Super Stable Coating Based on Ovalbumin and Tannic Acid for Hydrophilic and Antibacterial Functionalization of Polymer Materials

Surface modification of polymer materials is crucial in the biomedical field, as it can endow materials with new properties, including high efficacy and durability and a low risk of infection. Here, we propose a simple, green, and reliable surface modification strategy using ovalbumin (OVA) and tannic acid (TA). The hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions revealed between the OVA and TA molecules make the OVA/TA composite tenacious and stable. The subsequent OVA/TA coatings adhered firmly on five hydrophobic polymer materials using a two-step impregnation method and were highly hydrophilic and repellent to bacterial adhesion. Taking advantage of the reducing ability of OVA and TA, silver ions were reduced in situ to form OVA/TA-AgNPs coatings, which could inhibit a broad spectrum of bacteria, especially some drug-resistant strains. In addition, both the OVA/TA and OVA/TA-AgNPs coatings exhibit good biocompatibility. This simple, reliable, stable, and biobased coating strategy holds great promise for enhancing the versatility of biomaterial surface modification.