Development of Polythiourethane/ZnO-Based Anti-Fouling Materials and Evaluation of the Adhesion of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida glabrata Using Single-Cell Force Spectroscopy

The attachment of bacteria and other microbes to natural artificial surfaces leads the development biofilms, which can further cause nosocomial infections. Thus, an important field research is new materials capable preventing initial adhesion pathogenic microorganisms. In this work, novel polymer/particle composite materials, based on a polythiourethane (PTU) matrix either spherical (s-ZnO) or tetrapodal (t-ZnO) shaped ZnO fillers, were developed characterized with respect their mechanical, chemical surface properties. To then evaluate potential as anti-fouling surfaces, two different microorganism species, Staphylococcus aureus Candida glabrata, was studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Our results show that both S. C. glabrata PTU PTU/ZnO decreased compared model polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). It furthermore found amount s-ZnO t-ZnO filler had direct influence aureus, increasing amounts particles resulted in reduced cells. For microorganisms, material composites 5 wt.% showed greatest for significantly Altogether, pathogens exhibit capacity adhere newly nanomaterials used study, thus showing bio-medical applications.