Electrically-responsive antimicrobial coatings based on a tetracycline-loaded poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) matrix

• DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2021.112017
• Publication Date: 2021-03-09T23:39:50Z
• Authors: Dominika Czerwińs...; Wioletta Przystaś; Ewa Zabłocka-Godl...; Sebastian Student; Beata Cwalina; Mieczysław Łapkowski; Katarzyna Krukiewicz
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; Anti-Infective Agents; Polymers; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; Anti-Bacterial Agents; 3. Good health

The growth of bacteria and the formation of complex bacterial structures on biomedical devices is a major challenge in modern medicine. The aim of this study was to develop a biocompatible, conducting and antibacterial polymer coating applicable in biomedical engineering. Since conjugated polymers have recently aroused strong interest as controlled delivery systems for biologically active compounds, we decided to employ a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) matrix to immobilize a powerful, first-line antibiotic: tetracycline (Tc). Drug immobilization was carried out simultaneously with the electrochemical polymerization process, allowing to obtain a polymer coating with good electrochemical behaviour (charge storage capacity of 19.15 ± 6.09 mC/cm2) and high drug loading capacity (194.7 ± 56.2 μg/cm2). Biological activity of PEDOT/Tc matrix was compared with PEDOT matrix and a bare Pt surface against a model Gram-negative bacteria strain of Escherichia coli with the use of LIVE/DEAD assay and SEM microscopy. Finally, PEDOT/Tc was shown to serve as a robust electroactive coating exhibiting antibacterial activity.