Assuring the Biofunctionalization of Silicone Covalently Bonded to Rhamnolipids: Antibiofilm Activity and Biocompatibility
Maïssa Dardouri,
Ana Bettencourt,
Victor Martin,
Filomena A. Carvalho,
Bruno Colaço,
Adelina Gama,
Madeleine Ramstedt,
Nuno C. Santos,
Maria H. Fernandes,
Pedro S. Gomes,
Isabel A. C. Ribeiro
Affiliations
Maïssa Dardouri
Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
Ana Bettencourt
Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
Victor Martin
BoneLab—Laboratory for Bone Metabolism and Regeneration, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Manuel Pereira da Silva, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal
Filomena A. Carvalho
Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
Bruno Colaço
Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science–AL4AnimalS, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Adelina Gama
Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science–AL4AnimalS, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Madeleine Ramstedt
Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
Nuno C. Santos
Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
Maria H. Fernandes
BoneLab—Laboratory for Bone Metabolism and Regeneration, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Manuel Pereira da Silva, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal
Pedro S. Gomes
BoneLab—Laboratory for Bone Metabolism and Regeneration, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Manuel Pereira da Silva, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal
Isabel A. C. Ribeiro
Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
Silicone-based medical devices composed of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) are widely used all over the human body (e.g., urinary stents and catheters, central venous catheters stents) with extreme clinical success. Nevertheless, their abiotic surfaces, being prone to microorganism colonization, are often involved in infection occurrence. Improving PDMS antimicrobial properties by surface functionalization with biosurfactants to prevent related infections has been the goal of different works, but studies that mimic the clinical use of these novel surfaces are missing. This work aims at the biofunctional assessment of PDMS functionalized with rhamnolipids (RLs), using translational tests that more closely mimic the clinical microenvironment. Rhamnolipids were covalently bonded to PDMS, and the obtained surfaces were characterized by contact angle modification assessment, ATR-FTIR analysis and atomic force microscopy imaging. Moreover, a parallel flow chamber was used to assess the Staphylococcus aureus antibiofilm activity of the obtained surfaces under dynamic conditions, and an in vitro characterization with human dermal fibroblast cells in both direct and indirect characterization assays, along with an in vivo subcutaneous implantation assay in the translational rabbit model, was performed. A 1.2 log reduction in S. aureus biofilm was observed after 24 h under flow dynamic conditions. Additionally, functionalized PDMS lessened cell adhesion upon direct contact, while supporting a cytocompatible profile, within an indirect assay. The adequacy of the biological response was further validated upon in vivo subcutaneous tissue implantation. An important step was taken towards biofunctional assessment of RLs-functionalized PDMS, reinforcing their suitability for medical device usage and infection prevention.
