Interaction of polymer drugs and polymer materials with bacteria and mammalian cells

Projektverantwortliche: Kathrin Lehnert

In the context of our work with antimicrobial, biocompatible and protein-repellent/"antifouling" polymers, we study the interaction of these polymers in solution and as surface-attached materials with living organisms, such as bacteria and mammalian cells. This includes solution-based assays (determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration for bacterial growth; hemolysis assay to test blood compatibility) as well as assays on materials surfaces (modified JIS Z 2801 assay for antimicrobial activity of materials, AlamarBlue assay for cell compatibility, immunofluorescence assays to study mechanisms of cell adhesion). One current focus is on the interaction of bacteria and mammalian cells with polyzwitterions.

Recent Publications:

• Effect of Poly(oxanorbonene)- and Poly(methacrylate)-Based Polyzwitterionic Surface Coatings on Cell Adhesion and Gene Expression of Human Keratinocytes https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mabi.202200225
• Reversibly Charge-Switching Polyzwitterionic/Polycationic Coatings for Biomedical Applications: Optimizing the Molecular Structure for Improved Stability pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c04358