Novel Polymer Coatings for Prevention of Biofilms in Dental Unit Waterlines

描述（由申请人提供）：在修复和外科牙科手术中，大量的水用于冲洗和冷却目的。细菌污染由于生物膜形成的牙科单位水线输送这种水是一个长期存在的问题，在临床牙科和牙科手术。当水中的可溶性蛋白质和其他大分子非特异性地吸附到水线内部时，生物膜的形成在几分钟内就开始了。这些大分子为细菌提供了一个锚点，细菌可以招募其他细菌。最终，一个由多种细菌组成的菌落，在分泌的外聚合物黏液层的保护下形成。虽然大多数健康患者的细菌感染风险很小，但由于疾病或药物治疗导致免疫系统受损的患者风险较高。此外，牙科保健专业人员长期暴露于受污染的水和牙科单位产生的气溶胶。现有的对抗细菌污染和生物膜形成的方法通常无法将细菌数量减少到美国牙科协会推荐的水平。最后，大多数现有方法依赖于医护人员遵守特定的维护计划，如果不遵守这些计划，这些方法在很大程度上是无效的。牙科水线防污的新方法将大大减少或消除常规去污维护的需要，这是牙科保健界非常感兴趣的。防止细菌附着和牙齿水线上形成生物膜的表面涂层将大大减少这些健康风险。如果细菌不能附着在牙齿水线的表面，它们就不能形成生物膜，使它们无法大量繁殖并污染供水系统。我们的第一阶段研究已经坚定地证明了这种方法的可行性。随着涂层工艺的改进和优化，这些耐细菌涂层的开发将在第二阶段继续进行。我们将确定涂层的生物相容性和长期功效。最后，我们将评估这些新涂层与现有DUWL处理的相容性，并将探索涂层更新的潜在程序。在修复和外科牙科手术中，大量的水用于冲洗和冷却。这些水源的细菌污染是一个长期而严重的问题。设计用于防止细菌生长的水线涂层将在很大程度上防止这个问题，减少患者和牙科护理人员的健康风险。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Copious amounts of water are used for rinsing and cooling purposes in restorative and surgical Dental procedures. Bacterial fouling due to biofilm formation in the Dental unit waterlines that deliver this water is a persistent problem in clinical Dentistry and Dental surgery. Biofilm formation starts within minutes when soluble proteins and other macromolecules from the water non-specifically adsorb to the insides of the water lines. These macromolecules provide an anchor for bacteria, which recruit other bacteria. Eventually a colony of multiple bacteria, protected by a slime layer of secreted exopolymers, develops. While the risk of bacterial infection is slight in most healthy patients, those patients with compromised immune systems due to disease or drug therapy are at elevated risk. Additionally, Dental healthcare professionals are subjected to chronic exposure to contaminated water and aerosols generated from the Dental unit. Existing approaches to combat bacterial contamination and biofilm formation are typically ineffective in reducing bacterial counts to levels recommended by the American Dental Association. Finally, the majority of the existing approaches rely on healthcare workers to adhere to specific maintenance schedules that, if not followed, render the approaches largely ineffective. New approaches to Dental waterline antifouling that would significantly reduce or eliminate the need for routine decontamination maintenance are of great interest to the Dental healthcare community. Surface coatings which repel bacterial attachment and biofilm formation on Dental waterlines would significantly reduce these health risks. If bacteria cannot attach to the surfaces of Dental waterlines, they will not be able to form biofilms to allow them to reproduce in large numbers and contaminate the water supply. Our Phase I research has firmly demonstrated feasibility for this type of approach. Development of these bacteria-resistant coatings will continue in Phase II with the refinement and optimization of the coating process. We will determine the biocompatibility and long-term efficacy of the coatings. Finally, we will assess the compatibility of these new coatings with existing DUWL treatments, and will explore potential routines for coating renewal. Copious amounts of water are used for rinsing and cooling purposes in restorative and surgical Dental procedures. Bacterial contamination of these water supplies is a chronic and serious problem. Coatings for waterlines that are designed to prevent bacterial growth would largely prevent this problem, reducing health-related risks to both patients and Dental care workers.