desired sensory properties, conceiving it as a promising meat analogue product.

Controllable Synthesis of Polyphenol Spheres via Amine-Catalyzed Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly

A facile and general strategy for preparing uniform and multifunctional polyphenol-based colloidal particles through amine-catalyzed polymerization-induced self-assembly is described. The size and interfacial adhesion of polyphenol spheres can be easily controlled over a wide range via adjusting the concentration of the cosolvent and monomer. Moreover, the polyphenol spheres showed excellent thermal and chemical stability and highly active properties and could efficiently deplete the reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are helpful for in vivo ROS regulation for inflammatory therapeutic. The accessible and versatile method provides a feasible way for the rational engineering of multifunctional polyphenol spheres, which have great potential in many fields.

Application of a Reactive Oxygen Species-Responsive Drug-Eluting Coating for Surface Modification of Vascular Stents

Stent implantation is the primary method used to treat coronary heart disease. However, it is associated with complications such as restenosis and late thrombosis. Despite surface modification being an effective way to improve the biocompatibility of stents, the current research studies are not focused on changes in the vascular microenvironment at the implantation site. In the present study, an adaptive drug-loaded coating was constructed on the surface of vascular stent materials that can respond to oxidative stress at the site of vascular lesions. Two functional molecules, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and cysteine hydrochloride, were employed to fabricate a coating on the surface of 316L stainless steel. In addition, the coating was used as a drug carrier to load pitavastatin calcium. EGCG has antioxidant activity, and pitavastatin calcium can inhibit smooth muscle cell proliferation. Therefore, EGCG and pitavastatin calcium provided a synergistic anti-inflammatory effect. Moreover, the coating was cross-linked using disulfide bonds, which accelerated the release of the drug in response to reactive oxygen species. A positive correlation was observed between the rate of drug release and the degree of oxidative stress. Collectively, this drug-loaded oxidative stress-responsive coating has been demonstrated to significantly inhibit inflammation, accelerate endothelialization, and reduce the risk of restenosis of vascular stents in vivo.

Hybrid Metal-Phenol Nanoparticles with Polydopamine-like Coating for PET/SPECT/CT Imaging

The validation of metal-phenolic nanoparticles (MPNs) in preclinical imaging studies represents a growing field of interest due to their versatility in forming predesigned structures with unique properties. Before MPNs can be used in medicine, their pharmacokinetics must be optimized so that accumulation in nontargeted organs is prevented and toxicity is minimized. Here, we report the fabrication of MPNs made of a coordination polymer core that combines In(III), Cu(II), and a mixture of the imidazole 1,4-bis(imidazole-1-ylmethyl)-benzene and the catechol 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid ligands. Furthermore, a phenolic-based coating was used as an anchoring platform to attach poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The resulting MPNs, with effective hydrodynamic diameters of around 120 nm, could be further derivatized with surface-embedded molecules, such as folic acid, to facilitate in vivo targeting and multifunctionality. The prepared MPNs were evaluated for in vitro plasma stability, cytotoxicity, and cell internalization and found to be biocompatible under physiological conditions. First, biomedical evaluations were then performed by intrinsically incorporating trace amounts of the radioactive metals 111In or 64Cu during the MPN synthesis directly into their polymeric matrix. The resulting particles, which had identical physicochemical properties to their nonradioactive counterparts, were used to perform in vivo single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) in tumor-bearing mice. The ability to incorporate multiple metals and radiometals into MPNs illustrates the diverse range of functional nanoparticles that can be prepared with this approach and broadens the scope of these nanoconstructs as multimodal preclinical imaging agents.

Carbon Dots Conjugated with Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor for Protein Tracking in Angiogenic Therapy

One of the challenges of using growth factors for tissue regeneration is to monitor their biodistributions and delivery to injured tissues for minimally invasive detection. In the present study, tracking of human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was achieved by chemically linking it to photoluminescent carbon dots (CDs). Carbon dots were synthesized by the hydrothermal method and, subsequently, conjugated with VEGF using carbodiimide coupling. ELISA and western blot analysis revealed that VEGF-conjugated CDs preserve the binding affinity of VEGF to its antibodies. We also show that VEGF-conjugated CDs maintain the functionality of VEGF for tube formation and cell migration. The VEGF-conjugated CDs were also used for in vitro imaging of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The results of this work suggest that cell-penetrating VEGF-conjugated CDs can be used for growth factor protein tracking in therapeutic and tissue engineering applications.

