Robust Grafting of Polyionenes: New Potent and Versatile Antimicrobial Surfaces

Abstract

Front Cover: Polyionenes (PI) have been covalently grafted onto glass surfaces via a process combining polydopamine coating, diazonium‐induced polymerization and polyaddition. The presence of positive charges and aliphatic spacers in the PI grafted chains causes disruption of the bacterial membrane. Microbial adhesion studies demonstrated the proadhesive properties and strong bacteriostatic effect of PI grafted surfaces, particularly with a longer aliphatic spacer in the repeating unit. This is reported by Sarah Bernardi, Margareth Renault, Antoine Malabirade, Nabila Debou, Jocelyne Leroy, Jean‐Marie Herry, Morgan Guilbaud, Veronique Arluison, Marie‐Noelle Bellon‐Fontaine, Geraldine Carrot in article 2000157. Image credit to Marion Bernardi.

Surface antimicrobial functionalization with polymers: fabrication, mechanisms and applications

“…In 2020, Bernardi et al developed a bacteriostatic/bactericidal contact-active antimicrobial surface with pro-adhesive properties using hydrophilic polyionenes. 56 Using positively charged polyionenes with tunable hydrophobic spacers in the polymer backbone, the antimicrobial effect could be manipulated as shown in Fig. 4c.…”