The effects of fluid composition and shear conditions on bacterial adhesion to an antifouling peptide-coated surface

Biofilms can damage implants and are difficult to treat. Here, we assessed the performance of a tripeptide that self-assembles into an antifouling coating over a broad range of shear conditions that are relevant to biomedical applications. Adhesion assays were performed using a parallel plate flow chamber. The results show that the coating can reduce Escherichia coli adhesion up to 70% when compared with glass. At a shear rate of 15/s, typical for urinary catheters, the coating reduced the adhesion by more than 50%. These findings suggest critical features that should be considered when developing surfaces for biomedical purposes.