Multistep Instead of One-Step: A Versatile and Multifunctional Coating Platform for Biocompatible Corrosion Protection

Magnesium alloys have potential application in cardiovascular stents and orthopedic implants. However, the rapid corrosion rate of magnesium limits their clinical application. In order to improve the corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of the substrate, a protective coating is constructed by alternate immersing of MgZnMn alloy in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) solution. The conventional method is immersing magnesium alloy into a conversion solution by simple one-step immersion. In the present work, the EGCG/PEI coating is prepared by a novel alternate immersion method. The number of alternate immersions resulted in a different density of phenolic hydroxyl groups and amino groups on the surface. The corrosion resistance and bonding strength of the coating also varied with alternating immersion times. As the corrosion resistance and density of the functional groups varies, endothelial cells (ECs), smooth muscle cells (SMCs), osteoblasts, and macrophages showed a different growth state on EGCG/PEI coatings. In summary, this EGCG/PEI coating addressed the rapid corrosion rate of the magnesium alloy and can adjust its function by controlling the number of alternate immersions. The EGCG/PEI coating exhibited multifunctions: improved corrosion resistance, good compatibility with ECs and osteoblasts, and inhibition of SMC growth and inflammation, and the effective groups on the coating make it possible for further modification by grafting biomolecules. This is an effective method for preparing a multifunctional platform on biomedical magnesium alloys.

Reaction-Based, Fluorescent Film Deposition from Dopamine and a Diamine-Tethered, Bis-Resorcinol Coupler

The reaction-based deposition on various surfaces of an all-organic fluorescent coating is reported here, involving autoxidation of 2 mM dopamine in carbonate buffer at pH 9.0, in the presence of a 1 mM diamine–resorcinol coupler (Bis–Res) prepared from 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde and hexamethylenediamine (HMDA). Spectral analysis of the films coupled with an LC-MS investigation of the yellow fluorescent mixture was compatible with the formation and deposition of HMDA-linked methanobenzofuroazocinone fluorophores. Both the emission properties and hydrophobicity of the film were abated in a reversible manner following exposure to acid vapors. These results provide an entry to efficient and practical fluorescent coating methodologies based on in situ generation and the deposition of wet adhesive, as well as fluorescent materials combining a strongly emitting fluorophore with the film-forming properties of long chain diamines.

Hexamethylenediamine-Mediated Polydopamine Film Deposition: Inhibition by Resorcinol as a Strategy for Mapping Quinone Targeting Mechanisms

Hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) and other long chain aliphatic diamines can induce substrate-independent polymer film deposition from dopamine and several other catechols substrates at relatively low concentrations, however the mechanism of the diamine-promoted effect has remained little understood. Herein, we report data indicating that: (a) film deposition from 1 mM HMDA and dopamine is not affected by chemical oxidation with periodate but is markedly inhibited by resorcinol, which also prevents PDA film formation at 10 mM monomer concentration in the absence of HMDA; (b) N-acetylation of HMDA completely inhibits the effect on PDA film formation; (c) HMDA enables surface functionalization with 1 mM 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI) polymerization at pH 9.0 in a resorcinol-inhibitable manner. Structural investigation of the polymers produced from dopamine and DHI in the presence of HMDA using solid state 13C and 15N NMR and MALDI-MS suggested formation of covalent cross linked structures. It is concluded that HMDA enhances polydopamine adhesion by acting both on dopamine quinone and downstream, e.g., via covalent coupling with DHI. These results provide new insights into the mechanisms of PDA adhesion and disclose resorcinol as a new potent tool for targeting/mapping quinone intermediates and for controlling polymer growth.

Modulation of electroosmotic flow in capillary electrophoresis by plant polyphenol-inspired gallic acid/polyethyleneimine coatings: Analysis of small molecules

