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Surface Modification of Silicone with Covalently Immobilized and Crosslinked Agarose for Potential Application in the Inhibition of Infection and Omental Wrapping
Author(s) -
Li Min,
Neoh KoonGee,
Kang EnTang,
Lau Titus,
Chiong Edmund
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201302242
Subject(s) - agarose , materials science , silicone , biofilm , coating , fibrin , biofouling , covalent bond , adhesion , lysozyme , chitosan , surface modification , adsorption , biomedical engineering , nuclear chemistry , polymer chemistry , chromatography , chemical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , nanotechnology , biochemistry , bacteria , composite material , medicine , biology , immunology , membrane , engineering , genetics
In peritoneal dialysis (PD), the catheter, usually made of silicone, has been considered the “lifeline” of the patient. However, the PD catheter also serves as a nidus for bacterial infection. Furthermore, complications can result from fibrin deposition and omental wrapping of the catheter, which obstructs the dialysate flow. In this work, a crosslinked agarose (AG) polymer layer is covalently grafted as a microscale coating on the silicone surface. This coating reduces Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation by more than two orders of magnitude. In addition, cell and platelet adhesion and protein adsorption is also reduced by ≥90%. Without compromising the antibacterial and antifouling property, further improvement in hemocompatibility, as shown by the inhibition of platelet adhesion and activation, prolonged plasma recalcification time and lower hemolysis degree, is achieved by co‐immobilization of 2.6 μg cm −2 of heparin (HEP) in the agarose coating. The AG–HEP coatings are not cytotoxic to mammalian cells, and are stable for extended periods in lysozyme aqueous solution and under autoclaving at 121 °C for 20 min.