Mussel-inspired synthesis of magnetic N-Halamine nanoparticles for antibacterial recycling

Antibacterial N -halamine coatings are successful in avoiding and eliminating bacterial infections caused by bacterial contamination and biofilms on the surfaces. However, the N -halamine coatings remain a long-standing challenge faced by our healthcare system. Herein we reported a new mussel-inspired surface modification strategy to achieve N -halamine copolymer coatings with adhesive effects. The phenolic hydroxyl groups from N -halamine copolymers are used for ligand exchange with oleic acid on the magnetic Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles for binding the N -halamine copolymer onto the surface of the nanoparticles. The as-synthesized N -halamine coatings endow the magnetic Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles antibacterial activity toward both Gram-negative bacteria ( Escherichia coli ) and Gram-positive bacteria ( Staphylococcus aureus ). Since the super-paramagnetism of Fe 3 O 4 in core, the N -halamine coatings are separable magnetically and remain high inactivating efficiency toward bacteria even after five cycles. We believe that, with the advantage of mussel-inspired strategy, the N -halamine coatings should have great potential for use in antibacterial and biomedical fields.