Blood-contacting devices must be designed to minimize the risk of bloodstream-associated infections, thrombosis, and intimal lesions caused by surface friction. However, achieving effective prevention of both bloodstream-associated infections and thrombosis poses a challenge due to the conflicting nature of antibacterial and antithrombotic activities, specifically regarding electrostatic interactions. This study introduced a novel biocompatible hydrogel of sodium alginate and zwitterionic carboxymethyl chitosan (ZW@CMC) with antibacterial and antithrombotic activities for use in catheters. The ZW@CMC hydrogel demonstrates a superhydrophilic surface and good hygroscopic properties, which facilitate the formation of a stable hydration layer with low friction. The zwitterionic-functionalized CMC incorporates an additional negative sulfone group and increased negative charge density in the carboxyl group. This augmentation enhances electrostatic repulsion and facilitates the formation of hydration layer. This leads to exceptional prevention of blood clotting factor adhesion and inhibition of biofilm formation. Subsequently, the ZW@CMC hydrogel exhibited biocompatibility with tests of in vitro cytotoxicity, hemolysis, and catheter friction. Furthermore, in vivo tests of antithrombotic and systemic inflammation models with catheterization indicated that ZW@CMC has significant advantages for practical applications in cardiovascular-related and sepsis treatment. This study opens a new avenue for the development of chitosan-based multifunctional hydrogel for applications in blood-contacting devices.

Background: The wound healing process is a complex cascade of physiological events, which are vulnerable to both our body status and external factors and whose impairment could lead to chronic wounds or wound healing impediments. Conventional wound healing materials are widely used in clinical management, however, they do not usually prevent wounds from being infected by bacteria or viruses. Therefore, simultaneous wound status monitoring and prevention of microbial infection are required to promote healing in clinical wound management. Methods: Basic amino acid-modified surfaces were fabricated in a water-based process via a peptide coupling reaction. Specimens were analyzed and characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Kelvin probe force microscopy, atomic force microscopy, contact angle, and molecular electrostatic potential via Gaussian 09. Antimicrobial and biofilm inhibition tests were conducted on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis . Biocompatibility was determined through cytotoxicity tests on human epithelial keratinocytes and human dermal fibroblasts. Wound healing efficacy was confirmed by mouse wound healing and cell staining tests. Workability of the pH sensor on basic amino acid-modified surfaces was evaluated on normal human skin and Staphylococcus epidermidis suspension, and in vivo conditions. Results: Basic amino acids (lysine and arginine) have pH-dependent zwitterionic functional groups. The basic amino acid-modified surfaces had antifouling and antimicrobial properties similar to those of cationic antimicrobial peptides because zwitterionic functional groups have intrinsic cationic amphiphilic characteristics. Compared with untreated polyimide and modified anionic acid (leucine), basic amino acid-modified polyimide surfaces displayed excellent bactericidal, antifouling (reduction ~ 99.6%) and biofilm inhibition performance. The basic amino acid-modified polyimide surfaces also exhibited wound healing efficacy and excellent biocompatibility, confirmed by cytotoxicity and ICR mouse wound healing tests. The basic amino acid-modified surface-based pH monitoring sensor was workable (sensitivity 20 mV pH ⁻¹ ) under various pH and bacterial contamination conditions. Conclusion: Here, we developed a biocompatible and pH-monitorable wound healing dressing with antimicrobial activity via basic amino acid-mediated surface modification, creating cationic amphiphilic surfaces. Basic amino acid-modified polyimide is promising for monitoring wounds, protecting them from microbial infection, and promoting their healing. Our findings are expected to contribute to wound management and could be expanded to various wearable healthcare devices for clinical, biomedical, and healthcare applications.

Commercial personal protective equipment (PPE) often has limited antibacterial activity that compromises its effectiveness in preventing infections. Traditional mechano‐bactericidal methods deliver suboptimal performance, while photo‐bactericidal methods struggle with activation requirements and durability. In this study, a dual‐action antibacterial PPE, combining mechano‐ and photo‐bactericidal strategies, have been designed to overcome these challenges. Mg–Al layered double hydroxide nanoblades (LDH‐NBs) are synthesized on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)‐coated polypropylene (PP) fabric. The PDMS coating plays a crucial role in enabling the formation of densely packed LDH‐NBs, thereby implementing mechano‐bactericidal action. Additionally, hydrophobic residues in the PDMS coating diffuse to the surface during heat treatment, converting the LDH‐NB surface to hydrophobic. The Rose Bengal (RB)‐adsorbed LDH‐NBs (RB@LDH‐NBs) become superhydrophobic after heat treatment, thereby exhibiting antifouling effects against various contaminants and bacteria. RB@LDH‐NBs mechanically inactivate 99.5% of Escherichia coli and 95% of Staphylococcus aureus under typical respiratory flow rates and completely eradicate E. coli within 2 h of light exposure. Combining mechano‐ and photobactericidal effects, RB@LDH‐NBs rapidly eradicate both E. coli and S. aureus within 15 min of light exposure. These outstanding bactericidal performances highlight the potential of this advanced PPE to provide robust protection against infectious diseases.