Calcium and magnesium cations enhance the adhesion of motile and nonmotile pseudomonas aeruginosa on alginate films

We investigated the impact of calcium and magnesium ions on the deposition kinetics of flagellated and nonflagellated Pseudomonas aeruginosa onto an alginate conditioning film in a radial stagnation point flow system. The bacterial deposition/adhesion behavior was related to structural changes of the alginate film in the presence of the divalent cations. Our results showed that adhesion of nonmotile bacteria was governed by cation bridging interactions between high-affinity sites at the bacterial surface and either clean or alginate-conditioned substrate surfaces. For motile bacteria, the adhesion onto clean quartz was governed by electrostatic interactions while adhesion onto alginate-conditioned quartz was dependent on the structure and viscoelastic properties of the alginate film in the presence of calcium or magnesium. We demonstrate that bacterial adhesion behavior is governed both by the effects of divalent cations on the surface properties of the bacteria and the substrate and by the type of specific interactions occurring between these two surfaces.     

Modeling the interaction between integrin-binding peptide (RGD) and rutile surface: the effect of cation mediation on Asp adsorption

The binding of a negatively charged residue, aspartic acid (Asp) in tripeptide arginine-glycine-aspartic acid, onto a negatively charged hydroxylated rutile (110) surface in aqueous solution, containing divalent (Mg(2+), Ca(2+), or Sr(2+)) or monovalent (Na(+), K(+), or Rb(+)) cations, was studied by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The results indicate that ionic radii and charges will significantly affect the hydration, adsorption geometry, and distance of cations from the rutile surface, thereby regulating the Asp/rutile binding mode. The adsorption strength of monovalent cations on the rutile surface in the order Na(+) > K(+) > Rb(+) shows a "reverse" lyotropic trend, while the divalent cations on the same surface exhibit a "regular" lyotropic behavior with decreasing crystallographic radii (the adsorption strength of divalent cations: Sr(2+) > Ca(2+) > Mg(2+)). The Asp side chain in NaCl, KCl, and RbCl solutions remains stably H-bonded to the surface hydroxyls and the inner-sphere adsorbed compensating monovalent cations act as a bridge between the COO(-) group and the rutile, helping to "trap" the negatively charged Asp side chain on the negatively charged surface. In contrast, the mediating divalent cations actively participate in linking the COO(-) group to the rutile surface; thus the Asp side chain can remain stably on the rutile (110) surface, even if it is not involved in any hydrogen bonds with the surface hydroxyls. Inner- and outer-sphere geometries are all possible mediation modes for divalent cations in bridging the peptide to the rutile surface.     

流动注射分光光度法研究离子强度对活性炭吸附阴离子染料的影响

利用流动注射分光光度法技术，考察了不同离子强度（NaCl)下，在水溶液中表面带负电的活性炭分别吸附3种阴离子染料的动力学行为．利用固-液相互作用方程，求取了活性炭-染料相互作用能．比较了无机盐中阳离子的种类对吸附影响的差异．结果表明：对于3种阴离子染料，离子强度的增大都起到加速吸附的作用：表现吸附速率常数、活性炭-染料相互作用能与离子强度三者之间存在密切的内在联系：在相同离子强度下，二价阳离子对吸附的加速作用要比一价阳离子的显著，但在同价阳离子之间这种作用的差别较小．     

Direct observation of cations and polynucleotides explains polyion adsorption to like-charged surfaces

We show an experimental approach for directly observing the condensation of polynucleotides and their electrolyte counterions at a liquid/solid interface. X-ray standing waves (XSW) generated by Bragg diffraction from a d = 20 nm Si/Mo multilayer substrate are used to measure the distinct distribution profiles of the polyanions and simple cations along the surface normal direction with subnanometer resolution. The 1D spatial sensitivity of this approach is enhanced by observing the XSW induced fluorescence modulations over multiple orders of Bragg peaks. We study the interesting divalent cation driven adsorption of anionic polynucleotides to anionic surfaces by exposing a hydroxyl-terminated silica surface to an aqueous solution with ZnCl2 and mercurated poly-uridylic acid (a synthetic RNA molecule). The in situ long-period XSW measurements are used to follow the evolution of both the Zn and Hg distribution profiles during the adsorption process. The conditions and physical mechanisms that govern the observed divalent cation adsorption and subsequent polynucleotide adsorption to an anionic surface are explained by a thermodynamic model that incorporates nonlinear electrostatic effects.     

