The potential of lipid- and polymer-based drug delivery carriers for eradicating biofilm consortia on device-related nosocomial infections

Microbial biofilms are microcosm attaching irreversibly to abiotic or biotic surfaces and they are promulgated as congregate of single or multiple populations. The potential of lipid- and polymer-based drug delivery carriers for eradicating biofilm consortia on device-related nosocomial infections is explored in this review. Liposomes-loaded with antimicrobial agents could effectively be applied as anti-biofilm coating to reduce microbial adhesion/colonisation onto medical devices and as drug delivery carriers to biofilm interfaces and in intracellular infection. Many polymer-based carrier systems have also been proposed, including those based on biodegradable polymers such as poly(lactide co-glycolide) as well as fibrous scaffolds and thermoreversible hydrogels and surface (properties) modified polymeric catheter materials such as antimicrobial, antiseptic or metallic substances-coated polymeric materials. Their contribution to the prevention/resolution of infection is reviewed. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.