title: Silver-palladium surfaces inhibit biofilm formation.
abstract: Undesired biofilm formation is a major concern in many areas. In the present study, we investigated biofilm-inhibiting properties of a silver-palladium surface that kills bacteria by generating microelectric fields and electrochemical redox processes. For evaluation of the biofilm inhibition efficacy and study of the biofilm inhibition mechanism, the silver-sensitive Escherichia coli J53 and the silver-resistant E. coli J53[pMG101] strains were used as model organisms, and batch and flow chamber setups were used as model systems. In the case of the silver-sensitive strain, the silver-palladium surfaces killed the bacteria and prevented biofilm formation under conditions of low or high bacterial load. In the case of the silver-resistant strain, the silver-palladium surfaces killed surface-associated bacteria and prevented biofilm formation under conditions of low bacterial load, whereas under conditions of high bacterial load, biofilm formation occurred upon a layer of surface-associated dead bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Wen-Chi
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Casper
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schroll
authors.forename: Lisbeth Rischel
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Hilbert
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tolker-Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects*; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010165:Palladium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012834:Silver / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013234:Stem Cells
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012834:Silver; D010165:Palladium