Engineered Antifouling Microtopographies: An Energetic Model That Predicts Cell Attachment

Abstract

We have developed a model for the prediction of cell attachment to engineered microtopographies based on two previous models: the attachment point theory and the engineered roughness index (ERI) model. The new surface energetic attachment (SEA) model is based on both the properties of the cell-material interface and the size and configuration of the topography relative to the organism. We have used Monte Carlo simulation to examine the SEA model's ability to predict relative attachment of the green alga Ulva linza to different locations within a unit cell. We have also compared the predicted relative attachment for Ulva linza, the diatom Navicula incerta, the marine bacterium Cobetia marina, and the barnacle cyprid Balanus amphitrite to a wide variety of microtopographies. We demonstrate good correlation between the experimental results and the model results for all tested experimental data and thus show the SEA model may be used as a powerful indicator of the efficacy for antifouling topographies.

Surface micropattern reduces colonization and medical device-associated infections

“…The bioinspired micropatterned surface provides a device interface that controls bacterial colonization and transference through an ordered arrangement of microscopic features [25]. The physical arrangement enhances the hydrophobicity of the device surface such that the bacteria attachment energy is insufficient for adherence and/or colonization [25]. Adherence prevention and translocation restriction have been demonstrated here, and are believed to contribute significantly to restricting the risk of device-associated infections.…”

“…Microbial attachment and translocation are critical factors potentiating device-associated infections [37][38][39][40]. The bioinspired micropatterned surface provides a device interface that controls bacterial colonization and transference through an ordered arrangement of microscopic features [25]. The physical arrangement enhances the hydrophobicity of the device surface such that the bacteria attachment energy is insufficient for adherence and/or colonization [25].…”

“…1). This micropattern is effective against biofouling and microbial attachment [24][25][26]. Percutaneous medical devices, including blood and skin access devices, surgical drains and the drivelines of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), are widely used in healthcare.…”

Bacterial patterning at the three-phase line of contact with microtextured alkanes

“…A similar phenomenon has also been observed on the surface of titanium that was modified to mimic the surface structure of the lotus leaf . Decker et al (2013) engineered particular surface microtopologies and developed a correlation between a roughness index based on Wenzel and Cassie wetting parameters and the energetics of cell attachment using a statistical mechanical approach, which was shown to be consistent for a wide range of organisms modeled on a planar surface.…”

“…A great deal of effort towards producing bacteria-resistant surfaces has focused on the prevention of initial bacterial attachment rather than on the eradication of bacteria after attachment has taken place Crawford et al 2012). Oriented surface patterns at the micro-and nano-scale have been investigated recently as an alternative approach for controlling bacterial colonization (Díaz et al 2007;Decker et al 2013). Hochbaum and Aizenberg (2010) termed this approach 'mechanoselective adhesion', where high-aspect-ratio (HAR) surface nanostructure arrays induce long range spontaneous spatial patterning of bacterial cells (Hochbaum & Aizenberg 2010;Epstein et al 2011).…”