<p>Metals and alloys have been used vociferously for developing load-bearing medical implants. The harsh physiological environment can induce metallic corrosion, leading to the malfunctioning and destruction of biomedical devices. The metallic surfaces are prone to host a plethora of pathogenic organisms, leading to biofilm formation and associated complications. Multi-level protection mechanisms to address corrosion and bacterial adhesion risks are urgently required. Ionic liquids and their derivatives are known to be green materials suitable for multifunctional applications. Here, a poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) was synthesized and employed as a coating material to modify the surface of SS316, a common medical-grade stainless steel. The PIL coating improved the surface functionalities and wettability of SS316 and imparted an antimicrobial character to the alloy surface. Results of cell culture cytotoxicity tests revealed that the coating was non-cytotoxic. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization studies showed that the coating would increase the charge transfer resistance of the interface and reduce the corrosion rate, providing 98.71% inhibition efficiency. X-ray photoelectron Spectroscopy and Scanning electron microscopic analysis of PIL-modified SS316 after prolonged incubation in a corrosion medium illustrated the stability of the PIL coating and its ability to safeguard alloy surface for longer durations.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>