Lysozyme-Coupled Poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate)−Stainless Steel Hybrids and Their Antifouling and Antibacterial Surfaces

An environmentally benign approach to impart stainless steel (SS) surfaces with antifouling and antibacterial functionalities was described. Surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of poly(ethylene glycol) monomethacrylate) (PEGMA) from the SS surface-coupled catecholic l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) with terminal alkyl halide initiator was first carried out, followed by the immobilization of lysozyme at the chain ends of poly(ethylene glycol) branches of the grafted PEGMA polymer brushes. The functionalized SS surfaces were shown to be effective in preventing bovine serum albumin (BSA) adsorption and in reducing bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation. The surfaces also exhibited good bactericidal effects against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The concomitant incorporation of antifouling hydrophilic brushes and antibacterial enzymes or peptides onto metal surfaces via catecholic anchors should be readily adaptable to other metal substrates, and is potentially useful for biomedical and biomaterial applications.