Contact Killing of Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria on PDMS Provided with Immobilized Hyperbranched Antibacterial Coatings

Here we describe in detail the preparation and application of antibacterial coatings on PDMS (poly(dimethylsiloxane)) and the contact-killing properties with 10 bacterial strains. Our aim was to develop a generally applicable coating to prevent biomaterial acquired infections, which is the major mode of failure of biomedical implants. In the first step, the surface was provided with a hydrophobic hyperbranched coating resin that was covalently attached to PDMS, mediated by an appropriate coupling agent. The coupling agent contained a siloxane group that reacts covalently with the silanol groups of air-plasma-treated PDMS and a blocked isocyanate enabling covalent coupling with the amino groups of the hyperbranched coating resins. The coating resins were functionalized with a polyethylenimine and subsequently quaternized with bromohexane and iodomethane. The coatings were highly effective against Gram-positive bacteria (five strains) and sufficiently active against Gram-negative bacteria (five stains). The killing effect on the latter group was strongly enhanced by adding a permeabilizer (EDTA). The biocidal efficacy was not influenced by the presence of (saliva) proteins.