Escherichia coli biofilm formation, motion and protein patterns on hyaluronic acid and polydimethylsiloxane depend on surface stiffness

Annabelle Vigué (1, 2) , Dominique Vautier (1, 2) , Amad Kaytoue (1, 2) , Bernard Senger (1, 2) , Youri Arntz (1, 2) , Vincent Ball (1, 2) , Amine Ben Mlouka (3) , Varvara Gribova (1, 2) , Samar Hajjar-Garreau (4) , Julie Hardouin (3, 5) , Thierry Jouenne (3, 5) , Philippe Lavalle (1, 2) , Lydie Ploux (1, 2)

1 BB - Biomatériaux et Bioingénierie
2 CRBS - Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg
3 Plate-forme de Protéomique PISSARO
4 IS2M - Institut de Science des Matériaux de Mulhouse
5 PBS - Polymères Biopolymères Surfaces

Surface stiffness of the microenvironment is a mechanical signal regulating biofilm growth without the risks associated with the use of bioactive agents. However, mechanisms determining the expansion or prevention of biofilm growth on soft and stiff substrates are largely unknown. To answer this question, we used PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane, 9-574kPa) and HA (hyaluronic acid gels, 44Pa-2kPa) differing in hydration. We showed that softest HA inhibits Escherichia coli biofilm growth while stiffest PDMS activates it. The bacterial mechanical environment significantly regulates MscS mechanosensitive channel, in higher abundance on the least colonized HA-44Pa, and Type-1 pili (Fim A) in higher abundance on the most colonized PDMS-9kPa. Type 1 pili regulated free motion (capacity of bacteria to move far from it initial position) necessary for biofilm growth independently of the substrate surface stiffness. In contrast, the total length travelled by bacteria (diffusion coefficient) varied positively with surface stiffness but not with biofilm growth. The softest, hydrated HA, the least colonized surface, revealed the least diffusive and the least free-moving bacteria. This finally shows that customizing surface elasticity and hydration together is an efficient means of affecting bacterial mobility and attachment to the surface, and thus designing biomedical surfaces to deter biofilm growth.

Mots clés: Surface stiffness; hydration; polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS); hyaluronic acid; biofilm; bacterial mobility; protein patterns; Surface stiffness

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]; Sciences de l'ingénieur [physics]; Chimie

Annabelle Vigué, Dominique Vautier, Amad Kaytoue, Bernard Senger, Youri Arntz, et al.. Escherichia coli biofilm formation, motion and protein patterns on hyaluronic acid and polydimethylsiloxane depend on surface stiffness. Journal of Functional Biomaterials, 2022, 13 (4), pp.237. ⟨10.3390/jfb13040237⟩. ⟨hal-03845475⟩