Transport of kaolinite colloids through quartz sand: influence of humic acid, Ca(2+), and trace metals

To evaluate the risk of contaminant transport by mobile colloids, it seems essential to understand how colloids and associated pollutants behave during their migration through uncontaminated soil or groundwater. In this study, we investigated at pH 4 the influence of flow velocity, humic acid, solution Ca(2+) concentrations, and trace metals (Pb(2+), Cu(2+)) on the transport and deposition of kaolinite particles through a pure crystalline quartz sand as porous medium. A short-pulse chromatographic technique was used to measure colloid deposition. Adsorption of humic acid to the kaolinite increase its negative surface charge and then decrease colloid deposition. Experiments with different flow rates showed that humic-coated kaolinite colloid deposition followed a first-order kinetic rate law. The deposition rate coefficients of humic-coated kaolinite colloids increase with increasing Ca(2+) concentration in the suspension. The effect of trace metals on the mobility is studied by injecting two suspensions with different concentrations of Pb(2+) and Cu(2+). At very low cation concentration, the fraction of colloids retained is low and roughly independent of the nature of divalent cations. At high concentration, the deposition is higher and depends on the affinity of divalent cations toward humic-coated kaolinite colloids.     

Effect of solution chemistry on the surface charge of polymeric reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes

A streaming potential analyzer has been used to investigate the effect of solution chemistry on the surface charge of four commercial reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes. Zeta potentials of these membranes were analyzed for aqueous solutions of various chemical compositions over a pH range of 2 to 9. In the presence of an indifferent electrolyte (NaCl), the isoelectric points of these membranes range from 3.0 to 5.2. The curves of zeta potential versus solution pH for all membranes display a shape characteristic of amphoteric surfaces with acidic and basic functional groups. Results with salts containing divalent ions (CaCl₂, Na₂SO₄, and MgSO₄) indicate that divalent cations more readily adsorb to the membrane surface than divalent anions, especially in the higher pH range. Three sources of humic acid, Suwannee River humic acid, peat humic acid, and Aldrich humic acid, were used to investigate the effect of dissolved natural organic matter on membrane surface charge. Other solution chemistries involved in this investigation include an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate) and a cationic surfactant (dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide). Results show that humic substances and surfactants readily adsorb to the membrane surface and markedly influence the membrane surface charge.     

Adsorption of DNA onto anionic lipid surfaces

Currently self-assembled DNA delivery systems composed of DNA multivalent cations and anionic lipids are considered to be promising tools for gene therapy. These systems become an alternative to traditional cationic lipid–DNA complexes because of their low cytotoxicity lipids. However, currently these nonviral gene delivery methods exhibit low transfection efficiencies. This feature is in large part due to the poorly understood DNA complexation mechanisms at the molecular level. It is well-known that the adsorption of DNA onto like charged lipid surfaces requires the presence of multivalent cations that act as bridges between DNA and anionic lipids. Unfortunately, the molecular mechanisms behind such adsorption phenomenon still remain unclear. Accordingly a historical background of experimental evidence related to adsorption and complexation of DNA onto anionic lipid surfaces mediated by different multivalent cations is firstly reviewed. Next, recent experiments aimed to characterise the interfacial adsorption of DNA onto a model anionic phospholipid monolayer mediated by Ca^2 + (including AFM images) are discussed. Afterwards, modelling studies of DNA adsorption onto charged surfaces are summarised before presenting preliminary results obtained from both CG and all-atomic MD computer simulations. Our results allow us to establish the optimal conditions for cation-mediated adsorption of DNA onto negatively charged surfaces. Moreover, atomistic simulations provide an excellent framework to understand the interaction between DNA and anionic lipids in the presence of divalent cations. Accordingly,our simulation results in conjunction go beyond the macroscopic picture in which DNA is stuck to anionic membranes by using multivalent cations that form glue layers between them. Structural aspects of the DNA adsorption and molecular binding between the different charged groups from DNA and lipids in the presenceof divalent cations are reported in the last part of the study. Although this research work is far from biomedical applications, we truly believe that scientific advances in this line will assist, at least in part, in the rationaldesign and development of optimal carrier systems for genes and applicable to other drugs.     

