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Dual‐Action Flexible Antimicrobial Material: Switchable Self‐Cleaning, Antifouling, and Smart Drug Release
Author(s) -
Děkanovský Lukáš,
Elashnikov Roman,
Kubiková Markéta,
Vokatá Barbora,
Švorčík Václav,
Lyutakov Oleksiy
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201901880
Subject(s) - materials science , biofouling , wetting , nanotechnology , polymer , antimicrobial , smart polymer , smart material , flexibility (engineering) , composite material , organic chemistry , chemistry , genetics , membrane , biology , statistics , mathematics
A switchable material with a smart antimicrobial dual‐action functionality, which is based on a highly stretchable silicon polymer gradiently doped with polyyrrole, is proposed. The material exhibits superhydrophobic and self‐cleaning properties, high aerophilicity as well as the possibility of smart, electrically triggerable release of an incorporated drug. During the immersion of the material in water, an air gap is formed on its surface which prevents a formation of biofouling, attachment of microorganisms, and burst release of the incorporated drug. An application of external electric field switches the surface properties from the superhydrophobic to highly hydrophilic state that enables a wetting of the material surface and electrically triggered release of a loaded drug. After the electric field switching off and sample drying, the material surface returns to its intrinsic superhydrophobic state with the original self‐cleaning properties so that the material surface can be simply cleaned, removing the bacteria. High flexibility and stretchability are additional favorable properties of the proposed smart antimicrobial material, making it a suitable candidate for a range of medical and related applications.