Technology Overview

Biofilm Prevention

Unique configuration of noble metals
The Bactiguard® coating is designed to prevent or delay colonization of microorganisms on a device surface. By utilizing Bactiguard® protected surfaces, device related infections can be effectively controlled. Once a biofilm has formed on a device surface it is very hard to avoid device-associated infections. Moreover, the microbes encapsulated in a biofilm will not respond to antibiotic treatment. Hence, it becomes evident that the key to prevention of device related infections, and in the same time minimize the use of antibiotics, is to prevent colonization.

The key surface ingredients in the Bactiguard® coating, palladium, are tailored on an atomic level to give a unique surface configuration. Noble metal clusters are typically uniformly distributed on a surface matrix giving an electro potential difference between the noble metal clusters. Consequently, when the metals are exposed to an electrolyte, for instance a body fluid, the basic conditions for galvanic action (battery effect) are fulfilled and each noble metal cluster has the potential for a galvanic reaction. Hence the coating can be said to consist of a very large number of small galvanic cells that may disturb colonization of microorganisms.

 

Bactiguard graph coated surface

The left image shows the homogeneous distribution of colloidal palladium particles (red) imbedded in the Bactiguard® silver coating (blue). The right image shows the electro potential difference between palladium (white) and silver (orange), analyzed with Electric Force Microscopy. Data on file.