Tuning the Surface Properties of Polypyrrole Films for Modulating Bacterial Adhesion

Abstract

Tuning the physical-chemical properties of polypyrrole (PPy) opens up potentially exciting new applications, especially in the area of bacterial adhesion. Polypyrrole is electrochemically synthesized under various conditions and the physical properties of the films and their effects on bacterial adhesion are characterized. Five types of dopants - chloride (Cl), perchlorate (ClO4), p-toluene-sulfonate (ToS), dodecylbenzene sulfonate (DBS), and poly sodium styrene sulfonate (PSS) - are used to fabricate PPy films at two different constant potentials (0.500 and 0.850 V) with and without Fe3+. Their thickness, roughness, and wettability are measured. The adhesion tendency of Escherichia coli, as a model bacterium, to the four polymers is studied. E. coli shows greater adhesion tendency to the hydrophobic, rough surface of PPy-DBS, and less adhesion tendency to the smooth and hydrophilic surface of PPy-PSS. The results facilitate the choice of appropriate electropolymerization conditions to modulate bacterial adhesion. Polypyrrole (PPy) is electrochemically synthesized under various conditions with different types of dopants to tune the surface properties of the film including roughness and hydrophobicity. The polymer surface properties show a significant effect on the bacterial adhesion to the surface. The results may guide choosing suitable polymer synthesis conditions to yield PPy with suitable surface properties for the intended application.