Molecular level design of engineered coatings for antimicrobial and antibiofilm surfaces

Official URL: https://risc01.sabanciuniv.edu/record=b2759869_(Table of contents)

Microorganisms that adhere to and colonize materials surfaces do not only create health risks due to infections, but they also adversely affect their functions by deteriorating material properties. There is a substantial need for antimicrobial coatings that can prevent microbial viii adhesions or kill adhered microorganisms on surfaces in many different industries from food to health. In this thesis, the design of different antibacterial and antibiofilm coatings, that are engineered based on antibacterial agent release, light-activation and contact-killing has been proposed. Antibacterial agent release-based coatings have been designed for use in food packaging by encapsulation of carvacrol in halloysite nanotubes, followed by their incorporation onto polyethylene packaging films by the Layer-by-Layer thin film coating technique. Antibacterial coatings composed of safe ingredients have been produced for food packaging films, which will contribute to food safety and extend the shelf life of foods by showing activity against both foodborne pathogens and biofilms. Secondly, light-activated antibacterial coatings were designed by hybrid coatings prepared from polydopamine-coated waterborne polyurethane particles. The photothermally activated coatings developed in this study offer an effective approach for light-activated sterilization of material surfaces. Thirdly, safe, and non-toxic waterborne polyurethane-based nanocomposite coatings comprising lysostaphin enzyme immobilized on polydopamine-functionalized surfaces were designed to establish contact-killing coatings. The lysostaphin-based contact-killing hybrid coatings developed in this study offer an effective approach to prevent nosocomial infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus as being applicable to the surfaces in healthcare facilities and medical devices.