Nano-architectonics of Pt single-atoms and differently-sized nanoparticles supported by manganese-oxide nanosheets and impact on catalytic and anti-biofilm activities.

Hybrid-nanozymes are promising in various applications, but comprehensive comparison of hybrid-nanozymes composed of single-atoms or nanoparticles on the same support has never been made. Here, manganese-oxide nanosheets were loaded with Pt-single-atoms or differently-sized nanoparticles and their oxidase- and-peroxidase activities compared. High-resolution Transmission-Electron-Microscopy and corresponding Fast Fourier Transform imaging showed that Pt-nanoparticles (1.5 nm diameter) had no clear (111) crystal-planes, while larger nanoparticles had clear (111) crystal-planes. X-ray Photo-electron Spectroscopy demonstrated that unloaded nanosheets were composed of MnO2 with a high number of oxygen vacancies (Vo/Mn 0.4). Loading with 7.0 nm Pt-nanoparticles induced a change to Mn2O3, while loading with 1.5 nm nanoparticles increased the number of vacancies (Vo/Mn 1.2). Nanosheets loaded with 3.0 nm Pt-nanoparticles possessed similarly high catalytic activities as Pt-single-atoms. However, loading with 1.5 nm or 7.0 nm Pt-nanoparticles yielded lower catalytic activities. A model is proposed explaining the low catalytic activity of under- and over-sized Pt-nanoparticles as compared with intermediately-sized (3.0 nm) Pt-nanoparticles and single-atoms. Herewith, catalytic activities of hybrid-nanozymes composed of single-atoms and intermediately-sized nanoparticles are put a par, as confirmed here with respect to bacterial biofilm eradication. This conclusion facilitates a balanced choice between using Pt-single-atoms or nanoparticles in further development and application of hybrid-nanozymes.

Characterization of novel silane coatings on titanium implant surfaces.

OBJECTIVES: This in vitro study describes and characterizes a developed novel method to produce coatings on Ti. Hydrophobic coatings on substrates are needed in prosthetic dentistry to promote durable adhesion between luting resin cements and coated Ti surfaces. In implant dentistry the hydrophobic coatings on a Ti implant might be beneficial for osseointegration, preventing bacteria adhesion and for enhancement of resin composite adhesion as well. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A silica-coating system, Rocatec™, was used for planar Ti coupons as instructed. After careful rinsing and drying, four experimental silane primers were applied onto silica-coated Ti specimens. The primers were prepared of 3-acryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane + bis-1,2-(triethoxysilyl)ethane (in four concentrations), diluted in acidified ethanol-water. The contact angles, surface free energies, and critical surface tensions were assessed. The chemical compositions of surfaces were analyzed using X-photoelectron spectroscopy. Atomic force microscopy was used to investigate the surface topographies. Non-treated Ti specimens and silanized with a commercial silane primer were used as the controls. RESULTS: There were observable differences in the surface free energy (contact angle) and chemical composition on specimens. The silane primers reacted and fully covered Ti surfaces, which produced more hydrophobic coatings, larger contact angles, and lower surface free energy and critical surface tension than controls. At the concentration of 1.0 vol% 3-acryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane and 0.3 vol% bis-1,2-(triethoxysilyl)ethane, the silane blend showed the lowest surface free energy. The silanes would not affect the surface roughness (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Novel coatings were successfully developed and optimized. They may produce a hydrophobic surface onto Ti implants without compromising the surface roughness.

Boundary lubrication by brushed salivary conditioning films and their degree of glycosylation.

