Adhesion of coagulase-negative staphylococci to methacrylate polymers and copolymers

Adhesion of coagulasef-negative staphylococci (CNS) was studied onto a homologous series of methacrylate polymers and copolymers. The materials varied in wettability (contact angles) and were either positively or negatively charged (zetapotential). Bacterial adhesion experiments performed in a parallel-plate perfusion system showed that positively charged TMAEMA-Cl copolymers significantly promoted the adhesion of CNS as compared with all other methacrylate (co)polymers tested. The bacterial adhesion rates onto the positively charged surfaces are diffusion-controlled, whereas those onto the surfaces with a negative zeta-potential are more surface-reaction-controlled due to the presence of a potential energy barrier. The bacterial adhesion rates onto various poly (alkyl methacrylates) were similar. The number of adhering bacteria onto the negatively charged MMA/MAA copolymer did not differ from that onto pMMA, indicating that sufficient sites on the copolymer surface with the same potential energy barrier as that on pMMA, were available for adhesion. Decreasing rates of adhesion of CNS were observed onto MMA/HEMA copolymers with increasing HEMA content coinciding with increasing hydrophilicity. Low plateau values for the bacterial adhesion were observed on 50MMA/50HEMA, pHEMA, and 85HEMA/15MAA, indicating that the adhesion onto these materials was reversible. Four CNS strains with different surface characteristics all showed higher numbers of adhering bacteria onto 85MMA/15TMAEMA-Cl than onto 85MMA/15MAA and pMMA

A route to anionic hydrophilic films of copolymers of l-leucine, l-aspartic acid and l-aspartic acid esters

A series of copolymers of l-leucine and β-benzyl-l-aspartate [Leu/Asp(OBz)] covering the range 30–70 mol % of l-leucine, was synthesized by the N-carboxyanhydride (NCA) method. The copolymers were characterized by elemental analysis, infra-red spectroscopy and viscometry. For all compositions high molecular weight copolymers were prepared with excellent film-forming properties. Tercopolymers of l-leucine, β-benzyl-l-aspartate and β-methyl-l-aspartate [Leu/Asp(OBz)/Asp(OMe)] were obtained after an ester interchange reaction (conversion 85–95%) with the original copolymer systems. These tercopolymers were characterized by elemental analysis and i.r. spectroscopy. Films of the tercopolymers, cast from organic solvents, could be converted into hydrophilic films by saponification of the methyl ester groups using alkaline water/organic solvent media. The hydrophilic films, which will be further investigated for their use as haemodialysis membranes were characterized by potentiometric titration and i.r. spectroscopy

No relationship between the cell surface hydrophobicity of coagulase-negative staphylococci and their ability to adhere onto fluorinated poly(ethylene-propylene)

The cell surface hydrophobicity of 14 encapsulated and 21 non-encapsulated coagulase-negative staphylococci (CN staph) as determined with the salt aggregation test (SAT) as well as with the xylene-water method ranged widely. Non-encapsulated strains adhered well onto fluorinated poly(ethylene-propylene) (FEP), irrespective of the hydrophobicity of the cell surface. The ability of the encapsulated strains to adhere onto FEP differed also considerably, but no correlation between the number of adherent bacteria and the cell surface hydrophobicity was observed

Stereo block copolymers of L- and D-lactides

Sequential diblock copolymers composed of L- and D-lactic acid residues were synthesized through a living ring-opening polymerization of L- and D-lactide initiated by aluminium tris(2-propanolate). The composition of the block copolymers was varied by changing the reaction conditions and monomer over initiator ratio and confirmed by 1H NMR analysis, molecular weight determination and optical rotation measurements. Molecular weights ranged from 1,3 to 2,0 · 104 with 1,2 < Mw/Mn < 1,4. Stereocomplex formation in all block copolymers was determined using differential scanning calorimetry showing melting temperatures of about 205°C

Surface mobility and structural transitions of poly(n-alkyl methacrylates) probed by dynamic contact angle measurements

Dynamic contact angles and contact-angle hysteresis of a series of poly(n-alkyl methacrylates) (PAMA) were investigated using the Wilhelmy plate technique. The mobility of polymer surface chains, segments, and side groups affected the measured contact angles and their hysteresis. A model is presented in which contact-angle hysteresis of PAMA's is explained in terms of the reorientation of polymer chains and segments at the interface of the polymers with water and air. The contact angles observed also indicated structural transitions in the polymer surfaces of PAMA's that were dependent on alkyl side chain length and temperature