Too slippery for bacteria
A polymer material that prevents the formation of biofilms has been created
Polymers that can subsequently be widely used in various medical products have been successfully tested both in vitro and in vivo, according to the website of the University of Nottingham (New bacteria resistant materials discovered). The results of the work conducted under the supervision of Professor Morgan Alexander and Professor Paul Williams from the University of Nottingham and with the participation of scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are published in the journal Nature Biotechnology (Hook et al., Combinatorial discovery of polymers resistant to bacterial attachment – VM).
Biofilm refers to a community of microorganisms embedded in the polymer matrix synthesized by them. Bacteria make up from 5 to 35 percent of the biofilm mass, the rest of it is an inter–bacterial matrix. Microorganisms can form biofilms on both organic and inorganic surfaces.
This form of existence allows microorganisms to survive under the influence of adverse environmental factors and the host organism. Thus, they become resistant to antibacterial and disinfectants, to the actions of the environment with different pH values, and even to the effects of the host's immune system. Biofilms formed on implantable medical devices (catheters, artificial heart valves, lenses, and so on) lead to the development of severe, hard-to-treat chronic diseases.
For four years, researchers have been studying the surface properties of hundreds of different polymers. With the help of a special micromassive technology developed by scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, they could apply up to 400 samples of polymer materials to a small area of the glass surface. Then the number of microorganisms attached to each sample was determined. Experiments were conducted using pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.
In the course of the work, the scientists identified a group of structurally similar acrylate and methacrylate polymers, to the surface of which the smallest number of bacteria were attached. These polymers were used for further research.
To conduct a laboratory experiment, scientists applied a coating of new polymers to silicone. In the course of subsequent work, it was found that the surface area covered with bacteria on such silicone was 30 times (96.7 percent) less than on the widely used hydrogel with silver. The new materials have also shown their effectiveness in vivo in the implants of infected mice. Since the bacteria could not gain a foothold on the implant surface, the animals' immunity could destroy them before they acquired resistance due to the formation of biofilms.
In the future, scientists plan to launch experimental production of these polymers and conduct clinical trials of various medical products coated with new materials.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru13.08.2012