Heparin-network-mediated long-lasting coatings on intravascular catheters for adaptive antithrombosis and antibacterial infection

Nat Commun. 2024 Jan 2;15(1):107. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-44478-3.

Abstract

Bacteria-associated infections and thrombosis, particularly catheter-related bloodstream infections and catheter-related thrombosis, are life-threatening complications. Herein, we utilize a concise assembly of heparin sodium with organosilicon quaternary ammonium surfactant to fabricate a multifunctional coating complex. In contrast to conventional one-time coatings, the complex attaches to medical devices with arbitrary shapes and compositions through a facile dipping process and further forms robust coatings to treat catheter-related bloodstream infections and thrombosis simultaneously. Through their robustness and adaptively dissociation, coatings not only exhibit good stability under extreme conditions but also significantly reduce thrombus adhesion by 60%, and shows broad-spectrum antibacterial activity ( > 97%) in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, an ex vivo rabbit model verifies that the coated catheter has the potential to prevent catheter-related bacteremia during implantation. This substrate-independent and portable long-lasting multifunctional coating can be employed to meet the increasing clinical demands for combating catheter-related bloodstream infections and thrombosis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacteremia*
  • Bacterial Infections*
  • Catheters / microbiology
  • Heparin / pharmacology
  • Rabbits
  • Thrombosis* / drug therapy
  • Thrombosis* / prevention & control

Substances

  • Heparin
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents