Figure 2
Adherence of S. epidermidis on different titanium surfaces after 2 hours’ incubation. (a) Representative CLSM images with LIVE/DEAD staining of S. epidermidis on polished, spear-type and pocket-type titanium surfaces (left to right). (b) Different contact mechanisms of S. epidermidis on different titanium surfaces as visualized by SEM (Images were taken at 40° tilt with magnification of 25000×). (b1) S. epidermidis cells rested on the polished titanium surfaces; (b2) for spear-type surfaces, S. epidermidis cells settled on the top of spears resulting in point contacts; (b3) for pocket-type surfaces, S. epidermidis settled inside the pocket-like nanostructures (outlines of selected pockets are marked by dashed red lines). The longer, intertwined nano-spears were also observed to provide colonization sites for bacteria (arrow). (c) Surface area covered by both live and dead bacteria in the field of view for each titanium surface. (d) Bactericidal efficiency of the different titanium surfaces, as indicated by the proportions of dead cells among the adherent bacteria. *Statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). Three independent experiments were performed for each substrate type.
