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Optimisation of polymeric surface pre‐treatment to prevent bacterial biofilm formation for use in microfluidics
Author(s) -
Davidson Colin A. B.,
Lowe Christopher R.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of molecular recognition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.401
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1099-1352
pISSN - 0952-3499
DOI - 10.1002/jmr.662
Subject(s) - biofilm , adhesion , polyethylene , polypropylene , microfluidics , fimbria , chemistry , escherichia coli , chemical engineering , microbiology and biotechnology , nanotechnology , materials science , bacteria , organic chemistry , biochemistry , biology , genetics , gene , engineering
The production of a microfluidic device for microbial culture has necessitated the development of techniques for the prevention of bacterial adhesion to a range of polymeric substrates including fluoropolymers such as fluorinated ethylene polypropylene, and polyolefins such as low‐density polyethylene. Treatment of such materials to increase hydrophilicity reduces the incidence of attachment of Escherichia coli during the first 4 h of cultivation, although no decrease in the number of biofilm initiation sites was detected after 16 h. The incorporation of a mannose analogue to block binding proteins on the F1 binding fimbriae was also investigated. The possibility of ensuring suspension culture of bacterial cells in high surface area to volume ratio nano‐vessels is thus facilitated by the correct choice and pre‐treatment of materials used in their construction. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.