(147d) Development of Multiscale Porous Multilayer Films for Controlled Release of Novel Anti-Biofilm Compounds

Biofilms are notorious for their strong immune defense, high tolerance to antibiotic treatment and difficulty in clearance. It has been reported that biofilms are responsible for about 65% of infections happened in hospital, leading to more than 500,000 deaths, 17million infections and $94 billion medical expense annually in the United States alone. Recently, a series of novel benzimidazole molecules have been developed as anti-biofilm compounds (ABCs). In order to apply ABCs on the material surface and achieve controlled release, surface coatings need to be designed. Polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs), formed via the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of polyanions and polycations, have been considered as a versatile platform for surface design. By simple acid treatments, poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)/poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) multilayers can form porous structures, which can act as drug reservoirs. By tuning parameters, such as pH used in acid treatment and polyelectrolyte molecular weight, we can fabricate hierarchical porous structures. Both nanoscale and microscale pores were formed, resulting in different release kinetics of ABCs. 5-methoxy-2-[(4-methylbenzyl)sulfanyl]-1H-benzimidazole (named ABC-1), one of the most effective benzimidazole molecules was loaded into the porous multilayer films. By optimizing the porous structure, the release of ABC-1 was strategically controlled. It has been found about 99% of V. cholerae biofilm formation was suppressed by this anti-biofilm coating.