OBJECTIVES: Toothbrushing, though aimed at biofilm removal, also affects the lubricative function of adsorbed salivary conditioning films (SCFs). Different modes of brushing (manual, powered, rotary-oscillatory or sonically driven) influence the SCF in different ways. Our objectives were to compare boundary lubrication of SCFs after different modes of brushing and to explain their lubrication on the basis of their roughness, dehydrated layer thickness, and degree of glycosylation. A pilot study was performed to relate in vitro lubrication with mouthfeel in human volunteers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Coefficient of friction (COF) on 16-h-old SCFs after manual, rotary-oscillatory, and sonically driven brushing was measured using colloidal probe atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM was also used to assess the roughness of SCFs prior to and after brushing. Dehydrated layer thicknesses and glycosylation of the SCFs were determined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Mouthfeel after manual and both modes of powered brushing were evaluated employing a split-mouth design. RESULTS: Compared with unbrushed and manually or sonically driven brushed SCFs, powered rotary-oscillatory brushing leads to deglycosylation of the SCF, loss of thickness, and a rougher film. Concurrently, the COF of a powered rotary-oscillatory brushed SCF increased. Volunteers reported a slightly preferred mouthfeel after sonic brushing as compared to powered rotating-oscillating brushing. CONCLUSION: Deglycosylation and roughness increase the COF on SCFs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Powered rotary-oscillatory brushing can deglycosylate a SCF, leading to a rougher film surface as compared with manual and sonic brushing, decreasing the lubricative function of the SCF. This is consistent with clinical mouthfeel evaluation after different modes of brushing.

Survival of adhering staphylococci during exposure to a quaternary ammonium compound evaluated by using atomic force microscopy imaging.

Effects of a quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) on the survival of adhering staphylococci on a surface were investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Four strains with different minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC) for the QAC were exposed to three different concentrations of the QAC in potassium phosphate buffer (0.5×, 1×, and 2× MBC) while adhering to glass. Adhering staphylococci were repeatedly imaged with AFM in the contact mode, and the cell surface was found to wrinkle upon progressive exposure to the QAC until bacteria disappeared from the substratum. Higher concentrations of QAC yielded faster wrinkling and the disappearance of bacteria during imaging. Two slime-producing staphylococcal strains survived longer on the surface than two non-slime-producing strains despite similar MICs and MBCs. All staphylococci adhering in unscanned areas remained adhering during exposure to QAC. Since MICs and MBCs did not relate to bacterial cell surface hydrophobicities and zeta potentials, survival on the surface is probably not determined by the direct interaction of QAC molecules with the cell surface. Instead, it is suggested that the pressure of the AFM tip assists the incorporation of QAC molecules in the membrane and enhances their bactericidal efficacy. In addition, the prolonged survival under pressure from slime-producing strains on a surface may point to a new protective role of slime as a stress absorber, impeding the incorporation of QAC molecules. The addition of Ca(2+) ions to a QAC solution yielded longer survival of intact, adhering staphylococci, suggesting that Ca(2+) ions can impede the exchange of membrane Ca(2+) ions required for QAC incorporation.

Oral bacterial adhesion forces to biomaterial surfaces constituting the bracket-adhesive-enamel junction in orthodontic treatment.

Bacterial adhesion to biomaterial surfaces constituting the bracket-adhesive-enamel junction represents a growing problem in orthodontics, because bacteria can adversely affect treatment by causing demineralization of the enamel surface around the brackets. It is important to know the forces with which bacteria adhere to the surfaces of these junction materials, as the strength of these forces will determine how easy it will be to remove the bacteria. We compared the adhesion forces of five initially colonizing and four cariogenic strains of bacteria to an orthodontic adhesive, stainless steel, and enamel, with and without a salivary conditioning film. Adhesion forces were determined using atomic force microscopy and a bacterial probe. In the absence of a salivary conditioning film, the strongest bacterial adhesion forces occurred to the adhesive surface (-2.9 to -6.9 nN), while adhesion forces to the enamel surfaces were lowest (-0.8 to -2.7 nN). In the presence of a salivary conditioning film, adhesion forces were reduced strongly, to less than 1 nN, and the differences between the various materials were reduced. Generally, however, initial colonizers of dental hard surfaces presented stronger adhesion forces to the different materials (-4.7 and -0.6 nN in the absence and presence of a salivary conditioning film, respectively) than cariogenic strains (-1.8 and -0.5 nN).

Bond strengthening in oral bacterial adhesion to salivary conditioning films.

