The modification of cedar wood surface properties for the prevention of fungal adhesion

The initial adhesion of microorganisms on a substrate is a significant step for biofilm formation. In this work, the contact angle measurement method was used to investigate the effect of three Myrtus communis extractives on the physicochemical properties of cedar wood surface. Indeed, hydrophobicity, electron donor (γ−) electron acceptor (γ+) parameters and surface tension components (ΔGiwi) of untreated and treated wood were assessed. The results indicated that all extractives tested decreased the hydrophobic parameter and made the cedar wood surface more donor electron. Moreover, the theoretical prediction and the experimental assay of Thielavia hyalocarpa adhesion on untreated and treated substrates were also investigated. According to the values of total free energy of interaction (ΔGTot), the adhesion of the fungal strain studied on wood was found favorable. However, the treatments made the adhesion conditions unfavorable. Likewise, environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) showed a decrease in cell adhesion with treatment, indicating the highest anti-adherence activity of methanol fraction. Furthermore, a linear relationship between theoretical prediction and experimentally determined adhesion has been obtained.