Surfaces that resist bioadhesion

The search for surfaces that resist bioadhesion has continued with the pursuit of a number of avenues. A large part of the studies has investigated PEG coatings. Nevertheless, there is still controversy about what exactly the properties and modes of action of an 'ideal' PEG coating should be. While some studies have reported no irreversible protein adsorption, other, very similar coatings appear less able to resist bioadhesion. Of great interest are results showing that PEG surfaces with very short chains are capable of rejecting proteins. As it is very difficult to obtain direct information about the microstructure of the coatings, studies typically employ plausible models to interpret observations. New analytical techniques and the direct measurement of interfacial forces between proteins and surfaces open up the possibility of improved, guided design and feedback in the optimization of surfaces intended to resist bioadhesion. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.