Transition from reversible to irreversible bacterial adhesion is a highly relevant but poorly understood step in initial biofilm formation. We hypothesize that in oral biofilm formation, irreversible adhesion is caused by bond strengthening due to specific bacterial interactions with salivary conditioning films. Here, we compared the initial adhesion of six oral bacterial strains to salivary conditioning films with their adhesion to a bovine serum albumin (BSA) coating and related their adhesion to the strengthening of the binding forces measured with bacteria-coated atomic force microscopy cantilevers. All strains adhered in higher numbers to salivary conditioning films than to BSA coatings, and specific bacterial interactions with salivary conditioning films were accompanied by stronger initial adhesion forces. Bond strengthening occurred on a time scale of several tens of seconds and was slower for actinomyces than for streptococci. Nonspecific interactions between bacteria and BSA coatings strengthened twofold faster than their specific interactions with salivary conditioning films, likely because specific interactions require a closer approach of interacting surfaces with the removal of interfacial water and a more extensive rearrangement of surface structures. After bond strengthening, bacterial adhesion forces with a salivary conditioning film remained stronger than those with BSA coatings.

Staphylococcus aureus-fibronectin interactions with and without fibronectin-binding proteins and their role in adhesion and desorption.

Adhesion and residence-time-dependent desorption of two Staphylococcus aureus strains with and without fibronectin (Fn) binding proteins (FnBPs) on Fn-coated glass were compared under flow conditions. To obtain a better understanding of the role of Fn-FnBP binding, the adsorption enthalpies of Fn with staphylococcal cell surfaces were determined using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Interaction forces between staphylococci and Fn coatings were measured using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The strain with FnBPs adhered faster and initially stronger to an Fn coating than the strain without FnBPs, and its Fn adsorption enthalpies were higher. The initial desorption was high for both strains but decreased substantially within 2 s. These time scales of staphylococcal bond ageing were confirmed by AFM adhesion force measurement. After exposure of either Fn coating or staphylococcal cell surfaces to bovine serum albumin (BSA), the adhesion of both strains to Fn coatings was reduced, suggesting that BSA suppresses not only nonspecific but also specific Fn-FnBP interactions. Adhesion forces and adsorption enthalpies were only slightly affected by BSA adsorption. This implies that under the mild contact conditions of convective diffusion in a flow chamber, adsorbed BSA prevents specific interactions but does allow forced Fn-FnBP binding during AFM or stirring in ITC. The bond strength energies calculated from retraction force-distance curves from AFM were orders of magnitude higher than those calculated from desorption data, confirming that a penetrating Fn-coated AFM tip probes multiple adhesins in the outermost cell surface that remain hidden during mild landing of an organism on an Fn-coated substratum, like that during convective diffusional flow.

Surfactive and antibacterial activity of cetylpyridinium chloride formulations in vitro and in vivo.

AIM: To compare effects of three cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) formulations with and without alcohol and Tween80 on physico-chemical properties of salivary pellicles, bacterial detachment in vitro and bacterial killing in vivo. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Adsorption of CPC to salivary pellicles in vitro was studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and water contact angle measurements. Adhesion and detachment of a co-adhering bacterial pair was determined in vitro using a flow chamber. Killing was evaluated after live/dead staining after acute single use in vivo on 24- and 72-h-old plaques after 2-week continuous use. RESULTS: The most pronounced effects on pellicle surface chemistry and hydrophobicity were observed after treatment with the alcohol-free formulation, while the pellicle thickness was not affected by any of the formulations. All CPC formulations detached up to 33% of the co-adhering pair from pellicle surfaces. Bacterial aggregate sizes during de novo deposition were enhanced after treatment with the alcohol-free formulation. Immediate and sustained killing in 24 and 72 h plaques after in vivo, acute single use as well as after 2-week continuous use were highest for the alcohol-free formulation. CONCLUSIONS: CPC bioavailability in a formulation without alcohol and Tween80 could be demonstrated through measures of pellicle surface properties and bacterial interactions in vitro as well as bacteriocidal actions on oral biofilms in vivo.

Biofilm formation on surface characterized micro-implants for skeletal anchorage in orthodontics.

