Development of gas atomization sprayed poly(2‐methoxyethyl acrylate)-biocide composite coatings with anti-protein, anti-bacterial and anti-biliary sludge properties for biomedical applications

Nickel–Titanium (NiTi) biliary stents are widely used to treat stenosis and obstruction but are susceptible to biofilm formation and bile sludge accumulation, leading to stent fouling and failure. To address this, we developed a novel anti-fouling coating for NiTi stents via gas atomization spraying. The coating consists of poly(2-methoxyethyl acrylate) (PMEA) and an incorporated antimicrobial agent, which remains stable within the as-deposited matrix. The drug release kinetics from the composite coating followed the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Notably, the addition of the antimicrobial agent had negligible impact on the surface microstructure or hydrophilicity of the coating. Its concentration was systematically optimized to balance antimicrobial efficacy with biocompatibility. The coating demonstrated significant antifouling properties in sequential evaluations against protein adsorption, bacterial adhesion, and biliary sludge accumulation. Our findings indicate that this PMEA-based drug coating effectively mitigates fouling and restenosis across multiple key stages. The gas atomization-sprayed PMEA-antimicrobial coating thus presents a promising strategy to suppress biofilm formation, prevent cholestasis, and enhance the long-term patency of biliary stents.