Development of New Antimicrobial Biomaterials for Industrial and Biomedical Applications

The increasing incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and the global rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) highlight an urgent need for innovative antimicrobial biomaterials capable of preventing microbial colonization without promoting resistance. This work focuses on the development of silane-based antimicrobial systems for biomedical and industrial applications. Dimethyloctadecyl(3-trimethoxysilyl)propyl ammonium chloride (Si- QAC) was employed to develop non-migratory, contact-active antimicrobial coatings through covalent surface bonding. Particularly, Si-QAC was applied to a wide range of surfaces and as an antimicrobial coating for scaffolds for tissue regeneration, providing antimicrobial activity while preserving the structural properties of the materials. Furthermore, to expand applicability, novel nanoemulsion systems were developed to improve the stabilization and dispersion of Si-QAC to improve the surface treatments and formulations. Overall, the developed systems represent versatile and durable antimicrobial biomaterials with potential applications in both biomedical devices and industrial environments.