CAMBRIDGE, MA – Biofilms may no longer have any solid ground upon which to stand.
A team of Harvard scientists has developed a slick way to prevent the troublesome bacterial communities from ever forming on a surface. Biofilms stick to just about everything, from copper pipes to steel ship hulls to glass catheters. The slimy coatings are more than just a nuisance, resulting in decreased energy efficiency, contamination of water and food supplies, and — especially in medical settings — persistent infections. Even cavities in teeth are the unwelcome result of bacterial colonies.