Versatile antibacterial surface with amphiphilic quaternized chitin-based derivatives for catheter associated infection prevention

Microbial colonization of catheter surfaces is responsible for most healthcare-associated infections. Quaternized chitin and chitosan have excellent antimicrobial and biocompatible properties and can be used to provide safe and prolonged protection for biomedical catheters. Herein, we prepared quaternized β-chitin derivative (QC)- and quaternized chitosan derivative (QCS)-based antimicrobial surfaces. The quaternized polysaccharides modified TPU surfaces exhibited hydrophilicity, good biocompatibility. Among these, QCS2-modified TPU exhibited excellent antibacterial properties against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and prevented the adherence of bacteria compared with pristine TPU. The antibacterial activity of QCS2-modified surfaces maintained for 8 weeks under the condition of immersion in serum. An in vivo subcutaneous implantation experiment revealed 99.87% reduction of bacteria and reduced expression of inflammation-related factors in the surrounding tissue five days after implantation with QCS2-modified TPU. Therefore, quaternized polysaccharide-modified surfaces have promising potential in preventing medical catheter-associated infections.