Biofilm prevention on cochlear implants

OBJECTIVES: To examine the efficiency of a bacteria-resistant coating for the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) casing of cochlear implants. METHODS: The coatings are based on thin titania films that are made by liquid phase deposition or atomic layer deposition. The antibacterial activity of the coating was tested by two different detection assays: BCA protein and confocal microscopy. RESULTS: Coating the PDMS with thin films (10-40 nm) of titania significantly reduces the accumulation of bacteria. DISCUSSION: Thin oxide films made under conditions that do not undermine the integrity of polymeric materials can be used as anti-microbial coatings for soft polymers such as the PDMS that is used as a casing for cochlear implants or other medical devices.