Plant polyphenols can form functional coatings on various materials through self-polymerization. In this paper, a series of modified capillary columns, which possess diversity of charge characteristics for modulating electroosmotic flow (EOF), were prepared by one-step co-deposition of gallic acid (GA), a plant-derived polyphenol monomer, and branched polyethyleneimine (PEI). The physicochemical properties of the prepared columns were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-Vis spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The magnitude and direction of EOF of GA/PEI co-deposited columns were modulated by changing a series of coating parameters, such as post-incubation of FeCl₃, co-deposition time, and deposited amounts of GA and PEI with different relative molecular mass (PEI-600, PEI-1800, PEI-10000, and PEI-70000). Furthermore, the separation efficiencies of the prepared GA/PEI co-deposited columns were evaluated by separations of small molecules, including organic acids, polar nucleotides, phenols, nucleic acid bases and nucleosides. Results indicated that modulating of EOF plays an important role in enhancing the separation performance and reversing the elution order of the analytes. Finally, the developed method was successfully applied to quantitative analysis of acidic compounds in four real samples. The recoveries were in the range of 73.5%-85.8% for citric acid, benzoic acid, sorbic acid, salicylic acid and ascorbic acid in beverage and fruit samples, 101.6%-104.9% for cinnamic acid, vanillic acid, and ferulic acid in Angelica sinensis sample, while 84.6%-97.8% for guanosine-5'-monophosphate, uridine-5'-monophosphate, cytosine-5'- monophosphate and adenosine-5'-monophosphate in Cordyceps samples. These results indicated that the co-deposition of plant polyphenol-inspired GA/PEI coatings can provide new opportunities for EOF modulation of capillary electrophoresis.

The Chemistry of Polydopamine Film Formation: The Amine-Quinone Interplay

Despite extensive investigations over the past decade, the chemical basis of the extraordinary underwater adhesion properties of polydopamine (PDA) has remained not entirely understood. The bulk of evidence points to PDA wet adhesion as a complex process based on film deposition, and growth in which primary amine groups, besides catechol moieties, play a central role. However, the detailed interplay of chemical interactions underlying the dynamics of film formation has not yet been elucidated. Herein, we report the results of a series of experiments showing that coating formation from dopamine at pH 9.0 in carbonate buffer: (a) Requires high dopamine concentrations (>1 mM); (b) is due to species produced in the early stages of dopamine autoxidation; (c) is accelerated by equimolar amounts of periodate causing fast conversion to the o-quinone; and (d) is enhanced by the addition of hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) and other long chain aliphatic amines even at low dopamine concentrations (<1 mM). It is proposed that concentration-dependent PDA film formation reflects the competition between intermolecular amine-quinone condensation processes, leading to adhesive cross-linked oligomer structures, and the intramolecular cyclization route forming little adhesive 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI) units. Film growth would then be sustained by dopamine and other soluble species that can be adsorbed on the surface.

Catechol/polyethyleneimine conversion coating with enhanced corrosion protection of magnesium alloys: potential applications for vascular implants

A catechol/polyethyleneimine conversion coating on a MgZnMn alloy possessed good corrosion resistance. Heparin was further grafted on it and this showed the potential for surface modification of magnesium-based vascular implants.

Endothelial mimetic multifunctional surfaces fabricated via polydopamine mediated copper immobilization

Nitric oxide (NO), which is continuously released from the normal healthy endodermis cell layer of the vascular system, plays a crucial role in the stability and health maintenance of blood vessels.

Copolymerization of a Catechol and a Diamine as a Versatile Polydopamine-Like Platform for Surface Functionalization: The Case of a Hydrophobic Coating

The covalent functionalization of surfaces with molecules capable of providing new properties to the treated substrate, such as hydrophobicity or bioactivity, has been attracting a lot of interest in the last decades. For achieving this goal, the generation of a universally functionalizable primer coating in one-pot reaction and under relatively mild conditions is especially attractive due to its potential versatility and ease of application. The aim of the present work is to obtain such a functionalizable coating by a cross-linking reaction between pyrocatechol and hexamethylenediamine (HDMA) under oxidizing conditions. For demonstrating the efficacy of this approach, different substrates (glass, gold, silicon, and fabric) have been coated and later functionalized with two different alkylated species (1-hexadecanamine and stearoyl chloride). The success of their attachment has been demonstrated by evaluating the hydrophobicity conferred to the surface by contact angle measurements. Interestingly, these results, together with its chemical characterization by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), have proven that the reactivity of the primer coating towards the functionalizing agent can be tuned in function of its generation time.

