Transparent and Highly Flexible Hierarchically Structured Polydimethylsiloxane Surfaces Suppress Bacterial Attachment and Thrombosis Under Static and Dynamic Conditions

Abstract

The surface fouling of biomedical devices has been an ongoing issue in healthcare. Bacterial and blood adhesion in particular, severely impede the performance of such tools, leading to poor patient outcomes. Various structural and chemical modifications have been shown to reduce fouling, but all existing strategies lack the combination of physical, chemical, and economic traits necessary for widespread use. Herein, a lubricant infused, hierarchically micro‐ and nanostructured polydimethylsiloxane surface is presented. The surface is easy to produce and exhibits the high flexibility and optical transparency necessary for incorporation into various biomedical tools. Tests involving two clinically relevant, priority pathogens show up to a 98.5% reduction in the biofilm formation of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. With blood, the surface reduces staining by 95% and suppresses thrombin generation to background levels. Furthermore, the surface shows applicability within applications such as catheters, extracorporeal circuits, and microfluidic devices, through its effectiveness in dynamic conditions. The perfusion of bacterial media shows up to 96.5% reduction in bacterial adhesion. Similarly, a 95.8% reduction in fibrin networks is observed following whole blood perfusion. This substrate stands to hold high applicability within biomedical systems as a means to prevent fouling, thus improving performance.

Wire Electrochemical Etching of Superhydrophobic Nickel Surfaces with Enhanced Corrosion Protection

“…To demonstrate the usefulness of superhydrophobic nickel samples in contaminated environments, a series of tests was conducted [42][43][44]. These included a self-cleaning test, as shown in Figure 5a, and antifouling tests, as shown in Figure 5b,c.…”

Targeted Anti-Biofilm Therapy: Dissecting Targets in the Biofilm Life Cycle

“…In vitro surface anti-adhesion technology alone does not meet practical clinical needs; it is also vital to address how to apply these techniques in vivo. Didar et al transferred the topography present with hierarchical polystyrene surfaces onto polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which prevents biofilm and thrombosis in vivo ( Figure 4 b) [ 96 ]. Sun et al integrated highly antibacterial copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) into hydrophilic polydopamine (PDA) coating and finally fixed it on a reverse osmosis (RO) thin-film composite membrane, which could reduce bacterial adhesion and significantly inhibited the formation of biofilm [ 97 ].…”

Highly Stable Hierarchically Structured All-Polymeric Lubricant-Infused Films Prevent Thrombosis and Repel Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens

“…A wide range of surface treatment approaches have been developed to improve the blood compatibility and antifouling properties of medical devices. In particular, liquid-infused surfaces (LIS) have been established as an effective strategy to prevent fouling on a wide range of devices, such as grafts, catheters, and implants. − Since their initial invention, many efforts have been dedicated to the preparation and optimization of different types of LIS systems to maximize lubricant–surface interactions, long-term stability, and ease of application. ,− Many such improvements have focused on minimizing the depletion of the lubricant layer over time, which remains a key hindrance in the real-world applicability of LIS systems. − To this end, recent studies have determined that having a good lubricant–surface interaction, and a larger surface contact areaachieved by hierarchical structures at the micro- and nanoscalesuccessfully delays lubricant depletion off the surface and enhances its stability …”