Pyridinethione-encapsulated Pillared MOF containing PDMS hybrid coatings with remarkable antibacterial and anti-fouling properties

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) demonstrate broad potential in antimicrobial applications due to their structural diversity and tunable functionality. However, conventional MOFs are constrained by inherently insufficient antimicrobial activity and limited modes of action. This study employs a ligand exchange strategy to incorporate the broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent Sodium Pyrithione (SPT) into the columnar supported MOF material ZU-901 via a simple impregnation method, yielding the functionalized composite ZU-901@SPT. Crucially, SPT's coordination simultaneously modulates the electronic structure of copper centers, endowing them with a novel catalytic function: converting low-reactivity ·OOH into highly oxidative ·OH. This material exhibits a “dual antibacterial” mechanism driven by synergistic interactions between SPT heterocyclic molecules and metal ions. The resulting composite material exhibits significant inhibitory effects against both Gram-negative bacteria ( E. coli , MIC ≤50 μg/mL) and Gram-positive bacteria ( S. aureus , MIC ≤2 μg/mL), while also demonstrating excellent anti-algal properties. Composite coatings prepared by incorporating 3 wt% and 5 wt% ZU-901@SPT into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) resin maintained highly efficient and durable antibacterial and antifouling properties during long-term use. This functionalization strategy effectively overcomes the performance limitations of conventional MOFs, offering a new direction for designing smart antibacterial and antifouling materials with broad application prospects. • Sodium pyrithione was incorporated into MOF ZU-901 via ligand exchange to yield ZU-901@SPT. • ZU-901@SPT exhibits broad-spectrum antibacterial, anti-biofilm, and anti-algal activity via enhanced generation of oxidative hydroxyl radicals (·OH). • With 3–5 wt% ZU-901@SPT, PDMS resin shows enhanced hydrophobicity and mechanical properties, plus outstanding antifouling performance.