SURFACE MODIFICATION WITH HYDROGELS VIA MACROINITIATORS FOR ENHANCED FRICTION PROPERTIES OF BIOMATERIALS

ABSTRACT

A general method of surface modification is described which is based on dip-coating of a substrate with a macroinitiator and subsequent free radical polymerization of functional monomers. Using this method, it is possible to fix poly(acrylic acid) hydrogels on polymer surfaces, e.g. on catheters, which drastically reduces the friction of these materials. Similarly, other biological relevant properties, especially reduced protein or bacteria adsorption can be achieved by choosing appropriate monomers.

The substrate was first homogeneously dip-coated with e.g. the water-insoluble macroinitiator poly(octadecene-co-maleic anhydride), partially reacted to the tert.-butyl perester. Homogeneity, thickness, and reactivity of the macroinitiator layer was characterized in detail. After a temper step, surface homo- and copolymerizations of ionic monomers were carried out in water directly from the modified surface. The consistency of the hydrogel coating could be well controlled by the reaction conditions and the monomer composition. The correlation between the experimental parameters, the composition of the surface coating, and the friction properties was established. A relatively thick, slightly crosslinked poly(acrylic acid) hydrogel coating reduces the friction coefficient by 95% compared to that of uncoated surfaces.     

Isomer‐dependent properties of poly(vinyl pyridine)‐based films grown on copper surfaces

The effect of poly(2‐vinyl pyridine) (P2VP) and poly(4‐vinyl pyridine) (P4VP) isomers on the growth of surface films on copper substrates was studied by electrochemical, spectroscopic, thermogravimentric, and microscopic methods. In acid environment (3% v/v acetic acid) and in the presence of KSCN, electrochemically generated copper cations reacted rapidly with SCN^? and P2VP or P4VP, yielding coordination compounds, which deposited onto copper surfaces as films. The characteristics of such polymer–metal complexes (films) were markedly isomer‐dependent. Cu(I)/P2VP/SCN^? complexes with monovalent cations and sulfur‐coordinated thiocyanate were obtained in the presence of P2VP, whereas the formation of Cu(II)/P4VP/SCN^? complexes with divalent cations and nitrogen‐coordinated thiocyanate was observed in the presence of P4VP. Interestingly, similar physical–chemical properties (electronic structure, stoichiometry, and thermal behavior) were observed for materials synthesized by electrochemical and chemical methods. These results suggest, therefore, that control over the surface properties of copper substrates can be achieved using electrosynthesized films based on different PVP isomers. Besides acting as effective protective barriers against aggressive media and thus reducing the metal dissolution (corrosion) kinetics, these materials are potentially attractive for other applications in which surface properties are paramount, such as in catalysis. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 215–225, 2009     

Semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks composed of poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) and polyacrylamide hydrogels

Three series of semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks, based on crosslinked poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPA) and 1 wt % nonionic or ionic (cationic and anionic) linear polyacrylamide (PAAm), were synthesized to improve the mechanical properties of PNIPA gels. The effect of the incorporation of linear polymers into responsive networks on the temperature‐induced transition, swelling behavior, and mechanical properties was studied. Polymer networks with four different crosslinking densities were prepared with various molar ratios (25:1 to 100:1) of the monomer (N‐isopropyl acrylamide) to the crosslinker (methylenebisacrylamide). The hydrogels were characterized by the determination of the equilibrium degree of swelling at 25 °C, the compression modulus, and the effective crosslinking density, as well as the ultimate hydrogel properties, such as the tensile strength and elongation at break. The introduction of cationic and anionic linear hydrophilic PAAm into PNIPA networks increased the rate of swelling, whereas the presence of nonionic PAAm diminished it. Transition temperatures were significantly affected by both the crosslinking density and the presence of linear PAAm in the hydrogel networks. Although anionic PAAm had the greatest influence on increasing the transition temperature, the presence of nonionic PAAm caused the highest dimensional change. Semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks reinforced with cationic and nonionic PAAm exhibited higher tensile strengths and elongations at break than PNIPA hydrogels, whereas the presence of anionic PAAm caused a reduction in the mechanical properties. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3987–3999, 2004     

Influence of divalent ions on composition and viscoelasticity of polyelectrolyte complexes

