%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 %N 35 %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 35 %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.