Robust Nanoparticle-Derived Lubricious Antibiofilm Coating for Difficult-to-Coat Medical Devices with Intricate Geometry

A major medical device-associated complication is the biofilm-related infection post-implantation. One promising approach to prevent this is to coat already commercialized medical devices with effective antibiofilm materials. However, developing a robust high-performance antibiofilm coating on devices with a nonflat geometry remains unmet. Here, we report the development of a facile scalable nanoparticle-based antibiofilm silver composite coating with long-term activity applicable to virtually any objects including difficult-to-coat commercially available medical devices utilizing a catecholic organic–aqueous mixture. Using a screening approach, we have identified a combination of the organic–aqueous buffer mixture which alters polycatecholamine synthesis, nanoparticle formation, and stabilization, resulting in controlled deposition of in situ formed composite silver nanoparticles in the presence of an ultra-high-molecular-weight hydrophilic polymer on diverse objects irrespective of its geometry and chemistry. Methanol-mediated synthesis of polymer–silver composite nanoparticles resulted in a biocompatible lubricious coating with high mechanical durability, long-term silver release (∼90 days), complete inhibition of bacterial adhesion, and excellent killing activity against a diverse range of bacteria over the long term. Coated catheters retained their excellent activity even after exposure to harsh mechanical challenges (rubbing, twisting, and stretching) and storage conditions (>3 months stirring in water). We confirmed its excellent bacteria-killing efficacy (>99.999%) against difficult-to-kill bacteria (Proteus mirabilis) and high biocompatibility using percutaneous catheter infection mice and subcutaneous implant rat models, respectively, in vivo. The developed coating approach opens a new avenue to transform clinically used medical devices (e.g., urinary catheters) to highly infection-resistant devices to prevent and treat implant/device-associated infections.