Control of staphylococcal adhesion to polystyrene surfaces by polymer surface modification with surfactants.
basic_science · Level V
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Abstract
The adherence of three clinical isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis to model polystyrene surfaces was studied in vitro using epifluorescent image analysis. A series of 16 Pluronic surfactants (A-B-A block copolymers where A is poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and B is poly(propylene oxide) (PPO)) were used as surface modifiers for the model polystyrene surfaces. Substantial reductions (up to 97%) in bacterial adhesion levels were achieved with all copolymers tested, irrespective of the PPO or PEO block lengths. It appears likely that such treatments create a sterically stabilized surface with adsorbed PEO chains, conferring nonspecific anti-adhesive properties which can limit bacterial attachment.
Medical subject headings
- Biocompatible Materials
- Polystyrenes
- Staphylococcus epidermidis