Regensburg 2013 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 32: Cell Adhesion and Mechanics
BP 32.4: Talk
Friday, March 15, 2013, 10:15–10:30, H43
Influence of the Subsurface Composition of a Material on the Adhesion of Staphylococci — •Christian Titus Kreis1, Peter Loskill1, Nicolas Thewes1, Mathias Herrmann2, and Karin Jacobs1 — 1Saarland University, Experimental Physics, 66041 Saarbruecken, Germany — 2The Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, 66421, Germany
Controlling the interface between bacteria and solid materials has become an important task in biomedical science. For a fundamental and comprehensive understanding of adhesion it is necessary to seek quantitative information about the involved interactions. Most studies concentrate on the modification of the surface (chemical composition, hydrophobicity, or topography) neglecting, however, the influence of the bulk material, which always contributes to the overall interaction via van der Waals forces. We applied AFM force spectroscopy and flow chamber experiments to probe the adhesion of Staphylococcus carnosus to a set of tailored Si wafers, allowing for a separation of short- and long-range forces. We provide experimental evidence that the subsurface composition of a substrate influences bacterial adhesion. A coarse estimation of the strength of the van der Waals forces via the involved Hamaker constants substantiates the experimental results. The results demonstrate that the uppermost layer is not solely responsible for the strength of adhesion. Rather, for all kinds of adhesion studies, it is equally important to consider the contribution of the subsurface.
P. Loskill et al. Langmuir 28 (2012) 7242