Salmonella Biofilm Modulation with Electrically Conducting Polymers

• Biofilms are ubiquitous in many human activities, constituting a threat or an advantage depending on the context of application. It is therefore of great interest to obtain new materials to study and control how biofilms are formed. Here, heparin and DBS (dodecylbenzenesulfonate) are incorporated as counter-ions to the PEDOT (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)) backbone, forming conducting polymer thin-films. Polymer synthesis is based on electrodeposition, allowing for the adjustment, during fabrication, of properties like charge and hydrophobicity, important in bacterial adhesion. The electrochemical redox state of the polymer is of fundamental importance in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium biofilm modulation. Oxidized composites show increased levels of biofilm growth compared to reduced and pristine polymer films. As a result, biofilm formation is modulated by the application of a low electric voltage. Moreover, biofilm morphology and topology are affected by both the electrochemical redox state and the incorporated counter-ion, making these materials a useful tool in biofilm engineering.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Polymerkemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Polymer Chemistry (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Cellbiologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Cell Biology (hsv//eng)

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

ovr (ämneskategori)