Micro-implants are increasingly popular in clinical orthodontics to effect skeletal anchorage. However, biofilm formation on their surfaces and subsequent infection of peri-implant tissues can result in either exfoliation or surgical removal of these devices. The present study aimed to assess biofilm formation on five commercially available, surface characterized micro-implant systems in vitro. The elemental surface compositions of as-received and autoclave-sterilized micro-implants were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. High carbon contamination was detected on the oxide surfaces, along with traces of inorganic elements (Ca, Cu, Cr, Pb, Zn, and P) which disappeared after Ar(+) ion sputtering. The mean surface roughnesses (R(a)) were around 182nm for titanium micro-implants, and 69nm for stainless steel micro-implants, as measured by atomic force microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy revealed different surface topographies between manufacturers, varying from typical machined grooves to structural defects like pores and pits. Overnight biofilms were grown on micro-implant surfaces by immersion in pooled human whole saliva. Biofilms on micro-implants treated with chlorhexidine and fluoride mouthrinses contained comparable numbers of viable organisms, but significantly less than did untreated micro-implants. Comparison of different implant systems using multiple linear regression analysis indicated that biofilm formation was governed by roughness of the implant surface and the prevalence of carbon- and oxygen-rich components.

Influence of biofilm lubricity on shear-induced transmission of staphylococcal biofilms from stainless steel to silicone rubber.

In real-life situations, bacteria are often transmitted from biofilms growing on donor surfaces to receiver ones. Bacterial transmission is more complex than adhesion, involving bacterial detachment from donor and subsequent adhesion to receiver surfaces. Here, we describe a new device to study shear-induced bacterial transmission from a (stainless steel) pipe to a (silicone rubber) tube and compare transmission of EPS-producing and non-EPS-producing staphylococci. Transmission of an entire biofilm from the donor to the receiver tube did not occur, indicative of cohesive failure in the biofilm rather than of adhesive failure at the donor-biofilm interface. Biofilm was gradually transmitted over an increasing length of receiver tube, occurring mostly to the first 50 cm of the receiver tube. Under high-shearing velocity, transmission of non-EPS-producing bacteria to the second half decreased non-linearly, likely due to rapid thinning of the lowly lubricious biofilm. Oppositely, transmission of EPS-producing strains to the second tube half was not affected by higher shearing velocity due to the high lubricity and stress relaxation of the EPS-rich biofilms, ensuring continued contact with the receiver. The non-linear decrease of ongoing bacterial transmission under high-shearing velocity is new and of relevance in for instance, high-speed food slicers and food packaging.

A Trifunctional, Modular Biomaterial Coating: Nonadhesive to Bacteria, Chlorhexidine-Releasing and Tissue-Integrating.

Various potential anti-infection strategies can be thought of for biomaterial implants and devices. Permanent, tissue-integrated implants such as artificial joint prostheses require a different anti-infection strategy than, for instance, removable urinary catheters. The different requirements set to biomaterials implants and devices in different clinical applications call for tailor-made strategies. Here, a modular coating-concept for biomaterials is reported, which in its full, trifunctional form comprises nonadhesiveness to bacteria and antimicrobial release, combined with enhanced tissue integration characteristics. Nonadhesiveness to proteins and bacteria is accomplished by a hydrophilic brush coating (Vitrostealth). The antimicrobial release module is constituted by a chlorhexidine releasing poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylamide based-coating that continues to release its antimicrobial content also when underneath the nonadhesive top-coating. The third module, enhancing tissue integration, is realized by the incorporation of the penta-peptide Glycine-Arginine-Glycine-Aspartic acid-Serine (GRGDS) within the nonadhesive top-coating. Modules function in concert or independently of each other. Specifically, tissue integration by the GRGDS-module does not affect the nonadhesiveness of the Vitrostealth-module toward bovine serum albumin and Staphylococcus aureus, while the antimicrobial release module does not affect tissue-integration by the GRGDS-module. Uniquely, using this modular system, tailor-made anti-infection strategies can thus readily be made for biomaterials in different clinical applications.

Detachment and successive re-attachment of multiple, reversibly-binding tethers result in irreversible bacterial adhesion to surfaces.

