Adhesion of Aeromonas hydrophila to Glass Surfaces Modified with Organosilanes

Dorota Kregiel*

Institute of Fermentation Technology and Microbiology, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 171/173, PL-90-924 Lodz, Poland

Article history:
Received September 6, 2012 
Accepted February 12, 2013

Key words:
Aeromonas hydrophila, antiadhesion, glass, silanes

Summary:                                                                                                                                                                                 
The aim of this research is to study the adhesive properties of Aeromonas hydrophila to glass surfaces modified using four silanes with different reactive groups, namely (3-glycidoxypropyl) diethoxysilane, (3-N,N-dimethyl-3-N-n-hexadecylammoniopropyl)trimethoxysilane chloride, (3-N,N,N-triethanolammoniopropyl)trimethoxysilane chloride, and (3-N,N-dimethyl- 3-N-n-octylammoniopropyl)trimethoxysilane chloride. The strain used in the study was A. hydrophila LOCK0968, isolated from the unchlorinated communal water distribution system in Poland. The effect of glass modification after chemical treatment was analyzed using surface tension measurement. The adhesive properties of the bacteria were studied in a water environment with a low concentration of organic compounds, using luminometric and microscopic methods. Additionally, the viability of the adherent bacterial cells was evaluated by counting the colony-forming units. The presence of active compounds in the culture medium after incubation with a modified carrier was verified using the Kirby- -Bauer method. Half of the chemically modified glass surfaces exhibited better characteristics in comparison with native glass. Among the examined modifying agents, (3-N,N,N-triethanolammoniopropyl) trimethoxysilane chloride and (3-N,N-dimethyl-3-N-n-octylammoniopropyl) trimethoxysilane chloride showed the best antiadhesive and antibacterial properties. The most effective glass modification, with (3-N,N,N-triethanolammoniopropyl)trimethoxysilane chloride, was able to reduce the bacterial cell count by more than three orders of magnitude. The carriers had no significant effect on the viability of the free bacterial cells in the culture medium. Therefore, it can be said that the modified glass surface alone accounts for the antibacterial activity of the active organosilanes. 

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