Microstructured Block Copolymer Surfaces for Control of Microbe Adhesion and Aggregation

Biosensors

Ryan R. Hansen²  Katherine R. Shubert¹  Jennifer L. Morrell-Falvey¹  Bradley S. Lokitz²  Mitchel J. Doktycz² 

[1] Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA; E-Mails:;Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA; E-Mails:

关键词: lectins;    exopolysaccharide;    affinity-based capture;    cell adhesion;    cell aggregation;    block copolymers;    biofilms;   

DOI  :  10.3390/bios4010063

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The attachment and arrangement of microbes onto a substrate is influenced by both the biochemical and physical surface properties. In this report, we develop lectin-functionalized substrates containing patterned, three-dimensional polymeric structures of varied shapes and densities and use these to investigate the effects of topology and spatial confinement on lectin-mediated microbe immobilization. Films of poly(glycidyl methacrylate)-block-4,4-dimethyl-2-vinylazlactone (PGMA-b-PVDMA) were patterned on silicon surfaces into line arrays or square grid patterns with 5 μm wide features and varied pitch. The patterned films had three-dimensional geometries with 900 nm film thickness. After surface functionalization with wheat germ agglutinin, the size of Pseudomonas fluorescens aggregates immobilized was dependent on the pattern dimensions. Films patterned as parallel lines or square grids with a pitch of 10 μm or less led to the immobilization of individual microbes with minimal formation of aggregates. Both geometries allowed for incremental increases in aggregate size distribution with each increase in pitch. These engineered surfaces combine spatial confinement with affinity-based capture to control the extent of microbe adhesion and aggregation, and can also be used as a platform to investigate intercellular interactions and biofilm formation in microbial populations of controlled sizes.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.