title: Towards Self-regenerating Antimicrobial Polymer Surfaces.
abstract: Regeneration of functional polymer surfaces after damage or contamination is an unresolved scientific challenge, and also of practical importance. In this proof-of-concept study, we present a method to regenerate a functional surface property using a polymer multi-layer architecture. This is exemplified using antimicrobially active surfaces. The idea is to shed the top layer of the polymer layer stack, like a reptile shedding its skin. The proof-of-concept stack consists of two antimicrobial layers and a degradable interlayer. Shedding of the top layer is enabled by degrading that interlayer. The shedding process was analyzed by quantitative fluorescence microscopy, ellipsometry, and FTIR spectroscopy. Antimicrobial assays revealed that the functionality of the emerging antimicrobial layer was fully retained after shedding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany and Freiburg Centre for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT) Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Franziska
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dorner
authors.affiliation: Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany and Freiburg Centre for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT) Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boschert
authors.affiliation: Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany and Freiburg Centre for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT) Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany and Freiburg Centre for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT) Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Wibke
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hartleb
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Center for Dental Medicine of the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Hugstetter Str. 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany and Freiburg Centre for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT) Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lienkamp