Abstract:To tackle the challenges of high friction and infection susceptibility associated with the hydrophobic surfaces of medical catheters, alongside the limitations of current lubrication coatings with singular functionality, this work presented a UV-induced polymerization technique based on benzophenone pre-treatment. This method facilitated the covalent bonding of a hydrophilic lubrication coating to the catheter substrate. Through UV-induced in-situ copolymerization of acrylamide (AAm) and sulfobetaine methacrylate (SMA), a composite coating with a three-dimensional porous architecture was fabricated. Infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy confirm the successful fabrication of the coating, while the porous nature exhibits potential for drug delivery applications. Confocal microscopy observations reveal that, upon hydration, the coating forms a robust water-rich layer, achieving a water contact angle of less than 3° and reducing the friction coefficient to 0.05, thus displaying superior hydrophilic lubrication properties. Biocompatibility assays verify that the coated catheter possesses negligible cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the integration of zwitterionic components significantly enhance anti-protein adhesion properties. This multifunctional coating, which amalgamates lubrication, anti-fouling, and drug release capabilities, offers a promising strategy for the comprehensive modification of medical catheter surfaces.