Infection-Triggered, Self-Cleaning Surfaces with On-Demand Cleavage of Surface-Localized Surfactant Moieties

Biofouling of surfaces is a major cause infection and leads to significant patient morbidity mortality within healthcare settings. With ever-increasing concerns over antibiotic resistance associated challenges in eradicating surface-attached biofilm communities, efficacious antifouling materials are urgently required. We herein describe the development an inherently antiadherent polymer system with capacity for on-demand cleavage surface-localized surfactant moieties. The nonionic surfactant, Triton X-100, was linked hydrogel monomers via hydrolytically labile ester bonds. Synthesized copolymers exhibited pH-dependent switching release, elution triggered under alkaline conditions characteristic catheter-associated urinary tract infections subsequently slowed down as pH decreased, representing eradication infection. In addition, demonstrated complete adherence Staphylococcus aureus following 24 h incubation infected artificial urine, reductions Proteus mirabilis up 89% also observed. This dual-pronged approach active, infection-responsive enhance properties surfactant-modified represents promising self-cleaning strategy without bacterial resistance.