Antibacterial and superhydrophobic hemostatic properties of fluorinated random copolymer composite nanocoatings

Hemorrhage is the main obstacle to wound healing and can trigger microbial infections, delay the healing process, and seriously threaten human life. Many multifunctional antibacterial hemostatic surfaces have been explored to prevent bacterial attachment, biofilm formation and uncontrolled hemorrhage; however, unnecessary blood loss and tissue adhesion still need to be solved. Here, a fluorinated, biocompatible, superhydrophobic coating that can be used in medical wound dressings to improve their antibacterial and hemostasis function is introduced. The coating is formed by multifunctional antibacterial composite nanoparticles, which are generated from acrylic acid (AA) and 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorododecyl acrylate (PFDA) and poly (hexamethylene biguanide) hydrochloride (PHMB). The PAA-co-PFDA/PHMB composite nanoparticles can be used for various substrate materials and form transparent coatings. It has been proven that PAA-co-PFDA/PHMB composite nanocoatings not only have good antibacterial adhesion but also have bactericidal properties. In vitro and in vivo hemostatic experiments show that PAA-co-PFDA/PHMB composite nanocoated gauze has good hemostatic and antiadhesion properties. Comprehensive anti-adhesive, bactericidal and hemostatic properties are the best when the fluorine content is 5.0 wt%. The multifunctional fluoropolymer coating with antifouling, antibacterial and hemostatic properties may have a great potential in biomedical applications.