Open AccessOn-Demand Removal of Bacterial Biofilms via Shape Memory Activation
Author(s) -
Huan Gu,
Sang Won Lee,
Shelby L. Buffington,
James H. Henderson,
Dacheng Ren
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
acs applied materials and interfaces
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.535
H-Index - 228
eISSN - 1944-8252
pISSN - 1944-8244
DOI - 10.1021/acsami.6b06900
Subject(s) - biofilm , biofouling , pseudomonas aeruginosa , materials science , staphylococcus aureus , adhesion , escherichia coli , microbiology and biotechnology , biocompatible material , strain (injury) , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , bacteria , biology , composite material , biomedical engineering , biochemistry , medicine , genetics , anatomy , membrane , gene , engineering
Bacterial biofilms are a major cause of chronic infections and biofouling; however, effective removal of established biofilms remains challenging. Here we report a new strategy for biofilm control using biocompatible shape memory polymers with defined surface topography. These surfaces can both prevent bacterial adhesion and remove established biofilms upon rapid shape change with moderate increase of temperature, thereby offering more prolonged antifouling properties. We demonstrate that this strategy can achieve a total reduction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms by 99.9% compared to the static flat control. It was also found effective against biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus and an uropathogenic strain of Escherichia coli.