Design of simultaneous antimicrobial and anticoagulant surfaces based on nanoparticles and polysaccharides

The rational design of silver nanoparticles encapsulated in an anticoagulant, hemocompatible polysaccharide, 6-O-chitosan sulfate, is presented. Three different approaches are described for the immobilization of these core shell particles on cellulosic surfaces. The mass of the immobilized particles is quantified using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D). The antimicrobial activity of the surfaces towards E. coli MG 1655 [R1-16] is investigated by live/dead assays using fluorescence staining. All surfaces treated with the designed nanoparticles exhibit excellent antimicrobial activity towards E. coli MG 1655 [R1-16]. Anticoagulant properties of blood plasma on the nanoparticle treated surfaces have been determined using QCM-D. In comparison with the unmodified substrates, the total coagulation time as well as the thrombin formation time and fibrin clotting time of surfaces modified with nanoparticles are significantly increased.