The addition of monovalent salts to polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) comprising oppositely charged polyelectrolytes results in diminishing propensity for complexation, leading to complexes with higher water contents and lower moduli. However, the corresponding influence of multivalent ions on polyelectrolyte complexation has not yet been explored beyond enhanced screening effects. Here, we elucidate the significant impact of the valency of the salt cation on the composition, ion partitioning, and viscoelasticity of charge-matched PECs comprising sodium salt of poly(acrylic acid) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride). Notably, preferential partitioning of divalent cations (Ca²⁺ and Sr²⁺) into the complexes is observed, in stark contrast to the depletion of monovalent ions (Na⁺) from the complexes. Concomitantly, electrostatic bridging of polyanion chains by divalent ions is found to hinder their relaxation, manifesting as a non-monotonic evolution of the shear moduli of the complexes with increasing divalent salt concentrations. Relatedly, a failure of time-salt and time-ionic strength superposition approaches in presence of divalent ions is demonstrated, highlighting the nontrivial influence of these ions on chain relaxation behavior.     

Unsteady-State Flow of Flexible Polymers in Porous Media

In this paper we report an investigation of the unsteady-state flow of polymer solutions through granular porous media. The experiments were performed using high-molecular-weight nonionic and anionic polyacrylamides dissolved in water containing NaCl and model porous media obtained by packing silicon carbide (SiC) grains having a narrow grain size distribution. Before injection in porous media, the polymer solutions were carefully filtered according to a method that was proved to be efficient in removing any possibly remaining microgels. The SiC grain surface was passively oxidized by a controlled thermal treatment in order to obtain a surface partially covered by a thin silica layer having adsorption properties similar to those of quartzitic sand. By packing SiC grains of different sizes, porous media having identical adsorption properties and well-known pore throats sizes can be obtained with a good reproducibility. Parameters investigated include pore size, velocity gradient, polymer concentration, and adsorption energy. A striking unsteady-state flow behavior (pressure build-up at constant flow rate) is observed when three conditions are fulfilled: (a) the velocity gradient is larger than that known to be able to induce a coil-stretch transition, (b) the polymer adsorbs on the pore surfaces, and (c) the length of stretched macromolecules is larger than the effective pore throat diameter. When one of these conditions is not satisfied the flow remains steady. These observations are interpreted by a mechanism involving the adsorption and bridging across pore restrictions of elongated chains. We propose to refer to this peculiar mode of polymer adsorption as bridging adsorption. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

Fast exopolysaccharide secretion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on polar polymer surfaces

The influence of the surface chemical structure and related physicochemical properties on the adhesion of P. aeruginosa has been studied for moderately hydrophobic polymers and for hydrophilic surfaces obtained by O2-plasma treatments and 50 keV Ar+ beam irradiation of poly(hydroxymethylsiloxane) and poly(ethyleneterephthalate). The surface chemical structure has been obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the roughness was measured by atomic force microscopy, and the surface free energy was evaluated from contact angle measurements for all the polymer substrates before and after the irradiation treatments. It is shown that a massive and unusually fast secretion of exopolysaccharides onto highly polar surfaces, corresponding to the formation of complex three-dimensional multilayers (i.e., biofilm-like structures), occurs already after 2 h of incubation. It is suggested that such highly polar surfaces can operate either by promoting, by means of a still unknown biomolecular mechanism, an early gene expression process or by mimicking the P. aeruginosa cellular walls.     

Direct surface force measurements of polyelectrolyte multilayer films containing nanocrystalline cellulose

Polyelectrolyte multilayer films containing nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) make up a new class of nanostructured composite with applications ranging from coatings to biomedical devices. Moreover, these materials are amenable to surface force studies using colloid-probe atomic force microscopy (CP-AFM). For electrostatically assembled films with either NCC or PAH as the outermost layer, surface morphology was investigated by AFM and wettability was examined by contact angle measurements. By varying the surrounding ionic strength and pH, the relative contributions from electrostatic, van der Waals, steric, and polymer bridging interactions were evaluated. The ionic cross-linking in these films rendered them stable under all solution conditions studied although swelling at low pH and high ionic strength was inferred. The underlying polymer layer in the multilayered film was found to dictate the dominant surface forces when polymer migration and chain extension were facilitated. The precontact normal forces between a silica probe and an NCC-capped multilayer film were monotonically repulsive at pH values where the material surfaces were similarly and fully charged. In contrast, at pH 3.5, the anionic surfaces were weakly charged but the underlying layer of cationic PAH was fully charged and attractive forces dominated due to polymer bridging from extended PAH chains. The interaction with an anionic carboxylic acid probe showed similar behavior to the silica probe; however, for a cationic amine probe with an anionic NCC-capped film, electrostatic double-layer attraction at low pH, and electrostatic double-layer repulsion at high pH, were observed. Finally, the effect of the capping layer was studied with an anionic probe, which indicated that NCC-capped films exhibited purely repulsive forces which were larger in magnitude than the combination of electrostatic double-layer attraction and steric repulsion, measured for PAH-capped films. Wherever possible, DLVO theory was used to fit the measured surface forces and apparent surface potentials and surface charge densities were calculated.     

