Nanometer-scale self-assembly of amphiphilic copolymers to control and prevent biofouling.

Bacterial infections occur on nearly 4% of all implanted medical devices, leading to a loss in patient quality of life, higher medical costs, and in some cases permanent disability. These infections typically form biofilms that limit the effectiveness of antibiotics and may require removal of the device. Since the infections are difficult to cure once established, methods to prevent the initial bacterial infection have been investigated.