Bacterial adhesion, a common problem for a wide range of applications including water purification and medical implants, is a complex and ongoing challenge. Traditional means of addressing biofouling, namely antibacterial agents, prevent bacterial adhesion by killing microbes. Unfortunately, this approach encourages bacteria to become resistant to commercial antibiotics, diminishing their efficacy and exacerbating the problem of bacterial contamination. Alternatively, antifouling surfaces address biofouling without contributing to antibiotic-resistant bacteria by preventing bacterial attachment to surfaces without killing any microbes. In this work, we focused on synthesizing and evaluating antifouling surface coatings that avoid complex surface reactions or pretreatment. A strongly adhesive molecule attached the surface coating to a variety of surfaces without complex surface chemistry, while a slippery molecule prevented microbial attachment. By using in-house synthesized bifunctional copolymers, we quantified the role of sticky and slippery groups by systematically varying the amounts of “sticky” and zwitterion groups. By codepositing polydopamine, a biological glue with functional copolymers, the effects of chemical composition on the efficacy of the antifouling surface coating were further explored. The material characteristics of the antifouling surface coatings were evaluated using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy, while their efficacy was quantified using the model microbe <i>Escherichia coli</i>. For the first time, we have demonstrated that a stable antifouling surface coating has been produced using a bioinspired glue and a polymer zwitterion without reliance on complex chemistry. This work provides insight into the next generation of antifouling surfaces with broad implications for a wide range of applications including medical implants and chemical separations.

Bioinspired polymer composites for antifouling surface coatings

255th National Meeting (2018)

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