Orientational behavior of thermotropic liquid crystals on surfaces presenting electrostatically bound vesicular stomatitis virus

We report the orientational behavior of nematic phases of 4-cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl (5CB) on cationic, anionic, and nonionic surfaces before and after contact of these surfaces with solutions containing the negatively charged vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). The surfaces were prepared on evaporated films of gold by either adsorption of poly-L-lysine (cationic) or formation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) from HS(CH2)2SO3- (anionic) or HS(CH2)11(OCH2CH2)4OH (nonionic). Prior to treatment with virus, we measured the initial orientation of 5CB (delta epsilon = epsilon(parallel) - epsilon(perpendicular) > 0) to be parallel to the cationic surfaces (planar anchoring) but perpendicular (homeotropic) after equilibration for 5 days. A similar transition from planar to homeotropic orientation of 5CB was observed on the anionic surfaces. Only planar orientations of 5CB were observed on the nonionic surfaces. Because N-(4-methoxybenzylidene)-4-butylaniline (MBBA, delta epsilon = epsilon(parallel) - epsilon(perpendicular) < 0) exhibited planar alignment on all surfaces, the time-dependent alignment of 5CB on the ionic surfaces is consistent with a dipolar coupling between the 5CB and electrical double layers formed at the ionic interfaces. Treatment ofpoly-L-lysine-coated gold films (cationic) with purified solutions of VSV containing 10(8)-10(10) plaque-forming units per milliliter (pfu/mL) led to the homeotropic alignment of 5CB immediately after contact of 5CB with the surface. In contrast, treatment of anionic surfaces and nonionic surfaces with solutions of VSV containing approximately 10(10) pfu/mL did not cause immediate homeotropic alignment of 5CB. These results and others suggest that homeotropic alignment of 5CB on cationic surfaces treated with VSV of titer > or = 10(8) pfu/mL reflects the presence of virus electrostatically bound to these surfaces.     

表面活性剂对共轭聚合物荧光性质及电荷转移的影响

探讨了表面活性剂存在下, 水溶性阴离子共轭聚合物聚[5-甲氧基-2-(3-磺酰化丙氧基)-1,4-苯撑乙烯](简写为MPS-PPV)的微环境变化对荧光性质及电荷转移的影响. 结果表明, 阳离子表面活性剂及非离子表面活性剂使MPS-PPV荧光增强, 阴离子表面活性剂使其荧光先增强后减弱; 在MPS-PPV/表面活性剂体系中加入电子接受体Pd^2＋, 发现非离子表面活性剂体系的荧光猝灭效率提高, 阴离子及阳离子表面活性剂体系荧光猝灭效率下降. 此研究对研制基于阴离子共聚物的新型生物化学传感器具有一定的指导意义.     

A Facile Strategy to Construct Anti-Swelling,Antibacterial, and Antifogging Coatings for Protection of Medical Goggles

During the COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease 2019) pandemic, traditional medical goggles are not only easy to attach bacteria and viruses in long-term exposure, but easy to fogged up, which increases the risk of infection and affects productivity. Bacterial adhesion and fog can be significantly inhibited through the hydrogel coatings, owing to super hydrophilic properties. On the one hand, hydrogel coatings are easy to absorb water and swell in wet environment, resulting in reduced mechanical properties, even peeling off. On the other hand, the hydrogel coatings don't have intrinsic antibacterial properties, which still poses a potential risk of bacterial transmission. Herein, an anti-swelling and antibacterial hydrogel coating is synthesized by 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), acrylamide (AM), dimethylaminoethyl acrylate bromoethane (IL-Br), and poly(sodium-p-styrenesulfonate) (PSS). Due to the self-driven entropy reduction effect of polycation and polyanion, an ion cross-linking network is formed, which endows the hydrogel coating with excellent antiswelling performance. Moreover, because of the synergistic effect of highly hydrated surfaces and the active bactericidal effect from quaternary ammonium cations, the hydrogel coating exhibits outstanding antifouling performances. This work develops a facile strategy to fabricate anti-swelling, antifouling, and antifogging hydrogel coatings for the protection of medical goggles, and also for biomedical and marine antifouling fields.     

