Formation and retention of staphylococcal biofilms on DLC and its hybrids compared to metals used as biomaterials

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces, B, Biointerfaces B, Biointerfaces, 2013-01, Vol.101 (1), p.290-297
• Main Authors: Myllymaa, Katja, Levon, Jaakko, Tiainen, Veli-Matti, Myllymaa, Sami, Soininen, Antti, Korhonen, Hannu, Kaivosoja, Emilia, Lappalainen, Reijo, Konttinen, Yrjö Tapio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: antibiotics; Bacterial Adhesion - drug effects; Biocompatible Materials; Biofilm; Biofilms - drug effects; Biofilms - growth & development; Carbon; chromium; coatings; colloids; Coloring Agents; contact angle; Diamond; Diamond-like carbon; Dimethylpolysiloxanes - chemistry; Electrochemistry; fluorescence microscopy; medical equipment; Metals; Microscopy, Confocal; Microscopy, Fluorescence; morphometry; Physical vapour deposition; Polytetrafluoroethylene; Polytetrafluoroethylene - chemistry; silicon; Staphylococci; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Staphylococcus aureus - growth & development; Staphylococcus epidermidis; Staphylococcus epidermidis - drug effects; Staphylococcus epidermidis - growth & development; Surface Properties; tantalum; titanium; topography; vapors; zeta potential
• ISSN: 0927-7765; 1873-4367
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2012.07.012

[Display omitted] ► Formation and/or retention of staphylococcal biofilms is evaluated on biomaterials. ► Surface roughness, contact angle and zeta-potential values of surfaces are measured. ► Diamond-like carbon polytetrafluoroethylene hybrid (DLC-PTFE-h) is superior in test. ► DLC and its PTFE hybrid are biofilm hostile surface coatings for medical devices. Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus cause most of the implant-related infections. Antibiotic treatment often fails and cure requires surgical intervention. It was hypothesized that biomaterial coatings resistant to biofilms offer a preventive option. Physical vapour deposited diamond-like carbon (DLC) and its polytetrafluoroethylene (DLC-PTFE-h) and polydimethylsiloxane (DLC-PDMS-h) hybrids were compared to titanium (Ti), tantalum (Ta) and chromium (Cr) thin films on silicon wafers for their resistance against formation and/or retention of biofilms produced by S. epidermidis and S. aureus in vitro. Sample surfaces were characterized for surface topography, contact angle and zeta-potential, because such properties might affect the biofilm. Biofilm was stained using calcofluor white and analysed in fluorescence microscopy using morphometry. Sixteen hour incubation was selected in pilot tests; at this checkpoint Ti, Ta, Cr and DLC-PDMS-h were almost fully covered by biofilm, but DLC and DLC-PTFE-h were only partially biofilm coated by S. epidermidis (88±26%, p