%0 journal article
%@ 2196-7350
%A Burmeister, N., Zorn, E., Farooq, A., Preuss, L., Vollstedt, C., Friedrich, T., Mantel, T., Scharnagl, N., Rohnke, M., Ernst, M., Wicha, S.G., Streit, W.R., Maison, W.

%D 2023
%J Advanced Materials Interfaces

%P 2300505 
%R doi:DOI:10.1002/admi.202300505
%T Surface Grafted N-Oxides have Low-Fouling and Antibacterial Properties
%U https://doi.org/DOI:10.1002/admi.202300505
 
%X Low-fouling materials are often generated by surface zwitterionization with polymers. In this context, poly-N-oxides have recently attracted considerable attention as biomimetic stealth coatings with low protein adsorption. Herein, this study reports that poly-N-oxides can be grafted from plasma-activated plastic base materials. The resulting hydrophilic surfaces have low-fouling properties in bacterial suspensions and suppress the formation of biofilms. Moreover, efficient antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria caused by release of reactive oxygen species is observed. The latter effect is specific for polymeric N-oxides and is most likely triggered by a reductive activation of the N-oxide functionality in the presence of bacteria. In contrast to other zwitterionic polymers, N-oxides combine thus low-fouling (stealth) properties with antibacterial activity. The bioactive N-oxide groups can be regenerated after use by common oxidative disinfectants. Poly-N-oxides are thus attractive antibacterial coatings for many base materials with a unique combined mechanism of action.