Each year &gt;99,000 deaths are reported due to hospital-acquired infections. A great extent of nosocomial infections in the patients’ source from medical devices that feature a suitable surface to promote biofilm formation. In this study, nitric oxide (NO) releasing polymers have been developed to provide broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties. To overcome the design of geometrically complex devices, additive manufacturing technology was utilized to print custom-designed films (porous and solid) using polycarbonate-based silicone elastomer (PCU-Sil, ChronoSil). The PCU-Sil films were fabricated with different porosities (60% porous, 40% porous, solid, and capped) using 3D-printer followed by a solvent-swelling process to impregnate the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP). Based on the variations in structure via distinct porosities, the NO-releasing films were studied for real-time NO release, SNAP leaching and impregnation, and antibacterial properties, that are crucial for clinical translation. The UV-vis studies demonstrated the highest amount of SNAP in 60% porous samples resulting in 19.59 wt% of SNAP after 2 h of swelling process. All the samples exhibited higher levels of NO release in the initial days. While the porous samples demonstrated continued NO release at relatively higher levels up to 14 days, solid and capped samples had diminished flux levels after day 5. All NO-releasing films exhibited &gt;99% suppression of S. aureus adhesion on the film surface (p &lt; 0.05) after 24 h compared to unmodified controls. The closely regulated personalized bioactive polymers can help overcome the design of geometrically complex devices, the potential toxicity to the patient from the biofilm colonization, and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.

3D printing nitric oxide-releasing antimicrobial surfaces

ACS Fall 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.