The interactions of these six well-characterized gels with bacteria were determined using Escherichia coli K12 MG1655 and Staphylococcus aureus SH1000. The attachment of both microbes decreased by at least 60% on all bottlebrush gels versus controls. These findings suggest that hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and amphiphilic biomaterials effectively resist the early attachment of Gram-negative and Gram-positive microorganisms, providing guidance for the design of next-generation antifouling surfaces.
This research article titled, "Antifouling Activity of Bottlebrush Network Hydrogels" was published in ACS Appl. Bio Mater. by Meng-Chen Chiang, Brandon R. Clarke*, Gregory N. Tew*, and Jessica D. Schiffman.