An immobilized liquid interface prevents device associated bacterial infection in vivo.
Virtually all biomaterials are susceptible to biofilm formation and, as a consequence, device-associated infection. The concept of an immobilized liquid surface, termed slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS), represents a new framework for creating a stable, dynamic, omniphobic surface that displays ultralow adhesion and limits bacterial biofilm formation. A widely used biomaterial in clinical care, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), infused with various perfluorocarbon liquids generated SLIPS surfaces that exhibited a 99% reduction in S. aureus adhesion with preservation of macrophage viability, phagocytosis, and bactericidal function. Notably, SLIPS modification of ePTFE prevents device infection after S. aureus challenge in vivo, while eliciting a significantly attenuated innate immune response. SLIPS-modified implants also decrease macrophage inflammatory cytokine expression in vitro, which likely contributed to the presence of a thinner fibrous capsule in the absence of bacterial challenge. SLIPS is an easily implementable technology that provides a promising approach to substantially reduce the risk of device infection and associated patient morbidity, as well as health care costs.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, United States; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115, United States.
Jiaxuan
J
Chen
Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115, United States; John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States.
Caitlin
C
Howell
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, United States; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115, United States.
Carolyn A
CA
Haller
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, United States; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, United States.
Madhukar S
MS
Patel
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, United States; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115, United States.
Perla
P
Ayala
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, United States.
Katherine A
KA
Moravec
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, United States.
Erbin
E
Dai
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, United States.
Liying
L
Liu
Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115, United States; John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States.
Irini
I
Sotiri
Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115, United States.
Michael
M
Aizenberg
Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115, United States; John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States; Kavli Institute for Bionano Science and Technology, Harvard University, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States. Electronic address: jaiz@seas.harvard.edu.
Joanna
J
Aizenberg
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, United States; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States. Electronic address: echaikof@bidmc.harvard.edu.
Elliot L
EL
Chaikof
D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D018441:Biofilms; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000502:physiology*; D013499:Surface Properties
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene
Implant; Infection; In vivo; Perfluorocarbon liquids; Polytetrafluoroethylene; SLIPS