Abstract
Biofilms cause extensive damage to industrial settings. Thus, it is important to improve the existing techniques and develop new strategies to prevent bacterial biofilm formation. In the present study, we have prepared nanoporous polymer films from a self-assembled 1,2-polybutadiene-b-polydimethylsiloxane (1,2-PB-b-PDMS) block copolymer via chemical cross-linking of the 1,2-PB block followed by quantitative removal of the PDMS block. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was loaded into the nanoporous 1,2-PB from aqueous solution. The SDS-loaded nanoporous polymer films were shown to block bacterial attachment in short-term (3 h) and significantly reduce biofilm formation in long-term (1 week) by gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli. Tuning the thickness or surface morphology of the nanoporous polymer films allowed to extent the anti-biofilm capability.
Highlights
Most pathogens in the natural environment reside in surface-attached communities known as biofilms [1]
We explored the potential as anti-biofilm materials of nanoporous polymers templated from block copolymers and loaded with a common anti-biofilm detergent, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)
We examined how efficiently the Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) release from the different nanoporous films prevents the formation of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms
Summary
Most pathogens in the natural environment reside in surface-attached communities known as biofilms [1]. Biofilms can protect pathogens from disinfection and allow microorganisms injured by environmental stress and disinfectants to recover and grow [2]. Once biofilms are formed, it is almost impossible to eradicate them. Biofilms cause extensive damage to industrial settings and place a huge burden on our society [3]. Microbial attachment to a surface is a universal phenomenon in nature and is essential for biofilm formation. A series of coating methods have been developed to reduce microbial attachment [4,5,6]. Poly (ethylene oxide) brushes [7], quaternary ammonium salt (QAS)
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