By applying a technology called SLIPS (slippery-liquid-infused porous surfaces) to solid surfaces, a team of Harvard scientists are able to trick bacteria into thinking they have nowhere to attach to and deprive the bacteria of the static interface that they need to grip to and use to form biofilms.
Biofilms may no longer have any solid ground upon which to stand. A team of Harvard scientists has developed a slick way to prevent the troublesome bacterial communities from ever forming on a surface.
Biofilms stick to just about everything, from copper pipes to steel ship hulls to glass catheters. The slimy coatings are more than simply a nuisance, resulting in decreased energy efficiency, contamination of water and food supplies, and — especially in medical settings — persistent infections. Even cavities in teeth are the unwelcome result of bacterial colonies.
In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), lead co-authors Joanna Aizenberg, Alexander Epstein, and Tak-Sing Wong coated solid surfaces with an immobilized liquid film to trick the bacteria into thinking they had nowhere to attach and grow.
“People have tried all sorts of things to deter biofilm buildup — textured surfaces, chemical coatings, and antibiotics, for example,” says Aizenberg, Amy Smith Berylson Professor of Materials Science at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and a core faculty member at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard. “In all those cases, the solutions are short-lived at best. The surface treatments wear off, become covered with dirt, or the bacteria even deposit their own coatings on top of the coating intended to prevent them. In the end, bacteria manage to settle and grow on just about any solid surface we can come up with.”
Taking a completely different approach, the researchers used their recently developed technology, dubbed SLIPS (slippery-liquid-infused porous surfaces) to effectively create a hybrid surface that is smooth and slippery due to the liquid layer that is immobilized on it. First described in the Sept. 22, 2011, issue of the journal Nature, the super-slippery surfaces have been shown to repel both water- and oil-based liquids and even to prevent ice or frost from forming.
The word “SLIPS” is coated with the SLIPS technology to show its ability to repel liquids and solids and even prevent ice or frost from forming. The slippery discovery has now been shown to prevent more than 99 percent of harmful bacterial slime from forming on surfaces. Image courtesy of Joanna Aizenberg, Rebecca Belisle, and Tak-Sing Wong
“By creating a liquid-infused structured surface, we deprive bacteria of the static interface they need to get a grip and grow together into biofilms,” says Epstein, a recent Ph.D. graduate who worked in Aizenberg’s lab at the time of the study.
“In essence, we turned a once bacteria-friendly solid surface into a liquid one. As a result, biofilms cannot cling to the material, and even if they do form, they easily ‘slip’ off under mild flow conditions,” adds Wong, a researcher at SEAS and a Croucher Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at the Wyss Institute.
Aizenberg and her collaborators reported that SLIPS reduced by 96 to 99 percent the formation of three of the most notorious, disease-causing biofilms — Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus — over a seven-day period.
The technology works in both a static environment and under flow, or natural conditions, making it ideally suited for coating implanted medical devices that interact with bodily fluids. The coated surfaces can also combat bacterial growth in environments with extreme pH levels, intense ultraviolet light, and high salinity.
SLIPS is also nontoxic, readily scalable, and most importantly, self-cleaning, needing nothing more than gravity or a gentle flow of liquid to stay unsoiled. As previously demonstrated with a wide variety of liquids and solids, including blood, oil, and ice, everything seems to slip off surfaces treated with the technology.
To date, this may be the first successful test of a nontoxic synthetic surface that can almost completely prevent the formation of biofilms over an extended period of time. The approach may find applications in medical, industrial, and consumer products and settings.
In future studies, the researchers aim to better understand the mechanisms involved in preventing biofilms. In particular, they are interested in whether any bacteria transiently attach to the interface and then slip off, if they just float above the surface, or if any individuals can remain loosely attached.
“Biofilms have been amazing at outsmarting us. And even when we can attack them, we often make the situation worse with toxins or chemicals. With some very cool, nature-inspired design tricks, we are excited about the possibility that biofilms may have finally met their match,” concludes Aizenberg.
