On-Demand Modulation of Bacterial Cell Fates on Multifunctional Dynamic Substrates

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation pose significant challenges in healthcare and industry.
• Developing surfaces with tunable antimicrobial properties is crucial for preventing infections and contamination.
• Existing antimicrobial surfaces often lack dynamic control over their functionality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create novel dynamic surfaces with electrically switchable antibacterial states.
• To investigate the mechanisms by which surface charge influences bacterial interaction and fate.
• To demonstrate the practical application of these dynamic surfaces in eradicating specific contaminants.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of zwitterionic low-density self-assembled monolayers (LDSAMs) of alkanethiolates on gold substrates.
• Electrical modulation of alkanethiolate conformation to generate zwitterionic, anionic, and cationic surface states.
• Assessment of bacterial adhesion, killing, and release dynamics on the modulated surfaces.
• Evaluation of the surface's efficacy in selectively eliminating mycoplasma contaminants from cell cultures.

Main Results:

• Achieved unprecedented dynamic surfaces with three interconvertible states: bacteria-adherable, bactericidal, and nonfouling.
• Demonstrated reversible switching of surface multifunctionality, enabling bacteria killing and subsequent release.
• Electrically modulated surface charges (zwitterionic, anionic, cationic) dictated distinct bacterial responses.
• Successfully applied the strategy for selective eradication of mycoplasma contaminants in mammalian cell cultures.

Conclusions:

• Electrically controlled dynamic surfaces based on LDSAMs offer a versatile platform for managing bacterial interactions.
• The ability to switch between adhesion, killing, and nonfouling states provides a novel approach to combating bacterial contamination.
• This technology shows promise for applications requiring precise control over surface bioactivity, including selective pathogen removal.