The impact of antifouling layers in fabricating bioactive surfaces

Recent Advance in Polymer Coatings Combating Bacterial Adhesion and Biofilm Formation†

“…[ 23‐25 ] According to surface functionality, antibacterial polymer coatings can be classified into three main types, namely antifouling polymer coatings, bactericidal polymer coatings, and bifunctional antibacterial polymer coatings (Figure 1). [ 26‐32 ] Many hydrophilic polymers, such as poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs), zwitterionic polymers, and polysaccharides can be readily used as antifouling polymer coatings to resist nonspecific protein adsorption and bacterial adhesion. [ 26‐27 ] However, bacteria can eventually adhere to antifouling polymer coatings because of lacking bactericidal activity.…”

“…[ 26‐32 ] Many hydrophilic polymers, such as poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs), zwitterionic polymers, and polysaccharides can be readily used as antifouling polymer coatings to resist nonspecific protein adsorption and bacterial adhesion. [ 26‐27 ] However, bacteria can eventually adhere to antifouling polymer coatings because of lacking bactericidal activity. By mimicking the amphiphilic and cationic structures of AMPs, bactericidal and cationic polymers have exhibited broad‐spectrum surface bactericidal activity by membrane disruption mechanism.…”

Photo-switchable supramolecular comb-like polymer brush based on host–guest recognition for use as antimicrobial smart surface

“…5,6 As a popular surface modification strategy, polymer brushes have attracted great attention; these brushes modify the physical/chemical properties of materials and impart them with versatile functions. 7,8 Recently, a series of antibacterial polymer brushes 9,10 were developed for biomedical surfaces based on various antibacterial methods, 11,12 including touch killing, 13,14 antifouling, 15,16 bacterial release, 17 and other comprehensive approaches that combine two or more methods. [18][19][20][21] Among these, trifunctional antibacterial surfaces employing antifouling, antimicrobials, and bacterial release with function-switch potential provide an efficient platform to eliminate bacterial infection by preventing bacteria attachment, killing touched bacteria, and releasing attached bacteria simultaneously.…”

Impact of Tether Length and Flexibility on the Efficiency of Analyte Capture by Tethered Receptors

“…[13] The characteristics of such linkers (or tethers) play an important role in the outcome of the biochemical events on different device surfaces, e.g., non-specific binding, electrostatic interaction or ability to regenerate the surface. Neutral hydrophilic polymers, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), have been widely investigated in literature and they show particularly interesting properties in terms of protein-resistant layers, [14,15] while also enabling end-functional groups that can be used to tether receptors to the sensor surface. [16] Studies have also shown that the antifouling capabilities are strongly dependent upon polymer conformation [17,18] and chain length.…”