Thermoresponsive Nanostructures: From Mechano-Bactericidal Action to Bacteria Release.

Abstract

Overuse of antibiotics can increase the risk of notorious antibiotic resistance in bacteria, which has become a growing public health concern worldwide. Featured with the merit of mechanical rupture of bacterial cells, the bioinspired nanopillars are promising alternatives to antibiotics for combating bacterial infections while avoiding antibacterial resistance. However, the resident dead bacterial cells on nanopillars may greatly impair their bactericidal capability and ultimately impede their translational potential toward long-term applications. Here, we show that the functions of bactericidal nanopillars can be significantly broadened by developing a hybrid thermoresponsive polymer@nanopillar-structured surface, which retains all of the attributes of pristine nanopillars and adds one more: releasing dead bacteria. We fabricate this surface through coaxially decorating mechano-bactericidal ZnO nanopillars with thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) brushes. Combining the benefits of ZnO nanopillars and PNIPAAm chains, the antibacterial performances can be controllably regulated between ultrarobust mechano-bactericidal action (∼99%) and remarkable bacteria-releasing efficiency (∼98%). Notably, both the mechanical sterilization against the live bacteria and the controllable release for the pinned dead bacteria solely stem from physical actions, stimulating the exploration of intelligent structure-based bactericidal surfaces with persistent antibacterial properties without the risk of triggering drug resistance.

• Authors: Rujian Jiang, Yaozhen Yi, Lingwan Hao, Yuxiang Chen, Limei Tian, Haixu Dou, Jie Zhao, Weihua Ming, Luquan Ren
• Journal: ACS applied materials & interfaces (ACS Appl Mater Interfaces) Vol. 13 Issue 51 Pg. 60865-60877 (Dec 29 2021) ISSN: 1944-8252 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 34905683 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Acrylic Resins
• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Biocompatible Materials
• poly-N-isopropylacrylamide
• Zinc Oxide

Topics

• Acrylic Resins (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Bacterial Adhesion (drug effects)
• Biocompatible Materials (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Materials Testing
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests
• Nanostructures (chemistry)
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa (drug effects)
• Temperature
• Zinc Oxide (chemistry, pharmacology)