Stimuli-responsive antibacterial coatings: Bacteria-killing and releasing mechanism
Researchers found that the combination of different stimuli such as pH, temperature, salt solution, light, sugar or their combination is an effective way to trigger and control the antibacterial function on smart surfaces. These stimuli can cause a conformational change in responsive polymers, which in turn affects the wettability and other properties of the smart surface, leading to the release of killed bacteria.
To prevent bacterial contamination of biological surfaces, a variety of intelligent antibacterial antifouling strategies have been developed to reduce bacterial adhesion and kill adhering bacteria. Currently, many intelligent coatings have been developed that react to external environmental stimuli and release bacteria. The release of killed bacteria is usually accompanied by a conformational change in the reactive polymer due to changes in external conditions such as pH, temperature and light, which in turn affects the wettability and other properties of the smart surface.
However, an important factor for the practical applicability of smart antimicrobial surfaces is whether the functional surface can be repeatedly regenerated after the release of bacteria. Therefore, a regenerative smart antimicrobial strategy that combines bactericidal and releasing functions may be an effective strategy against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections. Here we introduce different stimuli such as pH, temperature, saline, light, sugar or combinations thereof that can trigger the antibacterial function, explain the killing/release mechanism and possible applications.
This research has been published in Progress in Organic Coatings, Volume 186, January 2024.
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