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Vitamin E blended Uhmwpe may have the potential to reduce bacterial adhesive ability
Author(s) -
Banche Giuliana,
Bracco Pierangiola,
Bistolfi Alessandro,
Allizond Valeria,
Boffano Michele,
Costa Luigi,
Cimino Andrea,
Cuffini Anna Maria,
del Prever Elena Maria Brach
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.21432
Subject(s) - staphylococcus epidermidis , adhesion , polyethylene , biofilm , biomaterial , adhesive , ultra high molecular weight polyethylene , microbiology and biotechnology , adsorption , materials science , protein adsorption , chemistry , polymer , total joint replacement , bacteria , medicine , composite material , layer (electronics) , staphylococcus aureus , biology , surgery , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , genetics
Biomaterial‐associated infection (BAI), a clinical problem resulting in septic failure of joint replacement implants, is initiated by bacterial adhesion, often by Staphylococcus epidermidis . Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is a material of choice for joint replacement; reducing the adhesion of S. epidermidis to the polymer could be a means to decrease infection. We examined the adhesion of two ATCC and one clinical strain of S. epidermidis to standard polyethylene (PE), vitamin E blended UHMWPE (VE‐PE), and oxidized UHMWPE (OX‐PE) after different incubation times: a significant ( p < 0.01) decrease in the adhered staphylococci on VE‐PE and a significantly higher incidence of the dislodged biofilm bacteria on OX‐PE was observed compared with that registered on PE. With attenuated total reflectance (ATR)–FTIR spectroscopy before and after suspension in bacterial medium for 48 h, new absorptions were observed mainly in OX‐PE, indicating adsorption of protein‐like substances on the polymer surface. We hypothesized that the different hydrophilicity of the surfaces with different chemical characteristics influenced protein adsorption and bacterial adhesion. These results may have clinical implications concerning the prevention of septic loosening: the VE‐PE could have the potential to reduce S. epidermidis adhesive ability if the preliminary data observed in these selected strains is further confirmed, as diversity among clinical strains is well known. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 29:1662–1667, 2011