title: A Simultaneously Antimicrobial, Protein-Repellent, and Cell-Compatible Polyzwitterion Network.
abstract: A simultaneously antimicrobial, protein-repellent, and cell-compatible surface-attached polymer network is reported, which reduces the growth of bacterial biofilms on surfaces through its multifunctionality. The coating was made from a poly(oxonorbornene)-based zwitterion (PZI), which was surface-attached and cross-linked in one step by simultaneous UV-activated CH insertion and thiol-ene reaction. The process was applicable to both laboratory surfaces like silicon, glass, and gold and real-life surfaces like polyurethane foam wound dressings. The chemical structure and physical properties of the PZI surface and the two reference surfaces SMAMP ("synthetic mimic of an antimicrobial peptide"), an antimicrobial but protein-adhesive polymer coating, and PSB (poly(sulfobetaine)), a protein-repellent but not antimicrobial polyzwitterion coating were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ellipsometry, contact angle measurements, photoelectron spectroscopy, swellability measurements (using surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy, SPR), zeta potential measurements, and atomic force microscopy. The time-dependent antimicrobial activity assay (time-kill assay) confirmed the high antimicrobial activity of the PZI; SPR was used to demonstrate that it was also highly protein-repellent. Biofilm formation studies showed that the material effectively reduced the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. Additionally, it was shown that the PZI was highly compatible with immortalized human mucosal gingiva keratinocytes and human red blood cells using the Alamar Blue assay, the live-dead stain, and the hemolysis assay. PZI thus may be an attractive coating for biomedical applications, particularly for the fight against bacterial biofilms on medical devices and in other applications.
authors.affiliation: Bioactive Polymer Synthesis and Surface Engineering Group, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK) and Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT), Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg , Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurowska
authors.affiliation: Bioactive Polymer Synthesis and Surface Engineering Group, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK) and Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT), Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg , Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eickenscheidt
authors.affiliation: Bioactive Polymer Synthesis and Surface Engineering Group, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK) and Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT), Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg , Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Diana-Lorena
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Guevara-Solarte
authors.affiliation: Bioactive Polymer Synthesis and Surface Engineering Group, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK) and Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT), Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg , Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Vania Tanda
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Widyaya
authors.affiliation: Bioactive Polymer Synthesis and Surface Engineering Group, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK) and Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT), Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg , Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Franziska
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marx
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Center for Dental Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg , Hugstetter Straße 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Bioactive Polymer Synthesis and Surface Engineering Group, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK) and Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT), Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg , Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6868-3707
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lienkamp
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry; D000327:Adsorption; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D001622:Betaine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011108:Polymers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D011108:Polymers; D001622:Betaine; C483727:sulfobetaine