Microbiology & Immunology Publications
Title
Interference in initial adhesion of uropathogenic bacteria and yeasts to silicone rubber by a Lactobacillus acidophilus biosurfactant
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.