Aizenberg and Epstein’s co-authors included Rebecca A. Belisle, research fellow at SEAS, and Emily Marie Boggs ’13, an undergraduate biomedical engineering concentrator at Harvard College. The authors acknowledge support from the Department of Defense Office of Naval Research; the Croucher Foundation; and the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University.
with the aid of making use of a generation referred to as slips (slippery-liquid-infused porous surfaces) to solid surfaces, a group of harvard scientists are able to trick bacteria into wondering they've nowhere to attach to and deprive the bacteria of the static interface that they want to grip to and use to shape biofilms.biofilms may also no longer have any stable floor upon which to face. a team of harvard scientists has evolved a slick way to prevent the tough bacterial communities from ever forming on a floor.
biofilms stick to just about the entirety, from copper pipes to metal ship hulls to glass catheters. the slimy coatings are greater than truely a nuisance, resulting in decreased power efficiency, infection of water and meals components, and — particularly in medical settings — chronic infections. even cavities in teeth are the unwelcome end result of bacterial colonies.
in a take a look at published in the lawsuits of the countrywide academy of sciences (pnas), lead co-authors joanna aizenberg, alexander epstein, and tak-sing wong coated solid surfaces with an immobilized liquid film to trick the micro organism into questioning they had nowhere to connect and grow.
“humans have attempted all types of matters to deter biofilm buildup — textured surfaces, chemical coatings, and antibiotics, as an example,” says aizenberg, amy smith berylson professor of materials technology at the harvard college of engineering and applied sciences (seas) and a core college member at the wyss institute for biologically inspired engineering at harvard. “in all the ones cases, the answers are short-lived at nice. the floor remedies put on off, emerge as blanketed with dirt, or the micro organism even deposit their very own coatings on top of the coating intended to prevent them. in the end, bacteria manage to settle and grow on pretty much any solid surface we are able to provide you with.”
taking a very one of a kind technique, the researchers used their lately developed technology, dubbed slips (slippery-liquid-infused porous surfaces) to successfully create a hybrid floor this is easy and slippery because of the liquid layer this is immobilized on it. first described inside the sept. 22, 2011, problem of the magazine nature, the superb-slippery surfaces have been shown to repel each water- and oil-based totally liquids and even to prevent ice or frost from forming.
slips (slippery-liquid-infused porous surfaces)
the phrase “slips” is coated with the slips generation to reveal its ability to repel liquids and solids or even prevent ice or frost from forming. the slippery discovery has now been proven to prevent greater than ninety nine percent of dangerous bacterial slime from forming on surfaces. picture courtesy of joanna aizenberg, rebecca belisle, and tak-sing wong
“by using growing a liquid-infused established floor, we deprive micro organism of the static interface they need to get a grip and develop together into biofilms,” says epstein, a latest ph.d. graduate who labored in aizenberg’s lab at the time of the look at.
“in essence, we became a once bacteria-friendly solid surface right into a liquid one. as a end result, biofilms can not hang to the material, and even in the event that they do form, they easily ‘slip’ off underneath mild waft situations,” adds wong, a researcher at seas and a croucher basis postdoctoral fellow at the wyss institute.
aizenberg and her collaborators stated that slips decreased via 96 to ninety nine percentage the formation of 3 of the maximum infamous, ailment-causing biofilms — pseudomonas aeruginosa, escherichia coli, and staphylococcus aureus — over a seven-day length.
the generation works in each a static environment and underneath go with the flow, or natural conditions, making it ideally fitted for coating implanted scientific devices that have interaction with physical fluids. the lined surfaces also can fight bacterial boom in environments with extreme ph stages, intense ultraviolet mild, and high salinity.
slips is also secure, effortlessly scalable, and most importantly, self-cleansing, needing not anything extra than gravity or a mild drift of liquid to stay unsoiled. as formerly demonstrated with a wide type of beverages and solids, such as blood, oil, and ice, the whole lot seems to slide off surfaces treated with the era.
so far, this may be the first a hit test of a trustworthy synthetic surface that could nearly absolutely prevent the formation of biofilms over an extended period of time. the method may also discover packages in medical, business, and customer merchandise and settings.
in future research, the researchers aim to higher understand the mechanisms involved in preventing biofilms. particularly, they are interested in whether or not any micro organism transiently connect to the interface after which slip off, in the event that they just waft above the floor, or if any individuals can continue to be loosely connected.
“biofilms had been excellent at outsmarting us. or even whilst we will assault them, we frequently make the scenario worse with pollution or chemical compounds. with a few very cool, nature-stimulated design tricks, we are enthusiastic about the possibility that biofilms may also have subsequently met their suit,” concludes aizenberg.
aizenberg and epstein’s co-authors covered rebecca a. belisle, research fellow at seas, and emily marie boggs ’13, an undergraduate biomedical engineering concentrator at harvard college. the authors acknowledge guide from the branch of protection office of naval studies; the croucher foundation; and the wyss institute for biologically stimulated engineering at harvard university.
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