Abstract
The escalating global incidence of bacterial infection, particularly in chronic wounds, is a problem that requires significant improvements to existing therapies. We have developed hyperbranched poly(NIPAM) polymers functionalized with the antibiotics Vancomycin and Polymyxin-B that are sensitive to the presence of bacteria in solution. Binding of bacteria to the polymers causes a conformational change, resulting in collapse of the polymers and the formation of insoluble polymer/bacteria complexes. We have applied these novel polymers to our tissue engineered human skin model of a burn wound infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. When the polymers were removed from the infected skin, either in a polymer gel solution or in the form of hydrogel membranes, they removed bound bacteria, thus reducing the bacterial load in the infected skin model. These bacteria-binding polymers have many potential uses, including coatings for wound dressings.
Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Acrylic Resins / pharmacology*
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Anthracenes
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
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Bacterial Adhesion / drug effects
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Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
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Bacterial Infections / microbiology*
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Bacterial Load*
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Humans
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Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / pharmacology
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Membranes, Artificial
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Microbial Sensitivity Tests
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Models, Biological
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Polymyxin B / pharmacology
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Polymyxin B / therapeutic use
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Pseudomonas Infections / drug therapy
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Pseudomonas Infections / microbiology
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Pseudomonas aeruginosa / cytology
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Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects
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Skin / drug effects*
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Skin / microbiology*
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Skin / pathology
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Staphylococcal Infections / drug therapy
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Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
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Staphylococcus aureus / cytology
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Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
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Tissue Engineering*
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Vancomycin / pharmacology
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Vancomycin / therapeutic use
Substances
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Acrylic Resins
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Anthracenes
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Anti-Bacterial Agents
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Membranes, Artificial
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poly-N-isopropylacrylamide
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Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate
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Vancomycin
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anthracene
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Polymyxin B