ADHESION OF STAPHYLOCOCCI TO CHEMICALLY-MODIFIED AND NATIVE POLYMERS,AND THE INFLUENCE OF PREADSORBED FIBRONECTIN, VITRONECTIN AND FIBRINOGEN

A commercially available poly(ether urethane), polyethylene, and modif ications of these polymers have been compared with respect to adsorpti on of fibronectin, fibrinogen and vitronectin. The adhesion of staphyl ococcal strains (characterized for ability to bind immobilized protein s, cell surface hydrophobicity and charge) was studied by bioluminesce nce with and without preadsorption of proteins to the surfaces. The le ast amount of proteins and the fewest bacteria adhered to the amphiphi lic surfaces. When polymers were preincubated with plasma or albumin, lower numbers of bacteria adhered, except to Pellethane grafted with P EG 20 000, to which coagulase-negative staphylococci adhered to a high er extent.