Fluorinated vs. Zwitterionic-Polymer Grafted Surfaces for Adhesion Prevention of the Fungal Pathogen <i>Candida albicans</i>

• Main Authors: Elena Masotti, Noemi Poma, Elisa Guazzelli, Ilenia Fiaschi, Antonella Glisenti, Federico Vivaldi, Andrea Bonini, Fabio Di Francesco, Arianna Tavanti, Giancarlo Galli, Elisa Martinelli
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-02-01
• Series: Polymers
• Subjects: <i>candida albicans</i>; zwitterionic polymer; fluorinated polymer; biofouling; antifouling; adhesion
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/2/398

Fluorinated (F6) and zwitterionic, as well as phosphorylcholine (MPC) and sulfobetaine (MSA), copolymers containing a low amount (1 and 5 mol%) of 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (PTMSi) were prepared and covalently grafted to glass slides by using the trimethoxysilyl groups as anchorage points. Glass-surface functionalization and polymer-film stability upon immersion in water were proven by contact angle and angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AR-XPS) measurements. Antifouling performance of the grafted films was assayed against the yeast <i>Candida albicans</i>, the most common <i>Candida</i> species, which causes over 80% of candidiasis. Results revealed that the F6 fluorinated, hydrophobic copolymers performed much better in reducing the adhesion of <i>C. albicans</i>, with respect to both corresponding zwitterionic, hydrophilic MPC and MSA counterparts, and were similar to the glass negative control, which is well-known to inhibit the adhesion of <i>C. albicans</i>. A composition-dependent activity was also found, with the films of copolymer with 99 mol% F6 fluorinated co-units performing best.