Fluorine-Free Superhydrophobic Coating with Antibiofilm Properties Based on Pickering Emulsion Templating

Nanocarriers for cancer-targeted delivery based on Pickering emulsions stabilized by casein nanoparticles

This study demonstrates the development of stimuli-responsive Pickering emulsions stabilized by casein nanoparticles (CNPs) for targeted drug delivery to colorectal cancer cells (CRC). Encapsulation of a fluorescent dye simulates therapeutic delivery, demonstrating biomedical potential. The oil-in-water nanoemulsions stabilized by CNPs function as nanocarriers sensitive to matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7), an enzyme overexpressed in CRC cells, enabling precise drug release. Emulsions exhibited strong stability due CNPs forming a robust layer at the oil-water interface, enhancing bioavailability and controlled release. Covalent modifications of CNPs with polyethyleneimine (PEI) or polyacrylic acid (PAA), and pH adjustments optimize the zeta potential, improving surface charge and delivery efficiency. Maximal CNP uptake occurred with PAA-modified CNPs (-20 mV), showing superior interaction with CRC cells compared to pristine (-6.7 mV) and PEI-modified (+30.5, +42.1 mV) CNPs. Confocal microscopy and imaging flow cytometry confirmed that CNP-stabilized emulsions enhance CRC inter-localization compared to dispersed CNPs. Nanoemulsions with the highest CNP uptake showed selective interaction with tumor cells, while minimizing oil droplet uptake, driven by nanoscale dimensions and targeted surface interactions. Enzymatic degradation of CNPs by MMP-7 induces phase separation and targeted release. This dual-functional system, leveraging charge modification and enzymatic responsiveness, highlights CNP-stabilized nanoemulsions as a promising CRC-targeted drug delivery platform.

Sprayable Biocide-Free Polyurethane Paint that Reduces Biofouling and Facilitates Removal of Pathogenic Bacteria from Surfaces

The ability to prevent bacterial adhesion on surfaces and to facilitate the removal of bacteria once they have already contaminated or colonized a surface is important in a broad range of fundamental and applied contexts. The work reported here sought to characterize the physicochemical properties of a family of biocide-free hydrophobic polyurethane coatings containing polysiloxane segments and evaluate their ability to mitigate bacterial fouling and/or facilitate subsequent surface cleaning after exposure to pathogenic bacteria. We developed benchtop microbiological assays to characterize surface fouling and subsequent removal of bacteria after repeated (i) short-term intermittent physical contact with and (ii) longer-term continuous flow-based contact with liquid growth media containing either S. aureus or E. coli, two common Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, respectively. Characterization of fouled and cleaned surfaces using fluorescence microscopy and standard agar-based plaque assays revealed significant differences in both reductions in initial fouling and subsequent cleanability after gentle rinsing with water. These differences correlated to differences in the surface properties of these materials (e.g., hydrophobicity and contact angle hysteresis), with coatings exhibiting lower contact angle hysteresis generally having the greatest antibiofouling and easy-to-clean properties. Our results suggest that these biocide-free, siloxane-containing polyurethane-based clearcoat materials show significant promise for the mitigation of surface fouling and bacterial adhesion, which could prove useful in a range of commercial applications, including in "high touch" environments where microbial contamination is endemic.

Latex-Bridged Inverse Pickering Emulsion for Durable Superhydrophobic Coatings with Dual Antibacterial Activity

There is agreement that every colloidal structure produces its own set of unique characteristics, properties, and applications. A colloidal phenomenon of latex-bridged water in a dimethyl carbonate (DMC) Pickering emulsion stabilized by R202 hydrophobic silica was investigated for its ability to act as a superhydrophobic coating (SHC) for cellulose substrates. First, various emulsion compositions were screened for their stability and droplet size. The final composition was then cross-examined by cryogenic scanning electron microscopy and optical and fluorescent microscopy to verify the colloidal structure. The drying pattern of the coating was investigated by using labeled samples under a fluorescent microscope and by scanning electron microscopy on a paper substrate. After the final ∼3 μm of dry coating was applied, it exhibited superhydrophobicity (advancing contact angle = 155°) and full functionality after 5 min at room temperature (RT). Coated samples maintained superhydrophobicity after 20 abrasion cycles and mechanical integrity after 50 s of water immersion. The SHC-coated paper demonstrated compatibility with a standard laser printer, and the coated paper demonstrated superhydrophobicity after printing. Finally, a propolis/DMC extract was produced and then analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and infused into the SHC (PSHC). The newly formed PSHC demonstrated its ability to act effectively against E. coli biofilm and S. aureus planktonic cells and reduce their viability by over 90% and 99.99%, respectively.

