According to the CDC, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) accounts for over 300,000 yearly hospitalizations. With no new treatments for these infections on the horizon, MRSA poses a major threat to the lives of millions. Over 80% of these bacterial infections develop as a result of biofilms. These films evade treatment by forming layers of bacteria and extracellular matrix that resist breakdown and cause recurring infection. Biofilms represent one of the most common causes of medical device failure as bacteria can easily adhere to the polymers, such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), used to make these devices. Our overall goal is to develop novel methodologies and therapeutics to prevent and disperse bacterial biofilms. We are exploring the functionalization of PDMS with omega-amino alkyl silanes to evaluate how these surface modifications impact MRSA biofilm formation. Synthetic surface modification methodologies and analyses of bacterial biofilm formation will be presented.

Evaluation of polymer surface modification as an inhibitor of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilm formation

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.