Engineering of new anti-biofilm phosphonium thin coatings onto polymeric films

Biofilms comprising sessile microorganisms attached to surfaces are increasingly researched for their importance in medicine and industry. Current studies focus on development of antibiotics that unfortunately can lead to resistance and environmental pollution. Phosphonium cations are known to exhibit significant activity with less resistance. Here, silane-phosphonium thin coatings are applied by Stöber polymerization of new silane-phosphonium monomer onto oxidized polypropylene film to eliminate phosphonium leaching and reduce the risk of environmental pollution. The composition and morphology were investigated by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and contact angle measurements. Coating durability was assessed by adhesion test. The significant anti-biofilm activity against S. aureus and E. coli suggests applications in medicine and agriculture.