Multiscale Three-Dimensional Vertical Graphene-Encapsulated Nanoparticle Coatings for Antibacterial Applications against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria

TL;DR

This paper introduces a 3D coating combining graphene and nanoparticles to effectively kill drug-resistant bacteria while being safe for biomedical implants.

Contribution

A hierarchical coating integrating vertical graphene and nanoparticles for contact-mediated antibacterial activity against drug-resistant bacteria.

Findings

The coating achieved a 10000-fold reduction in viable bacteria, reaching 99.99% antibacterial efficiency.

The coating maintained favorable cytocompatibility, making it suitable for biomedical implants.

The hybrid platform enables localized, contact-mediated antibacterial activity with high drug-loading capacity.

Abstract

Implant-associated infections caused by multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) remain a major clinical challenge, underscoring the urgent need
for surface-engineered antibacterial strategies that extend beyond
conventional antibiotic delivery. Here, we report a hierarchical antimicrobial
coating that integrates chemical surface functionalization, nanoparticle
(NP) assembly, vertical graphene (VG) growth, and antibiotic incorporation
into a hybrid platform. The resulting three-dimensional composite
coating (Si/APTES/NPs/VG) features a NP-mediated interfacial layer
and vertically oriented graphene with a high drug-loading capacity,
enabling localized, contact-mediated antibacterial activity. The Si/APTES/NPs/VG/vancomycin
coating exhibited potent antibacterial efficacy, achieving a 10000-fold
reduction in viable bacteria, achieving 99.99% antibacterial efficiency.
Importantly, the coating also maintained favorable cytocompatibility,
highlighting its potential for biomedical implant applications. Overall,
this work establishes a versatile strategy for constructing carbon-based
bioactive surfaces and provides a promising approach for preventing
infections caused by drug-resistant S. aureus.

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