Many research groups have attained slow, persistent, continuous release of silver ions through careful experimental design using existing methods. Such methods effectively kill planktonic bacteria and therefore prevent surface adhesion of pathogens. However, the resultant modified coatings cannot provide long-term antibacterial efficacy due to sustained anti-microbial release. In this study, the anti-infection activity of AgNP immobilized biomaterials was evaluated, facilitated by argon plasma grafting technology and activated by bacterial colonization. The modified materials generated in this study showed excellent specificity and were active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative biofilm forming bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Escherichia coli. The anti-infection biomaterials developed in this study demonstrate several attractive advantages in comparison to traditional anti-bacterial surfaces loaded with antibiotics or other types of antibacterial agents and include (1) broad spectrum of activity against antibiotic resistant bacteria, (2) the unlikelihood of bacterial resistance, (3) specificity, (4) biocompatibility, and (5) stability.
Keywords: Nanoparticles; graft polymerization; immobilization; infections; nanocoatings.