title: N-trimethylchitosan/alginate layer-by-layer self assembly coatings act as "fungal repellents" to prevent biofilm formation on healthcare materials.
abstract: Fungal biofilm formation on healthcare materials is a significant clinical concern, often leading to medical-device-related infections, which are difficult to treat. A novel fungal repellent strategy is developed to control fungal biofilm formation. Methylacrylic acid (MAA) is grated onto poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA)-based biomaterials via plasma-initiated grafting polymerization. A cationic polymer, trimethylchitosan (TMC), is synthesized by reacting chitosan with methyl iodide. Sodium alginate (SA) is used as an anionic polymer. TMC/SA multilayers are coated onto the MAA-grafted PMMA via layer-by-layer self-assembly. The TMC/SA multilayer coatings significantly reduce fungal initial adhesion, and effectively prevent fungal biofilm formation. It is concluded that the anti-adhesive property of the surface is due to its hydrophilicity, and that the biofilm-inhibiting action is attributed to the antifungal activity of TMC as well as the chelating function of TMC and SA, which may have acted as fungal repellents. Phosphate buffered saline (PBS)-immersion tests show that the biofilm-modulating effect of the multilayer coatings is stable for more than 4 weeks. Furthermore, the presence of TMC/SA multilayer coatings improves the biocompatibility of the original PMMA, offering a simple, yet effective, strategy for controlling fungal biofilm formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, 01854, USA.
authors.forename: Fuguang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Chih-Ko
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Jianchuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Yuyu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; C118071:N-trimethyl chitosan chloride; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: alginate; fungal biofilms; layer-by-layer coatings; trimethylchitosan