Human Calcitonin Delivered Orally by Means of Nanoparticles Composed of Novel Graft Copolymers

Abstract

The ability of nanoparticles having surface hydrophilic polymeric chains to enhance the oral absorption of human calcitonin was examined in rats. The oral relative bioavailability of calcitonin against its subcutaneous administration was 0.01% without nanoparticles, but increased significantly when it was administered with nanoparticles. Nanoparticles having cationic poly(vinylamine) (PVAm) chains on their surfaces had a relatively stronger enhancing effect than did other nanoparticles. When divinylbenzene was added to the nanoparticle preparation, PVAm nanoparticles with a crosslinked hydrophobic polystyrene core were synthesized. The addition of divinylbenzene resulted in nanoparticles with larger zeta potential through the efficient accumulation of hydrophilic PVAm chains on their surfaces; however, inadequate amounts decreased the zeta potential. Changes in the bioavailability proportional to the zeta potential indicated that the cationic moiety is indispensable for inducing the significant enhancement of calcitonin absorption. The chemical structure of nanoparticles could be optimized by introducing nonionic poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) or anionic poly(methacrylic acid) chains onto the PVAm nanoparticle surface to effectively further improve the absorption‐enhancing function of PVAm nanoparticles. Finally, the maximum bioavailability of 1.1% was achieved after oral administration of calcitonin with PVAm–PNIPAAm nanoparticles whose components, VAm macromonomer, N‐isopropylacrylamine (NIPAAm) macromonomer, and styrene were copolymerized in the molar ratio of 1.5:0.5:10.     

Use of Micellar-Enhanced Ultrafiltration at Low Surfactant Concentrations and with Anionic-Nonionic Surfactant Mixtures

Micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration is a separation technique which can be used to remove metal ions or dissolved organics from water. Metal ions bind to the surface of negatively charged micelles of an anionic surfactant while organic solutes tend to dissolve or solubilized within the micelles. The mixture is then forced through an ultrafiltration membrane with pore sizes small enough to block passage of the micelles and associated metal ions and/or dissolved organics. Monomeric or unassociated surfactant passes through the membrane and does not contribute to the separation. This paper considers advantages of addition of small concentrations of nonionic surfactant to an anionic surfactant; the resulting anionic-nonionic mixed micelles exhibit negative deviation from ideality of mixing which leads to a smaller fraction of the surfactant being present as monomer and a subsequently larger fraction present in the micellar form. The addition of nonionic surfactant improved the separation of divalent zinc substantially at total concentrations above the critical micelle concentration (cmc) of the anionic surfactant. Both zinc and tert-butylphenol (a nonionic organic solute) show unexpected rejection at surfactant concentrations moderately below the cmc, where micelles are absent. This is considered as due to a higher surfactant concentration in the gel layer adjacent to the membrane where micelles are present. Reduction of this rejection at lower transmembrane pressure drops supports this mechanism. Some rejection of zinc was observed in the absence of surfactant but not of tert-butylphenol, indicating an additional effect of membrane charge for ionic solutes. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.     

Resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to liquid disinfectants on contaminated surfaces before formation of biofilms

A comparison was made of the effectiveness of popular disinfectants (Cavicide, Cidexplus, Clorox, Exspor, Lysol, Renalin, and Wavicide) under conditions prescribed for disinfection in the respective product labels on Pseudomonas aeruginosa either in suspension or deposited onto surfaces of metallic or polymeric plastic devices. The testing also included 7 nonformulated germicidal agents (glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, peracetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite, phenol, and cupric ascorbate) commonly used in disinfection and decontamination. Results showed that P. aeruginosa is on average 300-fold more resistant when present on contaminated surfaces than in suspension. This increase in resistance agrees with results reported in studies of biofilms, but unexpectedly, it precedes biofilm formation. The surface to which bacteria are attached can influence the effectiveness of disinfectants. Viable bacteria attached to devices may require dislodging through more than a one-step method for detection. The data, obtained with a sensitive and quantitative test, suggest that disinfectants are less effective on contaminated surfaces than generally acknowledged.