Mimicking Sharkskin to Create Antimicrobial Materials

Antonio González1,2, Edgar Ferrer1,2, Taras K. Oleksyk1

1Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez campus, 2ßßß Biology Department Honor Society Zeta-Alpha Chapter
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Abstract Impact on Healthcare Results of Sharklet Testing
Nature often solves problems that scientists
spend much time and money Healthcare will be the most
researching. Biomimetics is the emulation of impacted by this advance in
natural phenomena to solve human technology. The topography
problems. We look at the study where created by UF’s Materials Science
biomaterials and implants used in hospitals and Engineering Department has
are developed to prevent microbial growth been integrated into an adhesive-
while promoting tissue regeneration. The backed film named Sharklet. These
problem is that, in recent years, bacterial adhesive films can be applied to
resistance to antibiotics has became very “high traffic” locations such as door
severe. Prevention of bacterial growth on handles to prevent transmission of
these materials has often consisted of bacteria between people through
utilizing antibiotics systemically, and they shared contact. This would stop Sharklet Urinary
have been released from the material bacteria from jumping between Catheter
directly. Unfortunately, this had a limited people because both touched the
effect on any colonies already established on same surface. As of now,
a biomaterial in question. This practice is the company that developed Sharklet has been
also known to give rise to antibiotic resistant working on creating a Urinary Catheter that
bacteria. The alternative strategy is to incorporates this technology for the last year.
modify surface topography to discourage Urinary tract infections are a very, serious
microbial growth. Scientists at the University problem in many hospitals, therefore having a barrier
of Florida's Department of Materials Science to prevent the spread of bacteria will be very
and Engineering created a surface design useful. Additionally, Sharklet should help, up to a
based on shark denticles. After seven days certain point, in dealing with antibiotic resistance, as
the material, named Sharklet, had only 4% the topography of the material is what prevents
growth, versus 22% on a smooth surface; bacterial growth (rather than chemicals towards which
and after 14 days the material had only 7%, resistance could be developed.
and showed no traces of biofilms in contrast
to smooth surface that displayed a prominent
biofilm and over 40% microbial Model Utilized
growth. Thus, the Sharklet material showed The topography
designed by the Comparison of smooth surface (left) versus Sharklet
a much greater resistance to the bacterial
University of Florida pattern over a period of 21 days.
growth than the smooth surface. We present
a review of literature addressing this example researchers mimics the
of biomimetics use. denticles of a shark. The
denticles of most sharks
have a diamond-like Survival of
shap. The denticles Vancomycin Resistant
Introduction provide many benefits to Enteroccoccus faecalis
Deaths from health care and hospital the shark. The most Shark denticles, they are after one hour on
associated infections are approximately startling of these is that smooth vs Sharklet
arranged so that they
99,000 a year, according to the Center for their pattern stops algal, surface.
overlap each other..
Disease Control. 12,000 of these are the result fungal, and bacterial
of three antibiotic resistant pathogens spores from
(Vancomycin-resistant Enteroccoccus, attaching to the shark. This is because the pattern
Clostridium difficile, and Methycilin-Resistant makes it difficult for the spores to attach and form
Staphylococcus Aureus). Antibiotic resistance is colonies on the surface of the shark. The reason behind
clearly becoming a serious problem. One this is that the uneven topography raises the amount of
method of dealing with antibiotic resistance energy needed to colonize the skin too much. Should Survival of Methicillin-
is to decrease the use of antibiotics, and spores manage to. attach to the skin, the ridges create a Resistan Staphylococcus
utilize them appropriately. This method aureus after two hours
a takes physical barrier that keeps the colonies from forming
on a smooth versus
time, however, and does not guarantee ) that biofilms. Thanks to this sharks are kept clean while
Sharklet surface.
the resistant organism will disappear. The swimming
best solution would be to keep the
microorganism from growing at all.
This is the solution focused on by Chung K., Application of the Model
et al. (2007). They theorized that by utilizing
an engineered topography, the growth of
microorganisms (particularly bacteria) could This model is applied
be prevented. Their topography was based with the Sharklet
on sharkskin. Sharkskin is coated in placoid
material. The adhesive
scales called dermal denticles. They are
roughly and fit very closely together. Each
films are currently being
one has a series of ridges that stretch developed for push
longitudinally. These denticles provide many doors, bathrooms, as
advantages for the shark: stealth, speed, and well as other medical
Sharklet pattern, note the
(of interest to us) they resist the growth of applications. similarity to the denticles on
bacteria. The scientists at the University of the above. Comparison of Sharklet versus a smooth surface in a
Florida’s Materials Science and Engineering bacterial suspension. At day 21 there are no living
department are hoping to imitate sharkskin’s bacteria on Sharklet.
anti-microbial properties to help ameliorate
the problem of antibiotic resistance.
Close up image of References
Shark Denticles. A. Chung K., et al .(2007). Impact of engineered surface
The ridges allow a microtopography on biofilm formation of
shark to move Staphylococcus aureus. Biointerphases, 2, 89.
www.na quitely and quickly
through water. Two of the applications for Sharklet, hospital room A. Caren W., Mousa S. (2010:3). Prevention Strategies
sa.gov for Antimicrobial Resistance: A Systematic Review of
equipment and push doors.
the Literature. Infection and Drug Resistance, 25-33.