Integration of photo-induced biocidal and hydrophilic antifouling functions on nanofibrous membranes with demonstrated reduction of biofilm formation

Survival and pathogenic microbial adhesions on surfaces of materials followed by the formation of biofilms with robust resistance to antibiotics constitute the forefront of disease transmissions. Conventional strategies responding to this challenge are rather limited due to the biofouling effect of microorganisms or the irreversible consumption of antimicrobial agents embedded into the materials. Herein, we report an approach of combining photo-induced rechargeable biocidal properties with microbial resisting and releasing zwitterionic hydrophilic functions on surfaces of materials to improve antifouling performances. Poly(vinyl alcohol-co-ethylene) (EVOH) nanofibrous membranes (NFMs) were chemically incorporated with both 3,3',4,4'-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPTCD), a photoactive chemical, and [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide (SBMA), a zwitterionic monomer. Both functional agents work independently and construct concerted microbial resisting, killing, and releasing functions to reduce microbial contamination and biofilm formation. The resulted SBMA@EVOH NFMs exhibited integrated features of large ROS production capacity, ease of photoactive rechargeability and controllability, long-term stability, high biocidal efficacy (>99.9999% via contact killing), and promising antifouling performance, which enable the SBMA@EVOH NFMs to serve as a biocidal material for food safety and medical applications. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.