title: Antimicrobial biomaterials based on carbon nanotubes dispersed in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid).
abstract: Biomaterials that inactivate microbes are needed to eliminate medical device infections. We investigate here the antimicrobial nature of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) incorporated within the biomedical polymer poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). We find Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis viability and metabolic activity to be significantly diminished in the presence of SWNT-PLGA, and to correlate with SWNT length and concentration (<2% by weight). Up to 98% of bacteria die within one hour on SWNT-PLGA versus 15-20% on pure PLGA. Shorter SWNTs are more toxic, possibly due to increased density of open tube ends. This study demonstrates the potential usefulness of SWNT-PLGA as an antimicrobial biomaterial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Seyma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aslan
authors.forename: Codruta Zoican
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Loebick
authors.forename: Seoktae
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Menachem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elimelech
authors.forename: Lisa D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Pfefferle
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Van Tassel
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid