Interference in initial adhesion of uropathogenic bacteria and yeasts to silicone rubber by a Lactobacillus acidophilus biosurfactant

Authors

Judit E. Puskas, The University of Western Ontario
Yaohong Chen, The University of Western Ontario
Prince Antony, The University of Western Ontario
Yongmoon Kwon, The University of Western Ontario
Milan Kovar, The University of Western Ontario
Robert R. Harbottle, The University of Western Ontario
Kathy De Jong, The University of Western Ontario
Peter R. Norton, The University of Western Ontario
Peter Cadieux, The University of Western Ontario
Jeremy Burton, The University of Western Ontario
Gregor Reid, The University of Western Ontario
Darren Beiko, The University of Western Ontario
James D. Watterson, The University of Western Ontario
John Denstedt, The University of Western Ontario

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2003

Journal

Polymers for Advanced Technologies

Volume

14

Issue

11-12

First Page

763

Last Page

770

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1002/pat.392

Abstract

This paper investigates the surface morphology of polyisobutylene-polystyrene (PIB-PS) block-type thermoplastic elastomers, emerging new biomaterials, by atomic force microscopy (AFM). A novel aborescent PIB-PS block polymer (AR15) was synthesized through inimer-type living carbocationic polymerization and characterized in comparison with a semi-comercial PIB-PS thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) (TS30). Tapping-mode AFM revealed that PS spheres with a domain size of 45-60 nm were very irregularly distributed in the continuous PIB phase of the aborescent AR15 polymer, whereas ordered and mixed cylindrical/lamellar morphology with 25-31 nm hard phase appeared in a linear TS30 triblock polymer. Moreover, AFM revealed rough surface features of a 1 mm thick compression molded TS30 polymer disk coated with a probiotic protein. AR15 disks were used for in vivo urinary tract encrustation study. Encrustation of the PIB-PS disks was comparable or better than that of medical-grade silicone rubber. The preliminary results imply the prospect of PIB-PS thermoplastic elastomers as emerging soft biomaterials. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.