A New In Vitro Blood Flow Model for the Realistic Evaluation of Antimicrobial Surfaces

Device-associated bloodstream infections can cause serious medical problems and cost-intensive postinfection management, defining a need for more effective antimicrobial coatings. Newly developed coatings often show reduced bacterial colonization and high hemocompatibility in established in vitro tests, but fail in animal studies or clinical trials. The poor predictive power of these models is attributed to inadequate representation of in vivo conditions. Herein, a new single-pass blood flow model, with simultaneous incubation of the test surface with bacteria and freshly-drawn human blood, is presented. The flow model is validated by comparative analysis of a recently developed set of antiadhesive and contact-killing polymer coatings, and the corresponding uncoated polycarbonate surfaces. The results confirm the model's ability to differentiate the antimicrobial activities of the studied surfaces. Blood activation data correlate with bacterial surface coverage: low bacterial adhesion is associated with low inflammation and hemostasis. Shear stress correlates inversely with bacterial colonization, especially on antiadhesive surfaces. The introduced model is concluded to enable the evaluation of novel antimicrobial materials under in vivo-like conditions, capturing interactions between bacteria and biomaterials surfaces in the presence of key components of the ex vivo host response.

Combining microscopy assays of bacteria-surface interactions to better evaluate antimicrobial polymer coatings

Validation of the antimicrobial performance of contact-killing polymer surfaces through experimental determination of bacterial adhesion or viability is essential for their targeted development and application. However, there is not yet a consensus on a single most appropriate evaluation method or procedure. Combining and benchmarking previously reported assays could reduce the significant variation and misinterpretation of efficacy data obtained from different methods. In this work, we systematically investigated the response of bacteria cells to anti-adhesive and antiseptic polymer coatings by combining (i) bulk solution-based, (ii) thin-film spacer-based and (iii) direct contact assays. In addition, we evaluated the studied assays using a five-point scoring framework that highlights key areas for improvement. Our data suggest that combined microscopy assays provide a more comprehensive representation of antimicrobial performance, thereby helping to identify effective types of antibacterial polymer coatings. Importance We present and evaluate a combination of methods for validating the efficacy of antimicrobial surfaces. Antimicrobial surfaces/coatings based on contact-killing components can be instrumental to functionalise a wide range of products. However, there is not yet a consensus on a single, most appropriate method to evaluate their performance. By combining three microscopy methods, we were able to discern contact killing effects at the single cell level that were not detectable by conventional bulk microbiological analyses. The developed approach is considered advantageous for the future targeted development of robust and sustainable antimicrobial surfaces.

Characterization, antibiofilm and biocompatibility properties of chitosan hydrogels loaded with silver nanoparticles and ampicillin: an alternative protection to central venous catheters

The purpose of this study was to generate novel chitosan hydrogels (CHs) loaded with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and ampicillin (AMP) to prevent early formation of biofilms. AgNPs and CHs were characterized by UV-Vis, DLS, TEM, rheology, FT-IR, Raman, and SEM. The antibiofilm effect of the formulations was investigated against four multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant pathogens using a colony biofilm, a high cell density and gradients model. Also, their hemostatic properties and cytotoxic effect were evaluated. Rheology results showed that CHs with AgNPs and AMP are typical non-Newtonian pseudoplastic fluids. The CH with 25 ppm of AgNPs and 50 ppm AMP inhibited the formation of biofilms of Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterococcus faecium and Staphylococcus epidermidis, while a ten-fold increase of the antimicrobial's concentration was needed to inhibit the biofilm of the β-lactamase positive Enterobacter cloacae. Further, CH with 250 ppm of AgNPs and 500 ppm AMP showed anticoagulant effect, and it was shown that all formulations were biocompatible. Besides to previous reports that described the bioadhesion properties of chitosan, these results suggest that AgNPs and AMP CHs loaded could be used as prophylactic treatment in patients with central venous catheter (CVC), inhibiting the formation of biofilms in their early stages, in addition to their anticoagulant effect and biocompatibility, those properties could keep the functionality of CVC helping to prevent complications such as sepsis and thrombosis.

Evanescent-Wave Fiber Optic Sensing of the Anionic Dye Uranine Based on Ion Association Extraction

Herein, we propose an evanescent-wave fiber optic sensing technique for the anionic dye uranine based on ion association extraction. The sensor was prepared by removing a section of the cladding from a multimode fiber and hydrophobization of the exposed core surface. Uranine was extracted in association along with hexadecyltrimethylammonium (CTA) ion onto the fiber surface and detected via absorption of the evanescent wave generated on the surface of the exposed fiber core. The effect of CTA+ concentration added for ion association was investigated, revealing that the absorbance of uranine increased with increasing CTA+ concentration. A change in the sensor response as a function of the added uranine concentration was clearly observed. The extraction data were analyzed using a distribution equilibrium model and a Freundlich isotherm. The uranine concentration in the evanescent field of the fiber optic was up to 54 times higher than that in the bulk solution, and the limit of detection (3σ) for uranine was found to be 1.3 nM.

The blood compatibility challenge. Part 3: Material associated activation of blood cascades and cells

Following protein adsorption/activation which is the first step after the contact of material surfaces and whole blood (part 2), fibrinogen is converted to fibrin and platelets become activated and assembled in the form of a thrombus. This thrombus formation is the key feature that needs to be minimized in the creation of materials with low thrombogenicity. Further aspects of blood compatibility that are important on their own are complement and leukocyte activation which are also important drivers of thrombus formation. Hence this review summarizes the state of knowledge on all of these cascades and cells and their interactions. For each cascade or cell type, the chapter distinguishes statements which are in widespread agreement from statements where there is less of a consensus. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This paper is part 3 of a series of 4 reviews discussing the problem of biomaterial associated thrombogenicity. The objective was to highlight features of broad agreement and provide commentary on those aspects of the problem that were subject to dispute. We hope that future investigators will update these reviews as new scholarship resolves the uncertainties of today.