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We demonstrate antifouling ultrafiltration membranes with retained selectivity and pure water flux through the controlled deposition of zwitterionic polymers and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Molecules for polymerization were immobilized on the membrane’s surface yet prevented from attaching to the membrane’s pores due to a backflow of nitrogen (N2) gas achieved using an in-house constructed apparatus that we named the polymer prevention apparatus, or “PolyPrev”. First, the operating parameters of the PolyPrev were optimized by investigating the polymerization of dopamine, which was selected due to its versatility in enabling further chemical reactions, published metrics for comparison, and its oxidative self-polymerization. Membrane characterization revealed that the polydopamine-modified membranes exhibited enhanced hydrophilicity; moreover, their size selectivity and pure water flux were statistically the same as those of the unmodified membranes. Because it is well documented that polydopamine coatings do not provide a long-lasting antifouling activity, poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (polyMPC, Mn = 30 kDa) and succinimidyl-carboxymethyl-ester-terminated PEG (Mn = 40 kDa) were codeposited while dopamine was polymerizing to generate antifouling membranes. Statistically, the molecular-weight cutoff of the polyMPC- and PEG-functionalized membranes synthesized in the PolyPrev was equivalent to that of the unmodified membranes, and the pure water flux of the PEG membranes was equivalent to that of the unmodified membranes. Notably, membranes prepared in the PolyPrev with polyMPC and PEG decreased bovine serum albumin fouling and Escherichia coli attachment. This study demonstrates that by restricting antifouling chemistries from attaching within the pores of membranes, we can generate high-performance, antifouling membranes appropriate for a wide range of water treatment applications without compromising intrinsic transport properties.

Biofilm-associated infections are one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Although infections may be treated with antibiotics, the overuse of antibiotics has led to the spread of antibiotic resistance. Many natural antimicrobial compounds derived from edible plants are safe for human use and target bacteria nonspecifically. Therefore, they may impair biofilm formation with less evolutionary pressure on pathogens. Here, we explore the use of two natural antimicrobial compounds, cinnamaldehyde (CA, from cinnamon) and carvacrol (CARV, from oregano), for biofilm prevention. We have fabricated and characterized films that incorporate CA and CARV into the biodegradable, FDA-approved polymer poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), PLGA. The addition of CA and CARV to PLGA films not only adds antimicrobial activity but also changes the surface properties of the films, making them more hydrophilic and therefore more resistant to bacterial attachment. An addition of 0.1% CA to a PLGA film significantly impairs biofilm development by Staphylococcus aureus, and 0.1% CARV in PLGA significantly decreases biofilm formation by both Escherichia coli and S. aureus. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is less susceptible to CA and CARV, was not affected by the addition of 0.1% CA or CARV to the PLGA coatings; however, P. aeruginosa biofilm was significantly reduced by 1.0% CA. These results indicate that both CA and CARV could potentially be used in low concentrations as natural additives in polymer coatings for indwelling devices to delay colonization by bacteria.