Bacterial adhesion to surfaces occurs ubiquitously and is initially reversible, though becoming more irreversible within minutes after first contact with a surface. We here demonstrate for eight bacterial strains comprising four species, that bacteria adhere irreversibly to surfaces through multiple, reversibly-binding tethers that detach and successively re-attach, but not collectively detach to cause detachment of an entire bacterium. Arguments build on combining analyses of confined Brownian-motion of bacteria adhering to glass and their AFM force-distance curves and include the following observations: (1) force-distance curves showed detachment events indicative of multiple binding tethers, (2) vibration amplitudes of adhering bacteria parallel to a surface decreased with increasing adhesion-forces acting perpendicular to the surface, (3) nanoscopic displacements of bacteria with relatively long autocorrelation times up to several seconds, in absence of microscopic displacement, (4) increases in Mean-Squared-Displacement over prolonged time periods according to tα with 0 < α ≪ 1, indicative of confined displacement. Analysis of simulated position-maps of adhering particles using a new, in silico model confirmed that adhesion to surfaces is irreversible through detachment and successive re-attachment of reversibly-binding tethers. This makes bacterial adhesion mechanistically comparable with the irreversible adsorption of high-molecular-weight proteins to surfaces, mediated by multiple, reversibly-binding molecular segments.

Influence of day and night wear on surface properties of silicone hydrogel contact lenses and bacterial adhesion.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of continuous wear on physicochemical surface properties of silicone hydrogel (S-H) lenses and their susceptibility to bacterial adhesion. METHODS: In this study, volunteers wore 2 pairs of either "lotrafilcon A" or "balafilcon A" S-H contact lenses. The first pair was worn continuously for a week and the second pair for 4 weeks. One lens of each pair was used for surface characterization and the other one for bacterial adhesion experiments. Lens surfaces were characterized by examination of their wettability, roughness, elemental composition, and proteins attached to their surfaces. Adhesion of Staphylococcus aureus 835 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa #3 to a lens was studied using a parallel plate flow chamber. RESULTS: Before use, the lotrafilcon A lens was rougher than the balafilcon A lens and had a lower water contact angle and a higher affinity for S. aureus 835. After wear, both lens types had similar water contact angles, whereas the differences in elemental surface composition decreased as well. S. aureus 835 adhered in higher numbers to worn balafilcon A lenses, whereas the opposite was seen for P. aeruginosa #3. The initial deposition rates of both bacterial strains to lotrafilcon A lenses decreased by wearing and were found to correlate significant (P < 0.001) with the surface roughness of worn lenses. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the differences in surface properties between 2 types of S-H lenses were found to change after 1 week of continuous wear. Generally, bacteria adhered in lower numbers and less tenaciously to worn lenses, except S. aureus 835, adhering in higher numbers to worn balafilcon A lenses.

Structured free-water clusters near lubricating surfaces are essential in water-based lubrication.

Water-based lubrication provides cheap and environmentally friendly lubrication and, although hydrophilic surfaces are preferred in water-based lubrication, often lubricating surfaces do not retain water molecules during shear. We show here that hydrophilic (42° water contact angle) quartz surfaces facilitate water-based lubrication to the same extent as more hydrophobic Si crystal surfaces (61°), while lubrication by hydrophilic Ge crystal surfaces (44°) is best. Thus surface hydrophilicity is not sufficient for water-based lubrication. Surface-thermodynamic analyses demonstrated that all surfaces, regardless of their water-based lubrication, were predominantly electron donating, implying water binding with their hydrogen groups. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that Ge crystal surfaces providing optimal lubrication consisted of a mixture of -O and =O functionalities, while Si crystal and quartz surfaces solely possessed -O functionalities. Comparison of infrared absorption bands of the crystals in water indicated fewer bound-water layers on hydrophilic Ge than on hydrophobic Si crystal surfaces, while absorption bands for free water on the Ge crystal surface indicated a much more pronounced presence of structured, free-water clusters near the Ge crystal than near Si crystal surfaces. Accordingly, we conclude that the presence of structured, free-water clusters is essential for water-based lubrication. The prevalence of structured water clusters can be regulated by adjusting the ratio between surface electron-donating and electron-accepting groups and between -O and =O functionalities.

Stability and effectiveness against bacterial adhesion of poly(ethylene oxide) coatings in biological fluids.

