Objective      To investigate the relationship of the surface properties of silicone rubber with bacterial adhesion in order to provide theoretical basis to prevent infection of bio-implants.       Methods      Bacterial culture and colony formation counting were used to analyze the bacterial adhesion on the surface of ordinary s

ilicon rubber (SR)

carbon ion implanted silicon rubber (C-SR)

and hydroxyapatite coating silicone rubber (HA/SR). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the morphology of the substrate surface. The molecular structures of the surface were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)

X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR). Meanwhile

the hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties of substrate surface were detected by water contact angle test.       Results       The number of bacteria adhered to the surface was largest in the SR[(2.11±0.12)×10

5

CFU

]

followed by HA/SR[(1.88±0.88)×10

5

CFU

]

and then C-SR[(0.98±0.35)×10

5

CFU

]

. Significant difference was seen in the bacterial count between C-SR and SR (P0.05)

but not between HA/SR and SR (P0.05). Similar trend was also in the hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties

but not in the surface roughness.       Conclusion       Hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties may play an important role for bacterial adhesion on the biomaterial surface.