Visual evaluation of binding to mucosal cells of a medical device against the common cold.
The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of visualizing the ability of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) and a nasal spray (First Defense), in which the bioadhesive is HPMC, to bind to human mucosal cells using inorganic (black carbon particles and Congo red dye) and organic markers (Escherichia coli). A significant reduction in the bacterial adhesiveness has been observed. Our findings indicate the possibility of counteracting the lock-and-key mechanism of microorganism adhesion using the bioadhesive properties of polymers, such as HPMC, in First Defense to prevent a possible contact between adhesins and complementary receptors.
Braga
Pier Carlo
PC
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Center of Respiratory Pharmacology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. piercarlo.braga@unimi.it
Alfieri
Marina
M
Dal Sasso
Monica
M
Culici
Maria
M
D000268:Adhesiveness; D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D002610:Cheek; D003139:Common Cold / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D065347:Hypromellose Derivatives; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008747:Methylcellulose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D065347:Hypromellose Derivatives; D008747:Methylcellulose