Combining Topography and Chemistry to Produce Antibiofouling Surfaces: A Review.

Despite decades of research on the reduction of surface fouling from biomolecules or micro-organisms, the ultimate antibiofouling surface remains undiscovered. The recent covid-19 pandemic strengthened the crucial need for such treatments. Among the numerous approaches that are able to provide surfaces with antibiofouling properties, chemical, biological, and topographical strategies have been implemented for instance in the marine, medical, or food industries. However, many of these methods have a biocidal effect and, with antibioresistance and biocide resistance a growing threat on humanity, strategies based on reducing adsorption of biomolecules and micro-organism are necessary for long-term solutions. Bioinspired strategies, combining both surface chemistry and topography, are currently at the heart of the best innovative and sustainable solutions. The synergistic effect of micro/nanostructuration, together with engineered chemical or biological functionalization is believed to contribute to the development of antibiofouling surfaces. This review aims to present approaches combining hydrophobic or hydrophilic chemistries with a specific topography to avoid biofouling in various industrial environments and healthcare facilities.

Selective Microfluidic Capture and Detection of Prostate Cancer Cells from Urine without Digital Rectal Examination.

Urine-based biomarkers have shown suitable diagnostic potential for prostate cancer (PCa) detection. Yet, until now, prostatic massage remains required prior to urine sampling. Here, we test a potential diagnostic approach using voided urine collected without prior digital rectal examination (DRE). In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of a microfluidic-based platform that combines the principle of photodynamic diagnostic with immunocapture for the detection of PCa cells. The functionality and sensitivity of this platform were validated using both cultured cells and PCa patient urine samples. Quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) demonstrated this platform had a detection limit of fewer than 10 cells per 60 µL and successfully validated the presence of a PCa biomarker in the urine of cancer patients without prior DRE. This biosensing platform exhibits a sensitivity of 72.4% and a specificity of 71.4%, in suitable agreement with qRT-PCR data. The results of this study constitute a stepping stone in the future development of noninvasive prostate cancer diagnostic technologies that do not require DRE.

Functional nanothin films plasma-deposited from 2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline for biosensor applications.

Plasma polymers derived from oxazoline precursors present a range of versatile properties that is fueling their use as biomaterials. However, coatings deposited from commonly used methyl and ethyl oxazoline precursors can be sensitive to the plasma deposition conditions. In this work, we used various spectroscopic methods (ellipsometry, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry) and cell viability assays to evaluate the transferability of deposition conditions from the original plasma reactor developed by Griesser to a new wider, reactor designed for upscaled biosensors applications. The physicochemical properties, reactivity, and biocompatibility of films deposited from 2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline were investigated. Thanks to the availability of an unsaturated pendant group, the coatings obtained from this oxazoline precursor are more stable and reproducible over a range of deposition conditions while retaining reactivity toward ligands and biomolecules. This study identified films deposited at 20 W and 0.012 mbar working pressure as being the best suited for biosensor applications.