AVS 45th International Symposium
    Biomaterial Interfaces Group Monday Sessions
       Session BI-MoA

Paper BI-MoA4
Smart Polymers for Bacterial Release

Monday, November 2, 1998, 3:00 pm, Room 326

Session: Cell Solid-Surface Interactions
Presenter: L.K. Ista, University of New Mexico
Authors: L.K. Ista, University of New Mexico
V.H. Pérez-Luna, University of New Mexico
G.P. López, University of New Mexico
Correspondent: Click to Email
Poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAM) was used as a model system to demonstrate the utility of environmentally responsive, or "smart", polymers as agents for the release of bacterial biofilms. PNIPAAM was grafted onto the surface of polystyrene coupons by plasma-initiated in situ polymerization. The resultant grafted polymer exhibited the characteristic lower critical solubility temperature (LCST) of 32 @super o@C, as demonstrated by a change in water contact angle and was characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The surfaces were challenged with bacterial strains of marine (Halomonas marina) and medical (Staphylococcus epidermidis) importance as well as with natural sea water. Under experimental conditions, cells attached at temperatures above the LCST of PNIPAAM were released upon transfer to flow conditions below the LCST. The total release observed was greater than 90% of the initially attached cells. In addition, fouling and release could be repeated on the same sample several times, with a small loss in release efficiency upon each repetition.