Soft surface-enhanced Raman scattering sensing platform based on an oil-in-water emulsion stabilized by silver nanoparticles

Pickering emulsions are excellent candidates for developing soft biosensors utilized for detecting native biomolecules such as peptides and proteins through the Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) transduction mechanism. Here, we have developed a SERS sensor based on oil-in-water Pickering emulsions stabilized by Ag nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) with the Raman active molecule (4-Aminothiphenol, 4ATP) adsorbed to their surface. The structural properties and composition of the Pickering emulsion were tuned to meet the demands of the maximal optical response. Our results show that the obtained SERS signals of the main studied Pickering emulsion (water: oil ratio 7:3, 1 wt% Ag-NPs) outperformed colloidal dispersions with the same Ag-NPs concentration by 10-fold at any studied content of 4ATP. The superior optical response of the Pickering emulsion compared to the colloidal dispersion can thus pave the way for the detection of a large variety of analytes at high sensitivity by a soft sensing device. This study innovates by comparing the SERS signals of Raman-active Ag-NPs when they are assembled at the oil/water interface of an emulsion to the case where the NPs are individually dispersed in the medium. The findings shed light on the edit value of utilizing Raman-active Pickering stabilizers for biosensing applications.

One-Step Spraying Strategy for Fabricating Bioinspired, Graphene-Based, and Multifunctional-Integrated Coatings on Structural Steel with Good Water Repellency, Fireproofing, Anticorrosion, and Durability

Traditionally, many coatings were merely concentrated on settling the inherent fire protection problem of steel structures, while surface contamination and corrosion susceptibility should also be considered. Concurrently addressing these problems in fireproof efficiency and surface multifunctionality has become an issue of great significance in further expanding the application value in industrial and daily scenarios. Based on this condition, ecofriendly, graphene-based, and superhydrophobic coatings with multifunctional integration were constructed on steel via a one-step spraying method. The as-prepared coatings mainly consist of epoxy resin (EP), silicone resin (SR), a cyclodextrin-based flame retardant (MCDPM), expandable graphite (EG), and multilayered graphene (MG). The results demonstrate that the water contact angle (WCA) and water sliding angle (WSA) of as-prepared coatings can reach 156.8 ± 1.6 and 5.8 ± 0.7°, respectively, revealing good water repellency and self-cleaning properties. The coatings can also exhibit adequate adaptability for various substrates including wood, polyurethane foam, and cotton fabrics. Besides, good durability and robustness of coatings have been also verified via acid/alkali immersion, outdoor exposure, O2/plasma etching, and linear abrasion tests. Simultaneously, the coatings can exhibit excellent anticorrosion capacity for steel materials via a double barrier effect. Most importantly, the coatings have exhibited the lowest backside temperature (234.5 °C) during fire impact tests, suggesting excellent fireproof and heat insulation performance. This fact can be ascribed to the conjunct action between the physical/chemical charring process of flame retardants and the remarkable thermal stability of graphene. Consequently, this article can be expected to further promote the development and application of multifunctional-integrated coatings for steel structures in more fields.

Hydroxyl silicone oil grafting onto a rough thermoplastic polyurethane surface created durable super-hydrophobicity

Indwelling medical catheters are frequently utilized in medical procedures, but they are highly susceptible to infection, posing a vital challenge for both health workers and patients. In this study, the superhydrophobic micro-nanostructure surface was constructed on the surface of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) membrane using heavy calcium carbonate (CaCO3) template. To decrease the surface free energy, hydroxyl silicone oil was grafted onto the surface, forming a super-hydrophobic surface. The water contact angle (WCA) increased from 91.1° to 143 ± 3° when the concentration of heavy calcium CaCO3 was 20% (weight-to-volume (w/v)). However, the increased WCA was unstable and tended to decrease over time. After grafting hydroxyl silicone oil, the WCA rose to 152.05 ± 1.62° and remained consistently high for a period of 30 min. Attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) analysis revealed a chemical crosslinking between silicone oil and the surface of TPU. Furthermore, Scanning electron microscope (SEM) image showed the presence of numerous nanoparticles on the micro surface. Atomic force microscope (AFM) testing indicated a significant improvement in surface roughness. This method of creating a hydrophobic surface demonstrated several advantages, including resistance to cell, bacterial, protein, and platelet adhesion and good biosecurity. Therefore, it holds promising potential for application in the development of TPU-based medical catheters with antibacterial properties.

