Antibacterial coatings

Since a long time, the bacterial contamination of surfaces, leading to biofilm formation, is a major problem in fields as diverse as medical, food or cosmetics even with preventive hygiene protocols. In order to eliminate or reduce bacterial colonization of surfaces and biofilm formation, many prophylactic strategies have emerged. Among them is the elaboration of antifouling surfaces based on antiadhesive coatings such as polyethyleneglycol (PEG) or polysaccharide to repel bacteria and prevent their initial adhesion on surfaces which is a prerequisite in the biofilm formation. Another strategy is the covalent (or not) immobilization of antimicrobial compounds, e.g., antibiotics, quaternary ammonium or silver, to design biocidal coatings able to kill bacteria by release (or not) of the active substances. In this strategy, natural compounds and in particular antimicrobial peptides have appeared as promising candidates by limiting emergence of multiresistant bacteria. This chapter reviews the state-of-the-art of antibacterial coatings developed for combatting bacterial contamination.