Anti-biofouling and Antimicrobial Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering

Biofouling from nonspecific protein adsorption and microorganism adhesion is a continuous challenge in numerous biomedical applications such as implants, biosensors, and tissue-engineered scaffolds. The bacteria attached to the biomaterial surface can encapsulate themselves within a protective extracellular polymeric layer, leading to the formation of biofilm that is difficult to combat or eliminate. A promising strategy to prevent device-related infections is the development of new biomaterials that are anti-biofouling and/or antimicrobial. In general, anti-biofouling materials exhibit low adhesion or resistance properties towards a variety of bacteria, while antimicrobial ones can kill microorganisms approaching the surfaces or in the surrounding areas. In this chapter, we briefly introduce the recent strategies in the design and applications of anti-biofouling and antimicrobial materials.