Sustained free chlorine-releasing polydimethylsiloxane/Ca(ClO) materials with long-lasting disinfection efficacy

A novel sustained chlorine-releasing polydimethylsiloxane/Ca(ClO) 2 (PDMS/Ca(ClO) 2 ) material was fabricated by encapsulating Ca(ClO) 2 in a PDMS matrix due to its high hydrophobicity and high chemical stability, which showed immediate-responsive and long-lasting antibacterial capabilities in aqueous conditions. Free chlorine could be released from the PDMS/Ca(ClO) 2 after immersion in water for 2 min and could also be sustainedly released for 2 weeks, while the released concentration is negatively related to the duration time and positively with the initial Ca(ClO) 2 contents. Additionally, Ca(ClO) 2 powder as a filler significantly affects the crosslinking and pore size of PDMS. The PDMS/Ca(ClO) 2 materials exhibited enduring antibacterial performance against Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) and Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) in both planktonic and multispecies-biofilm status. It is expected that this PDMS/Ca(ClO) 2 material and its similar composite would be promising candidates for wide sustainable disinfection applications in biomedical and industrial fields. The article introduces a new PDMS/Ca(ClO) 2 material that releases chlorine over two weeks, effectively combating bacterial growth, and suggesting versatile applications in biomedical and industrial disinfection.