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) coatings have been shown to reduce the adhesion of different microbial strains and species and thus are promising as coatings to prevent biomaterial-centered infection of medical implants. Clinically, however, PEO coatings are not yet applied, as little is known about their stability and effectiveness in biological fluids. In this study, PEO coatings coupled to a glass substratum through silyl ether bonds were exposed for different time intervals to saliva, urine, or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as a reference at 37 degrees C. After exposure, the effectiveness of the coatings against bacterial adhesion was assessed in a parallel plate flow chamber. The coatings appeared effective against Staphylococcus epidermidis adhesion for 24, 48, and 0.5 h in PBS, urine, and saliva, respectively. Using XPS and contact-angle measurements, the variations in effectiveness could be attributed to conditioning film formation. The overall short stability results from hydrolysis of the coupling of the PEO chains to the substratum.

Role of lactobacillus cell surface hydrophobicity as probed by AFM in adhesion to surfaces at low and high ionic strength.

The S-layer present at the outermost cell surface of some lactobacillus species is known to convey hydrophobicity to the lactobacillus cell surface. Yet, it is commonly found that adhesion of lactobacilli to solid substrata does not proceed according to expectations based on cell surface hydrophobicity. In this paper, the role of cell surface hydrophobicity of two lactobacillus strains with and without a surface layer protein (SLP) layer has been investigated with regard to their adhesion to hydrophobically or hydrophilically functionalized glass surfaces under well-defined flow conditions and in low and high ionic strength suspensions. Similarly, the interaction of the lactobacilli with similarly functionalized atomic force microscope (AFM) tips was measured. In a low ionic strength suspension, both lactobacillus strains show higher initial deposition rates to hydrophobic glass than to hydrophilic glass, whereas in a high ionic strength suspension no clear influence of cell surface hydrophobicity on adhesion is observed. Independent of ionic strength, however, AFM detects stronger interaction forces when both bacteria and tip are hydrophobic or hydrophilic than when bacteria and tip have opposite hydrophobicities. This suggest that the interaction develops in a different way when a bacterium is forced into contact with the tip surface, like in AFM, as compared with contacts developing between a cell surface and a macroscopic substratum under flow. In addition, the distance dependence of the total Gibbs energy of interaction could only be qualitatively correlated with bacterial deposition and desorption in the parallel plate flow chamber.

Influence of wear and overwear on surface properties of etafilcon A contact lenses and adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

PURPOSE: To determine changes in physicochemical surface properties of contact lenses (CLs) during daily wear and effects of lens wear on adhesion of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain from a patient with CL-related keratitis. METHODS: Ten new CL wearers used ionic, etafilcon A lenses with 58% water on both eyes for approximately 10 hours each day during 10 and 50 days. All lenses were treated daily with an appropriate lens care solution. After the CLs were worn for 10 days (first pair of lenses) and 50 days (second pair, representing overwear), hydrophobicity by water contact angles, surface roughness by atomic force microscope, elemental surface composition by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and adsorbed proteins by SDS-PAGE were determined on one lens. The lens from the contralateral eye was placed in a parallel plate flow chamber for bacterial adhesion after each time interval. RESULTS: Water contact angles on lenses changed from 45 degrees on unused lenses to 61 degrees +/- 25 degrees after 10 days of wear and changed significantly (P < 0.05) to 27 degrees +/- 14 degrees after 50 days of wear. Surface roughness increased significantly (P < 0.05) from 4 +/- 2 nm (unused) to 10 +/- 7 nm after 50 days of wear. These changes were accompanied by adsorption of proteinaceous material, as evidenced by XPS and SDS-PAGE, demonstrating adsorption of lysozyme, tear lipocalin, and a 30-kDa protein. Initial bacterial adhesion to worn CLs was lower than to unworn CLs. Furthermore, detachment of adhering bacteria from worn lenses was easier than from unworn lenses. The changes observed in the physicochemical surface properties of the lenses after the CLs were worn for 50 days were accompanied by reports of discomfort by 6 of the 10 new CL wearers. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the most predictive variables for an effect on initial deposition after 10 days of wear were hydrophobicity, roughness, the presence of nitrogen-rich material, including the presence of a 30-kDa protein, and the presence of oxygen-rich material-that is, the type of oxygen adsorbed (O equal or parallel C or Ocjs0807;C). After 50 days of wear, roughness and the presence of tear lipocalin were most predictive. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the physicochemical surface properties changed after wear and overwear, whereas overwear of the lenses decreased initial adhesion of P. aeruginosa #3 under the present experimental conditions.

