Bacterial adhesion to polyurethane surfaces in the presence of pre-adsorbed high molecular weight kininogen

The factors which affect the adherence of a bacteria cell to the surface of a biomaterial include the surface chemistry of the cell and material, as well as the composition of the adsorbed protein layer when the biomaterial is exposed to circulating blood. In an effort to better understand the mechanisms by which bacteria adhere to such surfaces, and specifically to determine the effects of high molecular weight kininogen on bacterial adhesion, experiments were performed in which the attachment of Staphylococcus aureus was directly observed on glass and on a series of functionalized polyurethanes. These surfaces had been pre-adsorbed with various concentrations of high molecular weight kininogen and fibrinogen. Attachment was observed using a radial flow chamber, in which shear stress varied inversely with radial distance. Protein adsorption studies were also performed using 125I labeled fibrinogen to investigate the relationship between surface chemistry, protein adsorption, and bacterial attachment. Bacterial attachment was significantly decreased when the glass surface was pre-adsorbed with high molecular weight kininogen--either alone, or following adsorption of fibrinogen. High molecular weight kininogen thus exhibited anti-adhesive effects. On polyurethane surfaces pre-adsorbed with fibrinogen, kininogen, and albumin, the highest bacterial attachment was found on the base polyurethane, while significant decreases were seen on the hydrophilic polyurethanes. In addition, it was found that the surface with the least bacterial attachment and fibrinogen deposition was the polyurethane with pendant phosphonate groups.