Journal
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
Volume 5, Issue 27, Pages 5403-5411Publisher
ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY
DOI: 10.1039/c7tb01302g
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- Dunhill Medical Trust [R394/1114]
- Medical Research Council [MR/N006496/1]
- QVH Charitable Trust
- Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Blond McIndoe Research Foundation
- University of Brighton
- Annette Charitable Trust
- BBSRC/Public Health England
- EPSRC [EP/I027602/1] Funding Source: UKRI
- MRC [MR/N006496/1] Funding Source: UKRI
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [EP/I027602/1] Funding Source: researchfish
- Medical Research Council [MR/N006496/1] Funding Source: researchfish
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The crystalline biofilms of Proteus mirabilis can seriously complicate the care of patients undergoing long-term indwelling urinary catheterisation. Expression of bacterial urease causes a significant increase in urinary pH, leading to the supersaturation and precipitation of struvite and apatite crystals. These crystals become lodged within the biofilm, resulting in the blockage of urine flow through the catheter. Here, we describe an infection-responsive surface coating for urinary catheters, which releases a therapeutic dose of bacteriophage in response to elevated urinary pH, in order to delay catheter blockage. The coating employs a dual-layered system comprising of a lower hydrogel 'reservoir' layer impregnated with bacteriophage, capped by a 'trigger' layer of the pH-responsive polymer poly(methyl methacrylateco- methacrylic acid) (EUDRAGIT (R) S 100). Evaluation of prototype coatings using a clinically reflective in vitro bladder model system showed that catheter blockage time was doubled (13 h to 26 h (P < 0.05)) under conditions of established infection (10(8) CFU ml(-1)) in response to a 'burst-release' of bacteriophage (10(8) PFU ml(-1)). Coatings were stable both in the absence of infection, and in the presence of urease-negative bacteria. Quantitative and visual analysis of crystalline biofilm reduction show that bacteriophage constitute a promising strategy for the prevention of catheter blockage, a clinical problem for which there is currently no effective control method.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available