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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, May 2006, p. 3673-3677, Vol. 72, No. 5
0099-2240/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.72.5.3673-3677.2006
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Effects of Quaternary Ammonium Silane Coatings on Mixed Fungal and Bacterial Biofilms on Tracheoesophageal Shunt Prostheses

Janine J. H. Oosterhof,1,2 Kevin J. D. A. Buijssen,1,2 Henk J. Busscher,2 Bernard F. A. M. van der Laan,1 and Henny C. van der Mei2*

Departments of Otorhinolaryngology,1 Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen and University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands2

Received 9 January 2006/ Accepted 22 February 2006

Two quaternary ammonium silanes (QAS) were used to coat silicone rubber tracheoesophageal shunt prostheses, yielding a positively charged surface. One QAS coating [(trimethoxysilyl)-propyldimethyloctadecylammonium chloride] was applied through chemical bonding, while the other coating, Biocidal ZF, was sprayed onto the silicone rubber surface. The sprayed coating lost its stability within an hour, while the chemically bonded coating appeared stable. Upon incubation in an artificial throat model, allowing simultaneous adhesion and growth of yeast and bacteria, all coated prostheses showed significant reductions in the numbers of viable yeast (to 12% to 16%) and bacteria (to 27% to 36%) compared with those for silicone rubber controls, as confirmed using confocal laser scanning microscopy after live/dead staining of the biofilms. In situ hybridization with fluorescently labeled oligonucleotide probes showed that yeasts expressed hyphae on the untreated and Biocidal ZF-coated prostheses but not on the QAS-coated prostheses. Whether this is a result of the positive QAS coating or is due to the reduced number of bacteria is currently unknown. In summary, this is the first report on the inhibitory effects of positively charged coatings on the viability of yeasts and bacteria in mixed biofilms. Although the study initially aimed at reducing voice prosthetic biofilms, its relevance extends to all biomedical and environmental surfaces where mixed biofilms develop and present a problem.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen and University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands. Phone: 31 50 3633140. Fax: 31 50 3633159. E-mail: h.c.van.der.mei{at}med.umcg.nl.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, May 2006, p. 3673-3677, Vol. 72, No. 5
0099-2240/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.72.5.3673-3677.2006
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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