Abstract
This study investigates a novel approach to controlling biofilms of the most frequent pathogens implicated in the etiology of biomaterials-associated infections. New bactericidal filler based on a non-toxic glass, belonging to B2O3-SiO2-Al2O3-Na2O-ZnO system, was used to formulate composites of the most widely used polymers in biomedical applications [i.e. thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS)], with varying percentage by weight of the bactericidal glass (5, 15, 25, 35, 50%). Glass-filled polymer composites show dramatically restricted bacterial colonisation and biofilm formation. They exhibit time- and dose-dependent killing, with maximal action at 5 days. The highest activity was found against S.epidermidis biofilm (99% of reduction), one of the most common cause of nosocomial infections. The tensile properties of the obtained glass-filled composites are comparable with the literature data concerning polymeric biomaterials for medical implants and devices. In addition, all the materials presented in this research, revealed an excellent biocompatibility. This was disclosed by cell viability values above 70%, none alteration on erythrocyte membrane or cell functionality in contact with materials (haemolytic index 0–2%), and absence of interferences in blood coagulation (intrinsic, extrinsic and final pathways).
Highlights
Despite recent advances and the success of several initiatives to improve education and hygiene practices, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) pose continued diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to even well-trained and experienced clinicians
Antimicrobial polymers can help to prevent the formation of biofilm-associated infections and to solve the problems associated with the use of conventional antimicrobial agents, such as residual toxicity, short-term antimicrobial activity and development of resistant microorganisms[7]
Angular glass particles are evenly dispersed in both matrices (i.e. thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS)), showing a narrow particle size distribution
Summary
Despite recent advances and the success of several initiatives to improve education and hygiene practices, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) pose continued diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to even well-trained and experienced clinicians. HAIs result in an estimated $30 billion in excess healthcare costs nationally each year[2]. Considering this economical impact it becomes clear that successful prevention and control strategies are highly cost-effective. Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) represent an important class of thermoplastic elastomers with wide biomedical application as components of medical devices, scaffolds for tissue engineering and matrices for controlled drug release[5]. Another polymer widely used in biomedical applications is poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). Each methodology has inherent advantages and disadvantages such as low efficiency, technologically demanding, cost[8]
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