Effect of brominated furanones on the formation of biofilm by Escherichia coli on polyvinyl chloride materials

The prospects of antimicrobial coated medical implants

The implants are increasingly being a part of modern medicine in various surgical procedures for functional or cosmetic purposes. The progressive use of implants is associated with increased infectious complications and prevention of such infections always remains precedence in the clinical settings. The preventive approaches include the systemic administration of antimicrobial agents before and after the surgical procedures as well as the local application of antibiotics. The relevant literature and existing clinical practices have highlighted the role of antimicrobial coating approaches in the prevention of implants associated infections, although the applications of these strategies are not yet standardized, and the clinical efficacy is not much clear. The adequate data from the randomized control trials is challenging because of the unavailability of a large sample size although it is compulsory in this context to assess the clinical efficacy of preemptive practices. This review compares the efficacy of preventive approaches and the prospects of antimicrobial-coated implants in preventing implant-related infections.

Functionalisation of Silicone by Drug-Embedded Chitosan Nanoparticles for Potential Applications in Otorhinolaryngology

Silicones are widely used medical materials that are also applied for tympanostomy tubes with a trending goal to functionalise the surface of the latter to enhance the healing of ear inflammations and other ear diseases, where such medical care is required. This study focuses on silicone surface treatment with various antimicrobial coatings. Polysaccharide coatings in the form of chitosan nanoparticles alone, or with an embedded drug mixture composed of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (co-amoxiclav) were prepared and applied onto silicone material. Plasma activation was also used as a pre-treatment for activation of the material's surface for better adhesion of the coatings. The size of the nanoparticles was measured using the DLS method (Dynamic Light Scattering), stability of the dispersion was determined with zeta potential measurements, whilst the physicochemical properties of functionalised silicone materials were examined using the UV-Vis method (Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), XPS (X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy). Moreover, in vitro drug release testing was used to follow the desorption kinetics and antimicrobial properties were tested by a bacterial cell count reduction assay using the standard gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. The results show silicone materials as suitable materials for tympanostomy tubes, with the coating developed in this study showing excellent antimicrobial and biofilm inhibition properties. This implies a potential for better healing of ear inflammation, making the newly developed approach for the preparation of functionalised tympanostomy tubes promising for further testing towards clinical applications.

Antifouling and antimicrobial biomaterials: an overview

The use of implantable medical devices is a common and indispensable part of medical care for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. However, as side effect, the implant of medical devices quite often leads to the occurrence of difficult-to-treat infections, as a consequence of the colonization of their abiotic surfaces by biofilm-growing microorganisms increasingly resistant to antimicrobial therapies. A promising strategy to combat device-related infections is based on anti-infective biomaterials that either repel microbes, so they cannot attach to the device surfaces, or kill them in the surrounding areas. In general, such biomaterials are characterized by antifouling coatings, exhibiting low adhesion or even repellent properties towards microorganisms, or antimicrobial coatings, able to kill microbes approaching the surface. In this light, the present overview will address the development in the last two decades of antifouling and antimicrobial biomaterials designed to potentially limit the initial stages of microbial adhesion, as well as the microbial growth and biofilm formation on medical device surfaces.

Synthetic brominated furanone F202 prevents biofilm formation by potentially human pathogenic Escherichia coli O103:H2 and Salmonella ser. Agona on abiotic surfaces

AIMS

Investigate the use of a synthetic brominated furanone (F202) against the establishment of biofilm by Salmonella ser. Agona and E. coli O103:H2 under temperature conditions relevant for the food and feed industry as well as under temperature conditions optimum for growth.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Effect of F202 on biofilm formation by Salmonella ser. Agona and E. coli O103:H2 was evaluated using a microtiter plate assay and confocal microscopy. Effect of F202 on bacterial motility was investigated using swimming and swarming assays. Influence on flagellar synthesis by F202 was examined by flagellar staining. Results showed that F202 inhibited biofilm formation without being bactericidal. F202 was found to affect both swimming and swarming motility without, however, affecting the expression of flagella.

CONCLUSIONS

F202 showed its potential as a biofilm inhibitor of Salmonella ser. Agona and E. coli O103:H2 under temperature conditions relevant for the feed and food industry as well as temperatures optimum for growth. One potential mode of action of F202 was found to be by targeting flagellar function.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The present study gives valuable new knowledge to the potential use of furanones as a tool in biofilm management in the food and feed industry.