Characterization of the Antibacterial Activity of an SiO2 Nanoparticular Coating to Prevent Bacterial Contamination in Blood Products

Technological innovations and quality control processes within blood supply organizations have significantly improved blood safety for both donors and recipients. Nevertheless, the risk of transfusion-transmitted infection remains non-negligible. Applying a nanoparticular, antibacterial coating at the surface of medical devices is a promising strategy to prevent the spread of infections. In this study, we characterized the antibacterial activity of an SiO2 nanoparticular coating (i.e., the Medical Antibacterial and Antiadhesive Coating [MAAC]) applied on relevant polymeric materials (PM) used in the biomedical field. Electron microscopy revealed a smoother surface for the MAAC-treated PM compared to the reference, suggesting antiadhesive properties. The antibacterial activity was tested against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in accordance with ISO 22196. Bacterial growth was significantly reduced for the MAAC-treated PVC, plasticized PVC, polyurethane and silicone (90-99.999%) in which antibacterial activity of >= 1 log reduction was reached for all bacterial strains tested. Cytotoxicity was evaluated following ISO 10993-5 guidelines and L929 cell viability was calculated at >= 90% in the presence of MAAC. This study demonstrates that the MAAC could prevent bacterial contamination as demonstrated by the ISO 22196 tests, while further work needs to be done to improve the coating processability and effectiveness of more complex matrices.

Automated summary

Technological innovations and quality control processes in blood supply organizations have improved blood safety, but the risk of transfusion-transmitted infection remains. Applying an antibacterial coating on medical devices is a promising strategy to prevent infection spread. This study characterized the antibacterial activity of an SiO2 nanoparticular coating on polymeric materials used in the biomedical field and found that it significantly reduced bacterial growth. However, further improvements are needed for more complex matrices.