Abstract

Microbial biofilm formation on indwelling medical devices causes persistent infections that cannot be cured with conventional antibiotics. To address this unmet challenge, we engineer tunable active surface topographies with micron-sized pillars that can beat at a programmable frequency and force level in an electromagnetic field. Compared to the flat and static controls, active topographies with the optimized design prevent biofilm formation and remove established biofilms of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus, with up to 3.7 logs of biomass reduction. In addition, the detached biofilm cells are found sensitized to bactericidal antibiotics to the level comparable to exponential-phase planktonic cells. Based on these findings, a prototype catheter is engineered and found to remain clean for at least 30 days under the flow of artificial urine medium, while the control catheters are blocked by UPEC biofilms within 5 days.

Biofilm formation is a major problem in indwelling medical devices. Here, the authors report on the development of a magnetically responsive micro pillar surface for the controlled prevention and removal of biofilms which also increased sensitivity to antibiotics.

Details

Title
Magnetically driven active topography for long-term biofilm control
Author
Gu Huan 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Lee, Sang Won 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Carnicelli, Joseph 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Zhang, Teng 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Ren Dacheng 3   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Syracuse University, Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse, USA (GRID:grid.264484.8) (ISNI:0000 0001 2189 1568); Syracuse University, Syracuse Biomaterials Institute, Syracuse, USA (GRID:grid.264484.8) (ISNI:0000 0001 2189 1568) 
 Syracuse University, Syracuse Biomaterials Institute, Syracuse, USA (GRID:grid.264484.8) (ISNI:0000 0001 2189 1568); Syracuse University, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Syracuse, USA (GRID:grid.264484.8) (ISNI:0000 0001 2189 1568) 
 Syracuse University, Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse, USA (GRID:grid.264484.8) (ISNI:0000 0001 2189 1568); Syracuse University, Syracuse Biomaterials Institute, Syracuse, USA (GRID:grid.264484.8) (ISNI:0000 0001 2189 1568); Syracuse University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse, USA (GRID:grid.264484.8) (ISNI:0000 0001 2189 1568); Syracuse University, Department of Biology, Syracuse, USA (GRID:grid.264484.8) (ISNI:0000 0001 2189 1568) 
Publication year
2020
Publication date
2020
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20411723
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2398581631
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2020. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.