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。由于在牙科综合治疗台供水管线中形成生物膜而导致的细菌污染是临床牙科和牙科手术中的一个持续性问题。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管线的内部时，生物膜的形成在几分钟内开始。这些大分子为细菌提供了一个锚，而细菌又招募了其他细菌。最终，一个由多种细菌组成的菌落在分泌的外聚合物粘液层的保护下发展起来。虽然细菌感染的风险在大多数健康患者中是轻微的，但那些由于疾病或药物治疗而免疫系统受损的患者的风险较高。此外，牙科保健专业人员长期暴露于牙科单元产生的污染水和气溶胶。对抗细菌污染和生物膜形成的现有方法通常在将细菌计数减少到美国牙科协会推荐的水平方面是无效的。最后，大多数现有的方法依赖于医疗保健工作者坚持特定的维护计划，如果不遵循，则会使这些方法在很大程度上无效。牙科水管线消毒的新方法将大大减少或消除对常规去污维护的需求，这对牙科医疗保健界来说非常重要。在牙科水管线上排斥细菌附着和生物膜形成的表面涂层将显著降低这些健康风险。如果细菌不能附着在牙科水管的表面，它们将无法形成生物膜，使它们能够大量繁殖并污染供水。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。这些抗菌涂层的开发将在第二阶段继续进行，并对涂层工艺进行改进和优化。我们将确定涂层的生物相容性和长期有效性。最后，我们将评估这些新涂层与现有DUWL处理的兼容性，并将探索涂层更新的潜在途径。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管涂料将在很大程度上防止这一问题，减少患者和牙科护理人员的健康相关风险。

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.