Oxalate-degrading enzymes from Oxalobacter formigenes: a novel device coating to reduce urinary tract biomaterial-related encrustation.
OBJECTIVE
The long-term placement of biomaterials within the urinary tract is limited by the development of encrustation. In a noninfected urinary environment, encrustation often results from the deposition of calcium oxalate on the biomaterial surface. There is an association between the absence of Oxalobacter formigenes, a commensal colonic bacterium capable of degrading oxalate, and calcium oxalate stone formation. This pilot study was designed to evaluate several oxalate-degrading enzymes produced by O. formigenes as a potential biomaterial coating to reduce urinary tract encrustation.


METHODS
Circular silicone disks of 6-mm diameter were incubated for 48 hours in oxalylcoenzyme A decarboxylase (OXC), formyl-coenzyme A transferase (FRC), and coenzyme A, while control disks were incubated in distilled water. The adsorption of OXC and FRC was assessed using enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Coated and uncoated disks (20 of each) were implanted in the bladders of 40 female New Zealand White rabbits. After 30 days, the disks were recovered, and the degree of encrustation on the polymer surface was evaluated utilizing dry weight measurement, calcium atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM/EDX).


RESULTS
Both ECL and AFM demonstrated coating of the silicone disks with OXC and FRC. The mean dry weights of the coated and control disks following explantation were 0.591 +/- 0.438 g and 0.747 +/- 0.428 g, respectively (P = 0.307). The mean weight of calcium on the coated and control disks, as determined by AAS, was 154.1 +/- 96.25 mg and 258 +/- 181.35 mg, respectively (P = 0.008).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of oxalate-degrading enzymes from O. formigenes to coat urinary biomaterials represents a novel paradigm to reduce biomaterial-related encrustation. Coating of silicone with oxalate-degrading enzymes from O. formigenes results in a modest reduction in encrustation with no apparent toxicity. Further studies are warranted.
Watterson
James D
JD
Division of Urology & Lawson Health Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Cadieux
Peter A
PA
Beiko
Darren T
DT
Cook
Anthony J
AJ
Burton
Jeremy P
JP
Harbottle
Robert R
RR
Lee
Clarence
C
Rowe
Elaine
E
Sidhu
Harmeet
H
Reid
Gregor
G
Denstedt
John D
JD
D000818:Animals; D002129:Calcium Oxalate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D023421:Models, Animal; D020624:Oxalobacter formigenes / Q000201:enzymology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011336:Probability; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012826:Silicone Elastomers / Q000737:chemistry*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014545:Urinary Calculi / Q000517:prevention & control*
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D002129:Calcium Oxalate