Dynamic Antimicrobial Poly(disulfide) Coatings Exfoliate Biofilms On Demand Via Triggered Depolymerization

Bacterial biofilms are notoriously problematic in applications ranging from biomedical implants to ship hulls. Cationic, amphiphilic antibacterial surface coatings delay the onset of biofilm formation by killing microbes on contact, but they lose effectiveness over time due to non-specific binding of biomass and biofilm formation. Harsh treatment methods are required to forcibly expel the biomass and regenerate a clean surface. Here, a simple, dynamically reversible method of polymer surface coating that enables both chemical killing on contact, and on-demand mechanical delamination of surface-bound biofilms, by triggered depolymerization of the underlying antimicrobial coating layer, is developed. Antimicrobial polymer derivatives based on α-lipoic acid (LA) undergo dynamic and reversible polymerization into polydisulfides functionalized with biocidal quaternary ammonium salt groups. These coatings kill >99.9% of Staphylococcus aureus cells, repeatedly for 15 cycles without loss of activity, for moderate microbial challenges (≈105 colony-forming units (CFU) mL-1, 1 h), but they ultimately foul under intense challenges (≈107 CFU mL-1, 5 days). The attached biofilms are then exfoliated from the polymer surface by UV-triggered degradation in an aqueous solution at neutral pH. This work provides a simple strategy for antimicrobial coatings that can kill bacteria on contact for extended timescales, followed by triggered biofilm removal under mild conditions.

Comparison of Superhydrophilic, Liquid-Like, Liquid-Infused, and Superhydrophobic Surfaces in Preventing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection and Encrustation

Over the past decade, superhydrophilic zwitterionic surfaces, slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces, covalently attached liquid-like surfaces, and superhydrophobic surfaces have emerged as the most promising strategies to prevent biofouling on biomedical devices. Despite working through different mechanisms, they have demonstrated superior efficacy in preventing the adhesion of biomolecules (e.g., proteins and bacteria) compared with conventional material surfaces. However, their potential in combating catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) remains uncertain. In this research, we present the fabrication of these four coatings for urinary catheters and conduct a comparative assessment of their antifouling properties through a stepwise approach. Notably, the superhydrophilic zwitterionic coating demonstrated the highest antifouling activity, reducing 72.3% of fibrinogen deposition and over 75% of bacterial adhesion (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) when compared with an uncoated polyvinyl chloride (PVC) surface. The zwitterionic coating also exhibited robust repellence against blood and improved surface lubricity, decreasing the dynamic coefficient of friction from 0.63 to 0.35 as compared with the PVC surface. Despite the fact that the superhydrophilic zwitterionic and hydrophobic liquid-like surfaces showed great promise in retarding crystalline biofilm formation in the presence of Proteus mirabilis, it is worth noting that their long-term antifouling efficacy may be compromised by the proliferation and migration of colonized bacteria as they are unable to kill them or inhibit their swarming. These findings underscore both the potential and limitations of these ultralow fouling materials as urinary catheter coatings for preventing CAUTI.

Challenges and strategies for commercialization and widespread practical applications of superhydrophobic surfaces

Superhydrophobic (SH) surfaces have progressed rapidly in fundamental research over the past 20 years, but their practical applications lag far behind. In this perspective, we first present the findings of a survey on the current state of SH surfaces including fundamental research, patenting, and commercialization. On the basis of the survey and our experience, this perspective explores the challenges and strategies for commercialization and widespread practical applications of SH surfaces. The comprehensive performances, preparation methods, and application scenarios of SH surfaces are the major constraints. These challenges should be addressed simultaneously, and the actionable strategies are provided. We then highlight the standard test methods of the comprehensive performances including mechanical stability, impalement resistance, and weather resistance. Last, the prospects of SH surfaces in the future are discussed. We anticipate that SH surfaces may be widely commercialized and used in practical applications around the year 2035 through combination of the suggested strategies and input from both academia and industry.

