Bacterial adherence on UHMWPE with vitamin E: an in vitro study

J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2011 Jul;22(7):1701-6. doi: 10.1007/s10856-011-4340-5. Epub 2011 May 15.

Abstract

Orthopaedic materials may improve its capacity to resist bacterial adherence, and subsequent infection. Our aim was to test the bacterial adherence to alpha-tocopherol (frequently named vitamin E, VE) doped or blended UHMWPE with S. aureus and S. epidermidis, compared to virgin material. Collection strains and clinical strains isolated from patients with orthopaedic infections were used, with the biofilm-developing ability as a covariable. While collection strains showed significantly less adherence to VE-UHMWPE, some clinical strains failed to confirm this effect, leading to the conclusion that VE doped or blended UHMWPE affects the adherence of some S. epidermidis and S. aureus strains, independently of the concentration in use, but the results showed important intraspecies differences and cannot be generalized.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Adhesion / drug effects*
  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Photoelectron Spectroscopy
  • Polyethylenes / chemistry*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / physiology
  • Staphylococcus epidermidis / drug effects*
  • Staphylococcus epidermidis / physiology
  • Surface Properties
  • Vitamin E / chemistry*
  • Vitamin E / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Polyethylenes
  • ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene
  • Vitamin E