Scientists Cut Down Biofilm BuildupScientists Cut Down Biofilm Buildup

Biofilm formation on implants is a persistent problem in the medical community that can result in life-threatening infections. In recent years, this issue has garnered increasing attention from scientists and coating specialists as they work toward discovering a method for inhibiting bacterial growth on the devices. Researchers from Syracuse University (SU) are the latest to shed light on the sticky situation with their development of a novel material surface that has demonstrated the ability to repel bacteria.To create the material, the researchers deposited a 20-nm-thick layer of gold onto a glass surface and then placed lab-generated molecules on top of the gold film. Through experiments with the material, the team discovered that mammalian cells and bacteria differ in their methods of adhesion to surfaces: mammalian cells require an anchor to stick to a surface while bacteria can attach to almost any sticky surface. Furthermore, the scientists gained insight into controlling bacterial growth on surfaces and were able to confine biofilm formation to designated 2-D patterns.In addition to gaining insight about adhesion, the researchers found that this surface material was able to manipulate and confine biofilm four times longer than existing methods of inhibition. The scientists hope that these revelations can contribute to better implant design in the future. "This level of surface control has never before been achieved," says Dacheng Ren, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at SU. "We hope that what we have learned in the laboratory will help answer other fundamental questions in surface materials research and lead to the production of new materials for use in medicine and industry."