Polysaccharide-based antibacterial coating technologies

To tackle antimicrobial resistance, a global threat identified by the United Nations, is a common cause of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) and is responsible for significant costs on healthcare systems, a substantial amount of research has been devoted to developing polysaccharide-based strategies that prevent bacterial attachment and biofilm formation on surfaces. Polysaccharides are essential building blocks for life and an abundant renewable resource that have attracted much attention due to their intrinsic remarkable biological potential antibacterial activities. If converted into efficient antibacterial coatings that could be applied to a broad range of surfaces and applications, polysaccharide-based coatings could have a significant potential global impact. However, the ultimate success of polysaccharide-based antibacterial materials will be determined by their potential for use in manufacturing processes that are scalable, versatile, and affordable. Therefore, in this review we focus on recent advances in polysaccharide-based antibacterial coatings from the perspective of fabrication methods. We first provide an overview of strategies for designing polysaccharide-based antimicrobial formulations and methods to assess the antibacterial properties of coatings. Recent advances on manufacturing polysaccharide-based coatings using some of the most common polysaccharides and fabrication methods are then detailed, followed by a critical comparative overview of associated challenges and opportunities for future developments. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Our review presents a timely perspective by being the first review in the field to focus on advances on polysaccharide-based antibacterial coatings from the perspective of fabrication methods along with an overview of strategies for designing polysaccharide-based antimicrobial formulations, methods to assess the antibacterial properties of coatings as well as a critical comparative overview of associated challenges and opportunities for future developments. Meanwhile this work is specifically targeted at an audience focused on featuring critical information and guidelines for developing polysaccharide-based coatings. Including such a complementary work in the journal could lead to further developments on polysaccharide antibacterial applications.

A green formulation for superhydrophobic coatings based on Pickering emulsion templating for anti-biofilm applications

This study reports significant steps toward developing anti-biofilm surfaces based on superhydrophobic properties that meet the complex demands of today's food and medical regulations. It presents inverse Pickering emulsions of water in dimethyl carbonate (DMC) stabilized by hydrophobic silica (R202) as a possible food-grade coating formulation and describes its significant passive anti-biofilm properties. The final coatings are formed by applying the emulsions on the target surface, followed by evaporation to form a rough layer. Analysis shows that the final coatings exhibited a Contact Angle (CA) of up to 155° and a Roll-off Angle (RA) lower than 1° on the polypropylene (PP) surface, along with a relatively high light transition. Dissolving polycaprolactone (PCL) into the continuous phase enhanced the average CA and coating uniformity but hindered the anti-biofilm activity and light transmission. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed a uniform coating by a "Swiss-cheese" like structure with high nanoscale and microscale roughness. Biofilm experiments confirm the coating's anti-biofilm abilities that led to the reduction in survival rates of S.aureus and E.coli, by 90-95% respectively, compared to uncoated PP surfaces.

The mixed biofilm formed by Listeria monocytogenes and other bacteria: Formation, interaction and control strategies

Listeria monocytogenes is an important foodborne pathogen. It can adhere to food or food contact surface for a long time and form biofilm, which will lead to equipment damage, food deterioration, and even human diseases. As the main form of bacteria to survive, the mixed biofilms often exhibit higher resistance to disinfectants and antibiotics, including the mixed biofilms formed by L. monocytogenes and other bacteria. However, the structure and interspecific interaction of the mixed biofilms are very complex. It remains to be explored what role the mixed biofilm could play in the food industry. In this review, we summarized the formation and influence factors of the mixed biofilm developed by L. monocytogenes and other bacteria, as well as the interspecific interactions and the novel control measures in recent years. Moreover, the future control strategies are prospected, in order to provide theoretical basis and reference for the research of the mixed biofilms and the targeted control measures.

