Polydopamine-assisted RAFT polymerization of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate for antibacterial coatings with in situ synthesized silver nanoparticles

Bacterial contamination poses a significant threat to human health, especially on surfaces of materials like medical implants and devices. Developing effective antibacterial coatings is crucial for biomedical applications. In this study, we explored the creation of a three-layer antibacterial coating consisting of polydopamine, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate polymer, and silver nanoparticles. Polydopamine was applied to the surface at different concentrations and polymerization times, followed by the addition of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate monomer through Reversible Addition Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) polymerization. In the next step, silver nanoparticles were in situ synthesized and Energy Dispersive X Ray Spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed their uniform presence on the coating surface. Contact angle analysis and atomic force microscope images identified the optimal sample with 2 mg of dopamine at a polymerization time of 48 h. The optimal sample underwent cytotoxicity and colony counting tests, demonstrating a significant reduction in the growth of both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, highlighting the antibacterial efficiency of the fabricated coating. This polymeric coating shows promise for biomedical applications, offering a potential solution to mitigate bacterial contamination on various surfaces.