WCE 2018: Effect of Highly-Aligned Nanoscale Surface Structures on Microbial Adhesion
Dr. Shahait et al. developed nanofiber coatings of varied diameter and spacing using Spinneret-based tunable engineered parameters (STEP) technique. Microbial cell adhesion density was measured using colony counting, fluorescent microscopy, and image processing. Specific pathogens that were studied include Escheria Coli and Candida Albicans, two commonly pathogens implicated in CAUTIs.
The authors found that microbial attachment density for C. Albicans was significantly lower (up to 70% reduction) when a polymeric nanofiber coating was applied to the catheter surface. However, the same reduction in bacterial attachment was not seen for E. Coli. Instead, only after applying an anti-adhesion biochemical coating were significant decreases in bacterial attachment seen (80% reduction). Dr. Shahait hypothesized that these results were due to the difference in cell diameter size between C. Albicans and E Coli, 4 μm vs. 1 μm, respectively. Therefore, E. Coli cell adhesion may not as easily be interrupted by nanofiber coatings and thus, more efforts at reducing fiber spacing of this technology may be a logical next step for future research on this topic.
Presented by: Mohammed Shahait, MD, Fellow, Division of Urology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Co-Authors: Yiying Wang, MA, Graduate Student, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, Carolyn Mottley, Zhou Ye, Amrinder Nain, Bahareh Behkam, Blacksburg, Virginia, Timothy Averch, MD, FACS, Blacksburg, Virginia
Written by: Max Towe, medical writer for UroToday.com at the 36th World Congress of Endourology (WCE) and SWL - September 20-23, 2018 Paris, France