Biomaterial surfaces self-defensive against bacteria by contact transfer of antimicrobials.

ABSTRACT: Despite extensive engineering of tissue-contacting biomedical devices to control healing, these devices remain susceptible to bacterial colonization, biofilm formation, and chronic infection. The threat of selecting for resistance genes largely precludes sustained antimicrobial elution as a wide-spread clinical solution. In response, self-defensive surfaces have been developed where antimicrobial is released only when and where there is a bacterial challenge. We explore a new self-defensive approach using anionic microgels into which small-molecule cationic antimicrobials are loaded by complexation. We identify conditions where antimicrobial remains sequestered within the microgels for periods as long as weeks. However, bacterial contact triggers release and leads to local bacterial killin

SUBMITTER: Liang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10755758 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature