(261c) Inhibiting Bacterial Biofilm Formation on Polydimethylsiloxane with Mucin Coating

In the innate immune system of mammalians, mucins cover the epithelial tissues and prevent the colonization of microbial pathogens. Abiotic biomaterials for biomedical implants lack such protection, leading to biofilm formation and chronic infections with high-level antibiotic tolerance. Previous studies demonstrated that the native mucin coating of materials affects biofilm formation, and the primary mucin component glycan can repress virulence gene expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, native mucins are sensitive to material preparation conditions. In this study, we investigated if the modification of a biomaterial with denatured mucin also affects microbial attachment. We coated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with denatured porcine mucin, rendering the surface more hydrophilic. The coating was verified using FT-IR. Mucin coating inhibited the attachment of P. aeruginosa PAO1 and its mucoid mutant PDO300, by 95±2% and 64±1%, respectively, compared to uncoated control surfaces. Mucin coating also improved biofilm prevention by active topography with the magnetically driven beating of micron-sized pillars. Specifically, the coating further reduced 6 h attachment of E. coli K12/pGLO by 20.6% compared to the beating of uncoated pillars. These results are helpful for the rational design of antifouling biomaterials with long-term resistance to microbial biofilm formation.