AVS 51st International Symposium
    Biomaterial Interfaces Thursday Sessions
       Session BI+AS+SE-ThM

Paper BI+AS+SE-ThM10
Development of an Antimicrobial Polymer Surface Coating for the Prevention of Staphylococcal Infections

Thursday, November 18, 2004, 11:20 am, Room 210D

Session: Surface Modification of Biomaterials
Presenter: M. Anderle, ITC-irst, Italy
Authors: M. Anderle, ITC-irst, Italy
L. Pasquardini, ITC-irst, Italy
L. Lunelli, ITC-irst, Italy
R. Canteri, ITC-irst, Italy
P. Villani, ITC-irst, Italy
C. Pederzolli, ITC-irst, Italy
Correspondent: Click to Email
The proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms on polymer surfaces is one of the most widespread causes of failure of biomedical devices such as catheters, medical implants, vascular graft and joint prostheses. The inhibition of pathogenesis and subsequent mechanisms of protection are possible by killing bacteria in the first steps of colonization. This work describes a polymeric surface coating with liposomes as method to provide a sustained delivery of antibiotics into the local micro-environment of the implant. In this study liposome formulations composed of Phosphatidylcholine (PC), Distearoyl-sn-Glycero-3-Phosphoethanolamine-N-MethoxyPolyethylene glycol (DSPE-PEG) and cholesterol are utilized. Liposomes, different in size, are attached to an amine activated substrate through the formation of covalent bonds with the distal end of the PEG (Polyethylene glycol) derivative molecules. Data on the surface coating using large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) and multilamellar vesicles (MLV) will be shown. The AFM analysis is performed to study the nanoscale structure of the coated surface while the fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy are engaged to determine the immobilisation efficacy adding a fluorescent lipid (L-@alpha@-Phosphatidylethanolamine-N-lissamine rhodamine B sulfonyl) to the liposome composition. The MLV coating on polystyrene shows a more uniform distribution with a lipid concentration of about 2x10@super 15@ mol/cm@super 2@. Finally drug (rifampicin) release and bacterial colonisation rates with their correlation will be reported.