title: A sandwich cup method for the penetration assay of antimicrobial agents through Pseudomonas exopolysaccharides.
abstract: We developed new sandwich cup method to assay the penetration of various antimicrobial agents through Pseudomonas exopolysaccharides. Using alginate extracted from mucoid-type Pseudomonas aeruginosa and gellan gum from Pseudomonas elodea, the role of exopolysaccharides as a barrier against drug penetration was examined. The penetration of positively charged hydrophilic drugs such as aminoglycosides and polypeptides was markedly inhibited by the gels tested, but that of beta-lactams, quinolones, and macrolides was not inhibited. The penetration of gentamicin was strongly influenced by the gel concentration, the solution to be used, and the presence of Ca2+. These results suggest that the microenvironment at the infection site could greatly influence drug penetration through biofilms in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Okayama University Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kumon
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomochika
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matunaga
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohmori
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001681:Biological Assay; D005782:Gels / Q000378:metabolism; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005782:Gels; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C064841:exopolysaccharide, Pseudomonas; C048288:gellan gum; D020723:Glucuronic Acid