Adhesion and viability of two enterococcal strains on covalently grafted chitosan and chitosan/kappa-carrageenan multilayers

Chitosans are natural aminopolysaccharides, whose low cytotoxicity suggests their potential use for nonadhesive, antibacterial coatings on biomaterials implant surfaces. Here, the antiadhesive behavior and ability to kill bacteria upon adhesion ("contact killing") of chitosan coatings were evaluated for two strains of Enterococcus faecalis, isolated from clogged biliary stents. Chitosan coatings covalently grafted or applied as chitosan/kappa-carrageenan multilayers were characterized by ellipsometry, scanning force microscopy (SFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrokinetic measurements. Decreases in initial bacterial deposition rates and the number of bacteria adhering in a more advanced state of the adhesion process were observed on both types of modified surfaces, with more pronounced effects on highly hydrated multilayers. Adhesion of negatively charged enterococci was slightly enhanced on chitosan-terminated multilayers, but antibacterial effect was absent on kappa-carrageenan-terminated multilayers. Thus, the efficacy of multilayers remains an interesting interplay between the promoting effect of cationically charged groups on adhesion of negatively charged bacteria and, on the other hand, their antibacterial effects.