Gradient surfaces have a defined variation in surface chemistry along their length that allow study of the influence of substratum wettability on bioadhesion phenomena along their length in relation with a controlled surface chemistry. (Tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl)-1-dimethylchlorosilane (MCFS) diffusion gradients were made on glass and characterized by advancing and receding water contact angles and scanning X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Model calculations demonstrated that the hydrophobic ends of these gradients were only 50% covered by MCFS, which could be confirmed by atomic force microscopy showing hydrophobic patches. Therewith, bacteria can interact with either hydrophobic or hydrophilic patches on the hydrophobic end of a diffusion gradient, while on the hydrophilic end there is no such choice. By use of a parallel plate flow chamber, the position-bound adhesion, including initial deposition rates and numbers of adhering bacteria after 3 h, of two different oral streptococcal strains was studied along the lengths of MCFS gradients. Streptococcus oralis J22 did not show any position-bound adhesion along the length of a gradient surface. The organism also had similar adhesion behavior on homogeneous, hydrophobic FEP−Teflon as on hydrophilic glass. Streptococcus sobrinus HG1025, however, adhered 2-fold better to the hydrophobic end of a MCFS gradient than to its hydrophilic end, while also on homogeneous, hydrophobic FEP−Teflon adhesion was more extensive than on hydrophilic glass. When streptococci adhering along the length of a gradient were exposed to a passing liquid−air interface, no position-bound detachment was observed for any of the strains, but upon perfusion of the flow chamber with a detergent solution S. sobrinus HG1025 detached less from the hydrophobic end than from the hydrophilic end of the gradient. This study demonstrates, using MCFS diffusion gradients, that the sensitivity of bacterial strains to differences in substratum hydrophobicity, originating from a known chemical heterogeneity, is strain-dependent.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.