Stable O/W emulsions and oleogels with amphiphilic konjac glucomannan network: preparation, characterization, and application

BACKGROUND

The stabilization of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions has long been explored. Assembly of polymer networks is an effective method for stabilizing O/W emulsions. Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is a plant polysaccharide and the network of KGM gel is a good candidate for stabilizing O/W emulsions based on its high viscosity and thickening properties. However, natural KGM has strong hydrophilicity and is not able to offer interfacial activity. Octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) is a hydrophobic molecule, which is widely used as thickener and stabilizer in food emulsions. In this work, the amphiphilic biopolymer (OSA-KGM) was fabricated by modifying the KGM with OSA. Furthermore, OSA-KGM biopolymer was used to prepare O/W emulsions, which were then freeze-dried and used to prepare oleogels as fat substitute for bakery products.

RESULTS

OSA-KGM had advanced hydrophobicity with water contact angle 81.13° and adsorption behavior at the oil-water interface, with interfacial tension decreasing from 18.52 to 13.57 mN m^-1 within 1 h. The emulsification of OSA-KGM remarkably improved the stability of emulsions without phase separation during storage for 31 days. Oleogels with OSA-KGM showed good thixotropic and structure recovery properties (approximately 100%) and low oil loss (from 69.5% to 50.4%). Cakes made from oleogels had a softer texture than cakes made from peanut oil and margarine.

CONCLUSION

Amphiphilic biopolymer OSA-KGM shows advanced interfacial activity and hydrophobicity. This paper provides an insight into preparing stable O/W emulsions with a new biopolymer and oleogels potentially applied as fat substitute in bakery products. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Recent developments in antibacterial or antibiofilm compound coating for biliary stents

Cholestasis of the indwelling biliary stents usually leads to stone recurrence after endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatoraphy (ERCP). Biliary stents, including metallic and none-degradable plastic stents are widely used in clinical settings due to their many excellent properties. However, conventional biliary stents still suffer from poor antibacterial activity and anti-bile-adhesion, which lead to injured, local fibroblasts proliferating. Currently, various coatings for biliary stents have been prepared to meet the clinical demands. In this review, we start by summarizing and discussing classifications of biliary stents and antibacterial/antibiofilm mechanism. Then, the latest advances about developing antibacterial and antibiofilm coatings for improving the properties of biliary stents are reviewed and discussed in detail. Lastly, we list several possible directions for future development of biliary stents coatings and biliary stent, such as anti-bile-adhesion coating, multifunctional coating, drug-eluting biodegradable biliary stents and 3D printed biliary stents.

Fabrication of Durable, Chemically Stable, Self-Healing Superhydrophobic Fabrics Utilizing Gellable Fluorinated Block Copolymer for Multifunctional Applications

Limited durability and complex materials restrict the application of superhydrophobic fabrics in daily life. In this work, gellable fluorinated block copolymer poly(dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate)-block-poly(3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate) (PDFMA-b-PTEPM) was used to fabricate adhesive-free superhydrophobic poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fabrics via a simple dip-coating technology and sol-gel reaction. The growth of silica nanoparticles builds up a rough hierarchical structure and provides sol-gel reaction sites of PTEPM segments. The grafting of block copolymer significantly reduced the surface free energy of the fabrics, resulting in an excellent superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 160.2°. Benefiting from extensive chemical bond grafting and cross-linking of the PTEPM segment, the fabric exhibits excellent durability in mechanical abrasion, chemical treatment, and washing. The coating has withstood 50 sandpaper abrasion cycles and 400 soft friction cycles and can maintain superhydrophobic properties in various solvents, freezing and a wide pH range. These superhydrophobic fabrics with a long life span possess self-cleaning, anti-icing, oil-water separation, and self-healing capabilities. The multifunctional fabrics developed in this study are durable and easy to produce, possessing the potential for applications in industry and daily life.

Individual Coating of Entomopathogenic Nematodes with Titania (TiO2) Nanoparticles Based on Oil-in-Water Pickering Emulsion: A New Formulation for Biopesticides

This study presents a new eco-friendly formulation of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) based on individual coating of EPNs with titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles (NPs) and mineral oil via oil-in-water Pickering emulsions. Mineral oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by amine-functionalized titanium dioxide (TiO₂-NH₂) particles were prepared. 40:60 and 50:50 oil-water volume ratios using 2 wt % TiO₂-NH₂ particles were found to be the most stable emulsions with a droplet size suitable for the formulation and were further studied for their toxicity against the incorporated EPNs. Carboxyfluorescein was covalently bonded to TiO₂-NH₂ NPs, and the resulting composite was observed via fluorescence confocal microscopy. The dry coating was evaluated using SEM and confocal microscopy, which showed significant nematode coverage by the particles and oil. The final formulation was biocompatible with the studied EPNs, where the viability of the EPNs in the formulation was equivalent to control aqueous suspension after 120 days. Finally, yields of nematodes from infected Galleria mellonella cadavers collected for 150 days showed no significant differences (P > 0.05) using the tested emulsions compared to the control containing nematodes in water.

