The great difference in wettability between hydrophobincoated
and uncoated surfaces can be used for cell patterning,
which has relevance in many areas including cell-based biosensors,
tissue engineering, and clinical therapy. A layer of cellsupporting
substrate, such as collagen or serum, can be patterned
on a hydrophobin-coated surface, resulting in controlled
cell positioning (Figure 9).53,54 Interestingly, the
enhanced cell attachment is not accompanied by increased bacterial
adhesion.49 In some cases, hydrophobins can reduce
unwanted deposition on surfaces. Plastic stents coated with the
DewA fusion named H*protein A show less adherence of clogging
materials, and in combination with high concentration of
heparin lead to a further reduction in unwanted deposition.43
Hydrophobin coating of teeth has been suggested as a means
of preventing infections.55