Antibacterial, Antifouling Polymer Coatings Could Soon Relegate Catheter-Associated Infections in the Blood to History

Catheters play a crucial role in hospital care, particularly in the transport of intravenous fluids and medication. Typically, they are made of flexible low-toxicity silicon rubber that is, unfortunately, prone to colonization by bacteria or other microbes. Once settled, the microbes form a biofilm that provides resistance to antimicrobial agents and the body's immune response. These biofilms are the leading cause of potentially lethal healthcare-related infections. To prevent this build-up, or fouling, a team led by Yi-Yan Yang from the A*STAR Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) has developed a simple and effective method to modify the rubber surface of catheter tubing.