Low density polyethylene functionalized with antibiofilm compounds inhibits Escherichia coli cell adhesion

Abstract

The present work concerns an efficient strategy to obtain novel medical devices materials able to inhibit biofilm formation. The new materials were achieved by covalent grafting of p-aminocinnamic or p-aminosalicylic acids on low density polyethylene coupons. The polyethylene surface, previously activated by oxygen plasma treatment, was functionalized using 2-hydroxymethylmetacrylate as linker. The latter was reacted with succinic anhydride affording the carboxylic end useful for the immobilization of the antibiofilm molecules. The modified surface was characterized by scanning electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared and fluorescence analyses. The antibiofilm activity of the modified materials were tested against Escherichia coli biofilm grown in the Center of Disease Control biofilm reactor. The results revealed that the grafted cinnamic and salicylic acid derivatives reduced biofilm biomass, in comparison with the control, by 73.7 ± 10.7% and 63.4 ± 7.1%, respectively. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 3251-3261, 2017.

α-Chymotrypsin Immobilized on a Low-Density Polyethylene Surface Successfully Weakens Escherichia coli Biofilm Formation

“…Compared to the enzyme used free in solution as well as in coatings, chemical immobilization ensures the retention of the catalytic activity, which allows the enzyme to be used repeatedly and continuously, as well as confining the protease activity where biofilm formation occurs [30,38]. Indeed, the nature of the covalent binding guarantees the long life of the material since molecules are permanently attached and integrated into the polymer scaffold structure [40], preserving the surrounding environment from enzyme contamination. This is especially useful in those fields where chemical contamination in the final product must be avoided for safety reasons, e.g., in food contact processing surfaces [41].…”

“…Plasma technology was previously employed to improve LDPE surface properties, leading to the generation of activated species including hydrophilic functional groups on the first molecular layers of the material [40]. Functional groups allowed the initiation of the surface enzyme immobilization using GA as a linker.…”

“…The combination of plasma treatment with a linker seems also to be instrumental to retain the anti-biofilm activity over a long timescale. Indeed, in the past, the coupling of plasma treatment with the linker 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate was used to functionalize LDPE surfaces with small molecules, providing new materials able to maintain their anti-biofilm performance after having been used for more than 10 times [40].…”

Testing Anti-Biofilm Polymeric Surfaces: Where to Start?

“…Ganewatta et al [38] provided a new contact-killing surface by modifying the natural resin acids (from gum rosin) into quaternary ammonium compounds and employed the CDC reactor to prove the strong anti-biofilm activity of the new material against S. aureus and E. coli . Dell’Orto and colleagues [76] obtained new medical materials by grafting p -aminocinnamic or p -aminosalicylic acids on low density polyethylene surfaces, and proved their anti-biofilm efficacy against E. coli biofilm in the CDC reactor.…”

“…For example, Kim et al [75] incorporated natural eugenol and clove oil into a biocompatible poly(D,L-lactide-coglycolide), markedly inhibiting biofilm formation and virulence of Escherichia coli O157:H7. Dell’Orto et al [76] covalently grafted modified natural compounds, i.e., zosteric acid and salicylic acid, onto a low density polyethylene surface that was able to reduce E. coli adhesion, and thus biofilm formation, up to 73%. Sajeevan et al [77] impregnated silicon catheter tubes with anacardic acids that efficiently inhibited Staphylococcus aureus colonization and biofilm formation on its surface both in vitro and in vivo.…”