Inhibition of Staphylococcus epidermidis Biofilm by Trimethylsilane Plasma Coating

Abstract

c Biofilm formation on implantable medical devices is a major impediment to the treatment of nosocomial infections and promotes local progressive tissue destruction. Staphylococcus epidermidis infections are the leading cause of biofilm formation on indwelling devices. Bacteria in biofilms are highly resistant to antibiotic treatment, which in combination with the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance among human pathogens further complicates treatment of biofilm-related device infections. We have developed a novel plasma coating technology. Trimethylsilane (TMS) was used as a monomer to coat the surfaces of 316L stainless steel and grade 5 titanium alloy, which are widely used in implantable medical devices. The results of biofilm assays demonstrated that this TMS coating markedly decreased S. epidermidis biofilm formation by inhibiting the attachment of bacterial cells to the TMS-coated surfaces during the early phase of biofilm development. We also discovered that bacterial cells on the TMS-coated surfaces were more susceptible to antibiotic treatment than their counterparts in biofilms on uncoated surfaces. These findings suggested that TMS coating could result in a surface that is resistant to biofilm development and also in a bacterial community that is more sensitive to antibiotic therapy than typical biofilms.

Anhydride-functional silane immobilized onto titanium surfaces induces osteoblast cell differentiation and reduces bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation

“…A surface with antibacterial properties, high capacity for cell attachment and able to release biological factors could be an effective way to avoid bacteria adhesion and improve osseointegration. Previous studies had suggested that different silanes could affect osteoblasts [8] or present antibacterial activity on steel, Ti6Al4V or glass [9,10]. This study tested in vitro the hypothesis that titanium coated with TESPSA silane has antibacterial properties while inducing osteoblast differentiation.…”

“…In the case of silanization, silane molecules act as a binder between the substrate and the biomolecules. This technique could be improved using silanes that elicit specific cell responses, such as proliferation, differentiation [8] or antibacterial effects [9,10].…”

Biofilm: An Important Bacterial Feature Still to Deal With

“…Data suggest that inhibition of biofilm formation within a short period in a the infection early phase could be beneficial [49].…”

“…When the antitoxin is degraded an imbalance occurs in this system, leading to activation of the toxin inducing a bacteriostatic effect [48]. It is clear that the exchange of genetic material among bacterial strains contributes to the emergence of resistance and plays a key role in the persistence of biofilms-associated infections [49].…”

“…Apparently, TMS increase bacterial susceptibility to certain antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, reducing the bacteria count over 99%. However to be effective it is necessary that the bacterial load is reduced by three units, which limits their potential for clinical application [49].…”