Cuprous Oxide Nanoparticles Decorated Fabric Materials with Anti-biofilm Properties

Considering the global spread of bacterial infections, the development of anti-biofilm surfaces with high antimicrobial activities is highly desired. This work unraveled a simple, sonochemical method for coating Cu2O nanoparticles (NPs) on three different flexible substrates: polyester (PE), nylon 2 (N2), and polyethylene (PEL). The introduction of Cu2O NPs on these substrates enhanced their surface hydrophobicity, induced ROS generation, and completely inhibited the growth of sensitive (Escherichia coli and Staphyloccocus aureus) and drug-resistant (MDR E. coli and MRSA) planktonic and biofilm. The experimental results confirmed that Cu2O-PE exhibited complete biofilm mass reduction ability for all four strains, whereas Cu2O-N2 showed more than 99% biomass inhibition against both drug-resistant and sensitive pathogens in 6 h. Moreover, Cu2O-PEL also indicated a 99.95, 97.73, 98.00, and 99.20% biomass reduction of MRSA, MDR E. coli, E. coli, and S. aureus, respectively. All substrates were investigated for time-dependent inhibitions, and the associated biofilm mass and log reduction were evaluated. The mechanisms of Cu2O NP action against the mature biofilms include the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as electrostatic interaction between Cu2O NPs and bacterial membranes. The current study could pave the way for the commercialization of sonochemically coated Cu2O NP flexible substrates for the prevention of microbial contamination in hospitals and industrial environments.

Encapsulation of Bacillus thuringiensis in an inverse Pickering emulsion for pest control applications

Here, we present an inverse Pickering emulsion-based formulation for Bacillus thuringiensis serovar aizawai (BtA) encapsulations utilized towards pest control applications. The emulsification was carried out by high shear homogenization process via ULTRA-TURRAX®. The water-in-mineral oil emulsions were stabilized by commercial hydrophobic silica. Different silica contents and water/oil ratios were studied. Stable emulsions were obtained at 2 and 3 wt% silica at 30% and 20% water volumes, respectively. The structure of the Pickering emulsions were characterized by laser scanning confocal microscopy and cryogenic scanning electron microscopy. The BtA cells, spores and crystals were encapsulated in the water droplets of the inverse Pickering emulsions. An emulsion composed of 3 wt% silica and 30% water was found to be the most suitable for encapsulation. The pest control efficiency of the encapsulated BtA against Spodoptera littoralis first instar larvae was tested. The studied BtA/emulsion system exhibited a mortality rate of 92%. However, the non-formulated BtA has shown 71% mortality, and the emulsion alone resulted in only 9% mortality. These findings confirm that an emulsion with encapsulated BtA can function as an efficient formulation for biopesticides.

Natural Nanoclay-Based Silver-Phosphomolybdic Acid Composite with a Dual Antimicrobial Effect

The problem of microbial growth on various surfaces has increased concern in society in the context of antibiotic misuse and the spreading of hospital infections. Thus, the development of new, antibiotic-free antibacterial strategies is required to combat bacteria resistant to usual antibiotic treatments. This work reports a new method for producing an antibiotic-free antibacterial halloysite-based nanocomposite with silver nanoparticles and phosphomolybdic acid as biocides, which can be used as components of smart antimicrobial coatings. The composite was characterized by using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The release of phosphomolybdic acid from the nanocomposite was studied by using UV-vis spectroscopy. It was shown that the antibiotic-free nanocomposite consisting of halloysite nanotubes decorated with silver nanoparticles loaded with phosphomolybdic acid and treated with calcium chloride possesses broad antibacterial properties, including the complete growth inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria at a 0.5 g × L^-1 concentration and Acinetobacter baumannii at a 0.25 g × L^-1 concentration.