Silver sucrose octasulfate (IASOS™) as a valid active ingredient into a novel vaginal gel against human vaginal pathogens: in vitro antimicrobial activity assessment

PLoS One. 2014 Jun 4;9(6):e97791. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097791. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

This in vitro study assessed the antimicrobial properties of a novel octasilver salt of Sucrose Octasulfate (IASOS) as well as of an innovative vaginal gel containing IASOS (SilSOS Femme), against bacterial and yeast pathogens isolated from human clinical cases of symptomatic vaginal infections. In BHI and LAPT culture media, different ionic silver concentrations and different pHs were tested. IASOS exerted a strong antimicrobial activity towards all the pathogens tested in both culture media. The results demonstrated that salts and organic compounds present in the culture media influenced IASOS efficacy only to a moderate extent. Whereas comparable MBCs (Minimal Bactericidal Concentrations) were observed for G. vaginalis (10 mg/L Ag+), E. coli and E. aerogenes (25 mg/L Ag+) in both media, higher MBCs were found for S. aureus and S. agalactiae in LAPT cultures (50 mg/L Ag+ versus 25 mg/L Ag+). No minimal concentration totally inhibiting the growth of C. albicans was found. Nevertheless, in both media at the highest ionic silver concentrations (50-200 mg/L Ag+), a significant 34-52% drop in Candida growth was observed. pH differently affected the antimicrobial properties of IASOS against bacteria or yeasts; however, a stronger antimicrobial activity at pH higher than the physiological pH was generally observed. It can be therefore concluded that IASOS exerts a bactericidal action against all the tested bacteria and a clear fungistatic action against C. albicans. The antimicrobial activity of the whole vaginal gel SilSOS Femme further confirmed the antimicrobial activity of IASOS. Overall, our findings support IASOS as a valid active ingredient into a vaginal gel.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Candida albicans / drug effects
  • Enterobacter aerogenes / drug effects
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Female
  • Gardnerella vaginalis / drug effects
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Silver / pharmacology*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / drug effects
  • Sucrose / analogs & derivatives*
  • Sucrose / pharmacology
  • Vagina / microbiology*
  • Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies
  • Silver
  • Sucrose
  • sucrose octasulfate

Grants and funding

The study was funded by CM&D Pharma Limited, UK pursuant to a technical and scientific service agreement with Istituto Superiore di Santià. The authors hold the following patents: US 61/715,226 Compositions comprising a silver salt of sucrose octasulfate and a potassium salt of sucrose octasulfate for protection of mucosal epithelia, authors Comelli Maria Cristina, Calderini Gabriella; US 7,183,315 Silver salts of sucrose octasulfate, authors Calderini Gabriella, Prosdocimi Marco, Antico Claudio, Miglierini Giuliana, Casadei Massari Danilo. InterAlia Pharma Srl, Italy (IP owner), kindly supported publication costs. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.