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Related Concept Videos

Adhesion01:14

Adhesion

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Adhesion occurs when one type of molecule is attracted to a different molecule. Water exhibits adhesive properties in the presence of polar surfaces, such as glass or cellulose in plants. For instance, when water is poured into a glass, the positively charged hydrogen molecules of water are more attracted to the negatively charged oxygen molecules in the silica than to the oxygen in neighboring water molecules.
Capillary action is a result of water’s adhesive tendencies. When a narrow...
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Adherens Junctions01:24

Adherens Junctions

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Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types –  adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as  epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as  heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
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Synthesis of Strong Adhesive Hydrogel, Gelatin O-Nitrosobenzaldehyde
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Fewer Bacteria Adhere to Softer Hydrogels.

Kristopher W Kolewe1, Shelly R Peyton1, Jessica D Schiffman1

  • 1Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst , Amherst, Massachusetts 01003-9303, United States.

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|August 21, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Hydrogel stiffness influences bacterial attachment. Softer hydrogels significantly reduce bacterial adhesion, offering a new strategy against biofilm infections.

Keywords:
Escherichia coliStaphylococcus aureusYoung’s modulibiofilmhydrogelpoly(ethylene glycol)

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Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Microbiology
  • Surface Chemistry

Background:

  • Biofilm-associated infections are common on medical devices, leading to antibiotic resistance.
  • Developing alternative strategies to delay biofilm formation is crucial.
  • Bacteria can sense surfaces via motor function changes, but hydrogel stiffness effects on attachment are unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how polymer hydrogel stiffness influences initial bacterial attachment.
  • To explore hydrogel stiffness as a tunable parameter for reducing bacterial adhesion.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesized poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) and agar hydrogels with varying stiffness (soft, intermediate, stiff).
  • Analyzed attachment of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus using confocal microscopy after 2 and 24 hours.
  • Correlated bacterial attachment with hydrogel Young's moduli.

Main Results:

  • Bacterial attachment (E. coli and S. aureus) increased with hydrogel stiffness, irrespective of material or time.
  • Soft PEGDMA hydrogels showed 52-82% fewer E. coli and 62-79% less S. aureus coverage after 24 hours compared to stiffer hydrogels.
  • A clear positive correlation was observed between hydrogel stiffness and bacterial adhesion.

Conclusions:

  • Hydrogel stiffness is a key factor in early bacterial attachment.
  • Tunable hydrogel stiffness can be a synergistic strategy with antimicrobials to combat biofilm infections.
  • Reducing bacterial adhesion through material properties offers a promising approach to prevent infections.