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Thermally Switchable Polymers Achieve Controlled Escherichia coli Detachment
Author(s) -
Hook Andrew L.,
Chang ChienYi,
Scurr David J.,
Langer Robert,
Anderson Daniel G.,
Williams Paul,
Davies Martyn C.,
Alexander Morgan R.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
advanced healthcare materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.288
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 2192-2659
pISSN - 2192-2640
DOI - 10.1002/adhm.201300518
Subject(s) - biofilm , wetting , polymer , escherichia coli , bacteria , contact angle , materials science , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , biophysics , composite material , biology , biochemistry , gene , genetics , engineering
The thermally triggered release of up to 96% of attached uropathogenic E. coli is achieved on two polymers with opposite changes in surface wettability upon reduction in temperature. This demonstrates that the bacterial attachment to a surface cannot be explained in terms of water contact angle alone; rather, the surface composition of the polymer plays the key role.