ADHESION OF STAPHYLOCOCCI TO CHEMICALLY-MODIFIED AND NATIVE POLYMERS, AND THE INFLUENCE OF PREADSORBED FIBRONECTIN, VITRONECTIN AND FIBRINOGEN

A commercially available poly(ether urethane), polyethylene, and modifications of these polymers have been compared with respect to adsorption of fibronectin, fibrinogen and vitronectin. The adhesion of staphylococcal strains (characterized for ability to bind immobilized proteins, cell surface hydrophobicity and charge) was studied by bioluminescence with and without preadsorption of proteins to the surfaces. The least amount of proteins and the fewest bacteria adhered to the amphiphilic surfaces. When polymers were preincubated with plasma or albumin, lower numbers of bacteria adhered, except to Pellethane grafted with PEG 20 000, to which coagulase-negative staphylococci adhered to a higher extent.