Atomic force microscopic corroboration of bond aging for adhesion of Streptococcus thermophilus to solid substrata.

Initial bacterial adhesion is considered to be reversible, but over time the adhesive bond between a bacterium and a substratum surface may strengthen, turning the process into an irreversible state. Microbial desorption has been studied in situ in controlled flow devices as a function of the organisms resident time on the surface (J. Colloid Interface Sci. 164 (1994) 355). It appeared that desorption of Streptococcus thermophilus decreased strongly within approximately 50 s after initial adhesion due to bond aging. In this paper, bond aging between the S. thermophilus cell surface and the silicon nitride tip of an AFM (atomic force microscope) is corroborated microscopically and related to the macroscopic, residence time-dependent desorption of the organism under flow. AFM indicated bond strengthening between the tip and the cell surface within 100 s of contact, which is on the same order of magnitude as bond aging inferred from residence time-dependent desorption. Comparison of the interaction energies derived from AFM and macroscopic desorption indicate that bond strengthening arises as a result of multiple attachments of extracellular polymeric substances to a substratum surface.

Soft tissue integration versus early biofilm formation on different dental implant materials.

OBJECTIVE: Dental implants anchor in bone through a tight fit and osseo-integratable properties of the implant surfaces, while a protective soft tissue seal around the implants neck is needed to prevent bacterial destruction of the bone-implant interface. This tissue seal needs to form in the unsterile, oral environment. We aim to identify surface properties of dental implant materials (titanium, titanium-zirconium alloy and zirconium-oxides) that determine the outcome of this "race-for-the-surface" between human-gingival-fibroblasts and different supra-gingival bacterial strains. METHODS: Biofilms of three streptococcal species or a Staphylococcus aureus strain were grown in mono-cultures on the different implant materials in a parallel-plate-flow-chamber and their biovolume evaluated using confocal-scanning-laser-microscopy. Similarly, adhesion, spreading and growth of human-gingival-fibroblasts were evaluated. Co-culture experiments with bacteria and human-gingival-fibroblasts were carried out to evaluate tissue interaction with bacterially contaminated implant surfaces. Implant surfaces were characterized by their hydrophobicity, roughness and elemental composition. RESULTS: Biofilm formation occurred on all implant materials, and neither roughness nor hydrophobicity had a decisive influence on biofilm formation. Zirconium-oxide attracted most biofilm. All implant materials were covered by human-gingival-fibroblasts for 80-90% of their surface areas. Human-gingival-fibroblasts lost the race-for-the-surface against all bacterial strains on nearly all implant materials, except on the smoothest titanium variants. SIGNIFICANCE: Smooth titanium implant surfaces provide the best opportunities for a soft tissue seal to form on bacterially contaminated implant surfaces. This conclusion could only be reached in co-culture studies and coincides with the results from the few clinical studies carried out to this end.

Force analysis of bacterial transmission from contact lens cases to corneas, with the contact lens as the intermediary.

PURPOSE: To determine the probability of transmission of a Staphylococcus aureus strain from a contact lens case, to the contact lens (CL) surfaces, to the cornea, on the basis of bacterial adhesion forces measured by using atomic force microscopy (AFM). METHODS: Adhesion forces between S. aureus strain 835 probes with rigid and soft CLs, storage cases, and porcine corneas were measured with AFM and used to calculate Weibull distributions, from which the transmission probability from one surface to another was derived. Bacterial transmission probabilities from force analyses were compared with experimentally obtained transmission data. RESULTS: After bond-strengthening, S. aureus adhered to the surface of a lens case with a median force of 10.8 nN. Adhesion forces were different on the soft and rigid CLs (7.7 and 13.6 nN, respectively). Adhesion forces on porcine corneas amounted to 11.8 nN. Data variations were used to calculate the Weibull distribution, from which the probability of transmission from the lens case to a CL and from the CL to the cornea can be directly read. Final transmission probabilities from lens case to the cornea were slightly higher for the rigid (24%) than for the soft (19%) CL. Bacterial transmission determined experimentally increased with increasing contact times, but were within the range of the probabilities derived from Weibull analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Probabilities of bacterial transmission from contaminated lens cases to corneas can be derived from Weibull analyses of measured forces of adhesion to the surfaces involved.