First prize: Novel uropathogen-resistant coatings inspired by marine mussels

Success in the prevention of urinary device infections has been elusive, largely due to multiple bacterial attachment strategies and the development of urinary conditioning films. We investigated a novel anti-fouling coating consisting of mussel adhesive protein mimics conjugated to polyethylene glycol (mPEG-DOPA(3)) for its potential to resist conditioning film formation and uropathogen attachment in human urine.

Model TiO(2) -coated silicon disks ( approximately 75 mm(2)) were either coated with mPEG-DOPA(3) or left uncoated and sterilized using ethylene oxide gas. For bacterial attachment experiments, coated and uncoated surfaces were separately challenged with bacterial strains comprising six major uropathogenic species for 24 hours at 37 degrees C in human pooled urine. Starting inoculum for each strain was 10(5) CFU/mL and 0.5 mL was used per disk. Following incubation, the disks were thoroughly rinsed in phosphate buffered saline to remove non-adherent and weakly-adherent organisms and cell scrapers were employed to dislodge those that were firmly attached. Adherent bacteria were quantitated using dilution plating. Representative disks were also examined using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray analysis, and live/dead viability staining.

The mPEG-DOPA(3) coating significantly resisted the attachment of all uropathogens tested, with a maximum >231-fold reduction in adherence for Escherichia coli GR-12, Enterococcus faecalis 23241, and Proteus mirabilis 296 compared to uncoated TiO(2) disks. Scanning electron microscopy and viability staining analyses also reflected these results and demonstrated the ability of the coating to resist urinary constituent adherence as well.

Model surfaces coated with mPEG-DOPA(3) strongly resisted both urinary film formation and bacterial attachment in vitro. Future in vitro and in vivo studies will be conducted to assess whether similar findings can be demonstrated when these polymer coatings are applied to urologic devices.