Layered Gradient-structured Coating with Sustained Lubricating Performance for the Surface Functionalization of Implant Materials

Enhancing the lubricating properties and antibacterial adhesion resistance of implantable medical materials is critical to prevent soft tissue injury during implantation and the formation of bacterial biofilms. Prior studies may have exhibited limitations in the preparation methodologies and long-term stability of coatings for implantable medical materials. In this study, we developed a multilayered hybrid hydrogel coating method based on the rate difference of polymerization initiation on the material surface. The acquired coating with persistent lubrication capability retained its functionality after 2×10 4 cycles of friction and 21 days of PBS immersion. A quaternary ammonium salt coating with antibacterial properties was introduced to further functionalize the coating. Animal experiments demonstrated that this coating exhibited remarkable effects on delaying encrustation and bacterial colonization. These studies indicate that this simple method of introducing lubricating and antibacterial coatings on catheters is likely to enhance the biocompatibility of medical devices and has broad application prospects in this field of medical devices.