Biodegradable and Cytocompatible Hydrogel Coating with Antibacterial Activity for the Prevention of Implant-Associated Infection

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c20401
• Publication Date: 2023-02-28T09:58:18Z
• Authors: Yanhui Liu; Ting Dong; Yuhang Chen; Na Sun; Qi Liu; Zhenkai Huang; Yafeng Yang; Hao Cheng; Kan Yue
• Keywords: Surface Modification; Gelatin

Implant-associated infection (IAI) caused by pathogens colonizing on the implant surface is a serious issue in trauma-orthopedic surgery, which often leads to failure. The complications of IAI bring big threat clinical practice implants, accompanied significant economic cost and long hospitalization time. In this study, we propose an antibiotics-free strategy address IAI-related challenges using biodegradable cytocompatible hydrogel coating. To achieve this, novel system was developed combine synergistic effects good cell affinity antibacterial properties. material prepared modifying photocross-linkable gelatin-based polymer (GelMA) with cationic quaternary ammonium salt (QAS) groups via mild simple synthesis procedure. By engineering length hydrophobic carbon chain QAS group degree functionalization, resulting GelMA-octylQAS exhibited integration mechanical properties, biodegradability, excellent bactericidal activity against various types bacteria, high cytocompatibility mammalian cells. When coated onto situ cross-linking procedure, our demonstrated superior antimicrobial ability infective model femoral fracture rats. Our results suggest that might provide promising platform for preventing treating IAI.