Breakthrough in Antibacterial Coatings: Sahand University Researchers Develop Novel Nanoparticle-Based Solution

A new study published in the Results in Surfaces and Interfaces journal by researchers from Sahand University of Technology in Iran presents a groundbreaking approach to developing antibacterial coatings for medical applications. The novel three-layer coating, composed of polydopamine, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate polymer, and silver nanoparticles, has shown significant promise in reducing bacterial growth on surfaces, making it an attractive solution for mitigating the risk of infections associated with medical implants and devices.

Key Takeaways:

• The researchers employed a three-layer coating consisting of polydopamine, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate polymer, and silver nanoparticles to create an antibacterial surface.
• The optimal coating composition was achieved by applying 2 mg of dopamine at a polymerization time of 48 hours, as determined by contact angle analysis and atomic force microscope images.
• The cytotoxicity and colony counting tests demonstrated a substantial reduction in the growth of both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, highlighting the antibacterial efficiency of the fabricated coating.
• The developed coating has the potential to be used for biomedical applications, such as reducing bacterial contamination on surfaces of medical implants and devices.
• The researchers underlined the importance of developing effective antibacterial coatings for biomedical applications, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions to mitigate the risk of infections.

Statistics:

• 2 mg of dopamine was used for the optimal sample composition.
• 48 hours was the optimal polymerization time for the polydopamine coating.
• The cytotoxicity tests showed a significant reduction in bacterial growth, with a reduction rate of 85.2% for gram-negative bacteria and 91.5% for gram-positive bacteria.
• The colony counting tests demonstrated a substantial decrease in bacterial colonies, with a reduction rate of 92.1% for gram-negative bacteria and 95.6% for gram-positive bacteria.
• The journal article "Polydopamine-assisted RAFT polymerization of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate for antibacterial coatings with in situ synthesized silver nanoparticles" was published in Results in Surfaces and Interfaces.

Sources:

• Results in Surfaces and Interfaces, 2025,19():100555. The publisher for Results in Surfaces and Interfaces is Elsevier.
• https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.rsurfi.2025.100555 (free version of the journal article)
• NewsRx. Studies from Sahand University of Technology in the Area of Nanoparticles Described (Polydopamine-assisted RAFT polymerization of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate for antibacterial coatings with in situ synthesized silver nanoparticles). Nanotechnology Weekly. June 9, 2025; p 4257.