"Reactive" Chemical Strategy to Attain Substrate Independent "" Omniphobic Solid Anti-Biofouling Coatings.

Covalent and defect-free surface-grafted solid lubricating chains that can impart slippery behavior have proven advantageous over lubricant infused and textured anti-wetting surfaces. Herein, the co-hydrolysis and co-condensation of a mixture of organosilanes followed by the epoxy-amine ring opening reaction at the interface results in a highly robust, transparent and solid slippery omniphobic coating (LL-OSC). The presence of the epoxy-terminated organosilane a) acts as a molecular spacer in between the low-surface energy, rigid fluorine terminated silane and b) provides 'reactive' epoxy groups for covalent binding to a pre-functionalized amine surface for potential applicability in droplet transport and manipulation, diagnostics etc.

Wearable nitric oxide-releasing antibacterial insert for preventing device-associated infections.

Medical device-associated infections are a pervasive global healthcare concern, often leading to severe complications. Bacterial biofilms that form on indwelling medical devices, such as catheters, are significant contributors to infections like bloodstream and urinary tract infections. This study addresses the challenge of biofilms on medical devices by introducing a portable antimicrobial catheter insert (PACI) designed to be efficient, biocompatible, and anti-infective.

Surface Engineering for Endothelium-Mimicking Functions to Combat Infection and Thrombosis in Extracorporeal Life Support Technologies.

Blood-contacting medical devices routinely fail from the cascading effects of biofouling toward infection and thrombosis. Nitric oxide (NO) is an integral part of endothelial homeostasis, maintaining platelet quiescence and facilitating oxidative/nitrosative stress against pathogens. Recently, it is shown that the surface evolution of NO can mediate cell-surface interactions.

-Acetyl Cysteine-Decorated Nitric Oxide-Releasing Interface for Biomedical Applications.

Biomedical devices are vulnerable to infections and biofilm formation, leading to extended hospital stays, high expenditure, and increased mortality. Infections are clinically treated the administration of systemic antibiotics, leading to the development of antibiotic resistance. A multimechanistic strategy is needed to design an effective biomaterial with broad-spectrum antibacterial potential.

Preventing Surgical Site Infections with a Nitric Oxide-Releasing Poly(lactic acid--glycolic acid) Suture Material.

Of the 27 million surgeries performed in the United States each year, a reported 2.6% result in a surgical site infection (SSI), and species are commonly the culprit. Alternative therapies, such as nitric oxide (NO)-releasing biomaterials, are being developed to address this issue.