Replacing Nitrogen by Sulfur: From Structurally Disordered Eumelanins to Regioregular Thiomelanin Polymers

The oxidative polymerization of 5,6-dihydroxybenzothiophene (DHBT), the sulfur analog of the key eumelanin building block 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI), was investigated to probe the role of nitrogen in eumelanin build-up and properties. Unlike DHI, which gives a typical black insoluble eumelanin polymer on oxidation, DHBT is converted to a grayish amorphous solid (referred to as thiomelanin) with visible absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance properties different from those of DHI melanin. Mass spectrometry experiments revealed gradational mixtures of oligomers up to the decamer level. Quite unexpectedly, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis of the early oligomer fractions indicated linear, 4-, and 7-linked structures in marked contrast with DHI, which gives highly complex mixtures of partially degraded oligomers. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations supported the tendency of DHBT to couple via the 4- and 7-positions. These results uncover the role of nitrogen as a major determinant of the structural diversity generated by the polymerization of DHI, and point to replacement by sulfur as a viable entry to regioregular eumelanin-type materials for potential applications for surface functionalization by dip coating.

A one step method for the functional and property modification of DOPA based nanocoatings

Biomimetic poly(catecholamine) coatings have gained much attention in recent years due to their versatility as functional materials. Despite this, only limited methods are available to modify the function and property of poly(catecholamine) coatings, primarily through post-modification methods. Our approach reported herein provides a simple approach to the fabrication of novel functionalized poly(catecholamine) coatings. The strategy employs the copolymerization of N-Ac-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine methyl ester (NADOPAMe) with nucleophilic additives, giving rise to nano-coatings on various surfaces including plastic, metal, glass and polymers. With the appropriate choice of nucleophilic additives, coatings with desired properties can be achieved. This is demonstrated through the fabrication of a redox responsive coating based on NADOPAMe with cysteamine as additive, which shows a concentration-dependent glutathione (GSH) responsive behavior. The ability to utilize this as a controlled release system is also demonstrated.

Multifunctional Thin Films and Coatings from Caffeic Acid and a Cross-Linking Diamine

The exploitation of easily accessible and nontoxic natural catechol compounds for surface functionalization and coating is attracting growing interest for biomedical applications. We report herein the deposition on different substrates of chemically stable thin films by autoxidation of 1 mM caffeic acid (CA) solutions at pH 9 in the presence of equimolar amounts of hexamethylenediamine (HMDA). UV-visible, mass spectrometric, and solid state ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR analysis indicated covalent incorporation of the amine during CA polymerization to produce insoluble trioxybenzacridinium scaffolds decorated with carboxyl and amine functionalities. Similar coatings are obtained by replacing CA with 4-methylcatechol (MC) in the presence of HMDA. No significant film deposition was detected in the absence of HMDA nor by replacing it with shorter chain ethylenediamine, or with monoamines. The CA/HMDA-based films resisted oxidative and reductive treatments, displayed efficient Fe(II) and Cu(II) binding capacity and organic dyes adsorption, and provided an excellent cytocompatible platform for growing embryonic stem cells. These results pointed to HMDA as an efficient cross-linking mediator of film deposition from natural catechols for surface functionalization and coatings.

Direct catechol conjugation of mussel-inspired biomacromolecule coatings to polymeric membranes with antifouling properties, anticoagulant activity and cytocompatibility

TheO-sulfated chitosan andN,O-sulfated chitosan coatings were prepared by direct catechol conjugation to enrich the biological applications of polymeric membranes.

A facile approach towards amino-coated polyethersulfone particles for the removal of toxins

The removal of toxins is important due to the damage to aquatic environment. In this work, a facile and green approach based on mussel-inspired coatings was used to fabricate amino-coated particles via the reaction between amine and catechol, using hexanediamine as the representative amine. The particles were characterized by Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The particles showed selective adsorption capability to Congo red (CR) and the adsorption process fitted the pseudo-second-order model, the intraparticle diffusion model, the Langmuir isotherm, the Freundlich isotherm and the Sips isotherm well. Furthermore, this approach was verified to have applicability to various amines such as diethylenetriamine (DETA), triethylenetetramine (TETA) and tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA), and the amino-coated particles exhibited diverse adsorption capacities to CR, Cu²⁺ and bilirubin. Considering that the approach is easy to operate and the whole preparation process is in an aqueous solution, it is believed that the facile, green and economical approach has great potential to prepare particles for wastewater treatment.

