Biomimetic anchors applied to the host-guest antifouling functionalization of titanium substrates.

A biomimetic strategy was developed for the construction of antifouling titanium oxide (Ti(oxide)) surfaces based on host-guest interactions. Two catecholic derivatives, dopamine 4-(phenylazo)benzamide (AZODopa) and dopamine 1-adamantanecarboxamide (AdaDopa) were synthesized and immobilized onto the Ti(oxide) surfaces. The guest molecules-anchored Ti(oxide) surfaces were further functionalized with zwitterionic heptakis[6-deoxy-6-(N-3-sulfopropyl-N,N-dimethylammonium ethyl sulfanyl)]-β-cyclodextrin (SBCD) and hydrophilic β-CD polymer (CDP). The surface elemental compositions and hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties of the Ti(oxide) surfaces before and after modification were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and static water contact angle measurements, respectively. The antifouling properties of the modified Ti(oxide) surfaces were evaluated by the protein adsorption and bacterial adhesion assays. The zwitterionic SBCD- and hydrophilic CDP-functionalized Ti(oxide) surfaces can reduce the adsorption of bovine plasma fibrinogen and adhesion of Escherichia coli, as compared to the pristine and guest molecules-anchored Ti(oxide) surfaces.