# Modulation of Peptoid Nanostructure for Antibiofilm Hydrogel Interfaces

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a new hydrogel material that prevents bacterial biofilm formation on medical devices by using specially designed peptoids.

## Contribution

A novel strategy for engineering antibiofilm hydrogels by modulating peptoid self-assembly through stoichiometric control.

## Key findings

- Hydrogels with controlled peptoid nanostructure effectively inhibit biofilm formation by S. aureus and P. aeruginosa.
- Suppression of peptoid self-assembly balances antimicrobial activity, antiadhesion, and biocompatibility.
- The approach offers a promising method for multifunctional antibiofilm coatings on medical devices.

## Abstract

Most hospital-acquired infections originate from bacterial
biofilms
on implantable devices, where the extracellular polymeric substance
(EPS) matrix protects microbes and promotes multidrug resistance (MDR).
Preventing biofilm initiation, particularly bacterial adhesion and
proliferation, offers an effective strategy to combat device-associated
infections. However, developing biocompatible materials that combine
antimicrobial and antiadhesive functions remains a challenge. Herein,
we present a strategy to engineer antibiofilm hydrogels by incorporating
antimicrobial peptoids (ampetoids) into a gelatin-based matrix with
controlled supramolecular organization. By tuning the stoichiometric
ratio between thiol-functionalized ampetoids and norbornene groups
in the matrix, we controlled peptoid nanostructure within the hydrogel,
where suppression of peptoid self-assembly proved critical for balancing
antimicrobial activity, antiadhesive properties, and cytocompatibility.
This molecular-level control enabled the hydrogels to inhibit biofilm
formation by S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. These results highlight regulation of peptoid self-assembly within
hydrogels as a promising approach for designing multifunctional antibiofilm
coatings for contamination-prone medical devices.