Laccase coating of catheters with poly(catechin) for biofilm reduction

Abstract

Urinary polyurethane (PU) and silicone (SI) catheters were coated with poly(catechin) to reduce bacterial adhesion. Laccase was used as a biocatalyst to oxidize the catechin monomer and produce the polymer. Optimization of the catheter surface functionalization followed two different approaches: with or without previous alkali treatment. The results indicated higher levels of polymer attachment for the alkali-treated catheters (+ 18% for PU and + 33% for SI catheters). The reduction of biofilm formation on the catheter surface was quantitatively evaluated under static adhesion conditions against Escherichia coli (96% reduction on PU) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (81% reduction on SI). The type of catheter material greatly influenced bacterial adhesion, though alkali treatment was consistently beneficial for poly(catechin) attachment and consequently for biofilm reduction.

Keywords::

• Antibiofilm
• adhesion
• catheters
• catechin
• laccase
• functionalization

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Pronefro, Portugal and Degania, Israel for supplying polyurethane and silicone catheters, respectively.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no declarations of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

The author Idalina Gonçalves would like to acknowledge the NOVO project (FP7-HEALTH-2011.2.3.1-5) for the funding. The author Carla Silva and Teresa Matamá would like to acknowledge FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia for the grants SFRH/BPD/46515/2008 and SFRH/BPD/47555/2008.