Multifunctional mussel-inspired copolymerized epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)/arginine coating: the potential as an ad-layer for vascular materials

Surface properties are considered to be important factors in addressing proper functionalities. In this paper, a multifunctional mussel-inspired coating was prepared via the direct copolymerization of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and arginine. The coating formation was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectra. The EGCG/arginine coating contained diverse functional groups like amines, phenols and carboxyls, whose densities were also tunable. Such mussel-inspired coating could also be applied as an ad-layer for its secondary reactivity, demonstrated by quartz crystal microbalance technique. Moreover, the tunable surface density of phenols showed potential ability in modulating endothelial cell and smooth muscle cell viability. The coatings rich in phenols presented excellent free radical scavenging property. Current results strongly indicated the potential of EGCG/arginine coatings to be applied as an ad-layer for vascular materials.

Substrate-independent, Schiff base interactions to fabricate lysine-functionalized surfaces with fibrinolytic activity

We demonstrated a simple, substrate-independent approach for the fabrication of lysine-ligand functionalized surfaces with fibrinolytic activity under physiological conditions.

Facile immobilization of vascular endothelial growth factor on a tannic acid-functionalized plasma-polymerized allylamine coating rich in quinone groups

Biomolecules like VEGF with thiol or amine groups can easily be covalently immobilized onto a Tannic Acid functional plasma polymerized allylamine surface rich in quinone groups in a mild alkali buffer solution based on Schiff base or Michael addition reactions.

Application Of Phenol/Amine Copolymerized Film Modified Magnesium Alloys: Anticorrosion And Surface Biofunctionalization

Magnesium metal as degradable metallic material is one of the most researched areas, but its rapid degradation rate restricts its development. The current anticorrosion surface modification methods require expensive equipment and complicated operation processes and cannot continue to introduce biofunction on modified surface. In this study, the GAHD conversion coatings were fabricated on the surface of magnesium alloys (MZM) by incubating in the mixture solution of gallic acid (GA) and hexamethylenediamine (HD) to decrease the corrosion rate and provide primary amines (-NH2), carboxyl (-COOH), and quinone groups, which is supposed to introduce biomolecules on MZM. Chemical structures of the MZM-GAHD and MZM-HEP-GAHD were explored by analyzing the results of FTIR and XPS comprehensively. Furthermore, it was proved that the heparin (HEP) molecules were successfully immobilized on MZM-GAHD surface through carbodiimide method. The evaluation of platelet adhesion and clotting time test showed that MZM-HEP-GAHD had higher anticoagulation than MZM-GAHD. Through electrochemical detection (polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy Nyquist spectrum) and immersion test (Mg(2+) concentration and weight loss), it was proved that compared to MZM, both the MZM-GAHD and MZM-HEP-GAHD significantly improved the corrosion resistance. Finally, in vivo experimentation indicated that mass loss had no significant difference between MZM-1:1, MZM-HEP-1:1, and MZM. However, the trend still suggested that MZM-1:1 and MZM-HEP-1:1 possessed corrosion resistance property.

Proliferation and functionality of human umbilical vein endothelial cells on angiopoietin-1 immobilized 316L stainless steel

An angiopoietin-1 functionalized surface was establishedviapolydopamine coating and regulated HUVECs survival, proliferation and function.

Building an antifouling zwitterionic coating on urinary catheters using an enzymatically triggered bottom-up approach

Catheter associated urinary tract infections are common during hospitalization due to the formation of bacterial biofilms on the indwelling device. In this study, we report an innovative biotechnology-based approach for the covalent functionalization of silicone catheters with antifouling zwitterionic moieties to prevent biofilm formation. Our approach combines the potential bioactivity of a natural phenolics layer biocatalytically conjugated to sulfobetaine-acrylic residues in an enzymatically initiated surface radical polymerization with laccase. To ensure sufficient coating stability in urine, the silicone catheter is plasma-activated. In contrast to industrial chemical methods, the methacrylate-containing zwitterionic monomers are polymerized at pH 5 and 50 °C using as an initiator the phenoxy radicals solely generated by laccase on the phenolics-coated catheter surface. The coated catheters are characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) analysis, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and colorimetrically. Contact angle and protein adsorption measurements, coupled with in vitro tests with the Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus in static and dynamic conditions, mimicking the operational conditions to be faced by the catheters, demonstrate reduced biofilm formation by about 80% when compared to that of unmodified urinary catheters. The zwitterionic coating did not affect the viability of the human fibroblasts (BJ-5ta) over seven days, corresponding to the extended useful life of urinary catheters.