title: Chitosan-vancomysin composite biomaterial as a laser activated surgical adhesive with regional antimicrobial activity.
abstract: We have used laser irradiation to enhance the natural adhesiveness of chitosan to form a thin film surgical adhesive. Prevention of infection at surgical sites often utilizes systemic provision of antibiotics with reduced local efficacy and potential side effects. In the work reported here, we investigate the bactericidal properties of laser-irradiated chitosan films and their impregnation with the antibiotic vancomycin. Despite strong efficacy in solution, chitosan films showed no antimicrobial activity against representatives of common pathogens Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , and S. epidermidis . In contrast, a composite of chitosan adhesive and the antibiotic vancomycin showed therapeutically significant release profiles greater that the Minimum Bactericidal Concentrations (MBCs) for the Staphylococci over a 28 day period. These composite films had greater crystallinity, up to 28 ± 3 compared to 8.9 ± 2%, for its unblended counterpart. Despite a significant increase in material strength from 31.4 ± 4 to 77.5 ± 5 MPa, flexibility was still maintained with an elongation to break around 5 ± 2% and fold endurance of approximately 30 ± 3-folds. Laser irradiation had no apparent effect on the release or activity of the antibiotic which survived transient temperatures at the film-tissue interface during infrared irradiation of around 54 °C. Furthermore, significant adhesive strength was still apparent, 15.6 ± 2 KPa. Thus, we have developed a laser-activated bioadhesive with the potential to close wounds while facilitating the prevention of microbial infection through local release of antibiotic targeted to the site of potential infection.
authors.affiliation: Bio/Polymer Research Group, Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. j.foster@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: L John R
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Kyle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: Helder
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marçal
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Butt
authors.forename: Stephanie L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wakefield
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017053:Infection Control; D007834:Lasers; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013696:Temperature; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000737:chemistry*; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; D014640:Vancomycin; D048271:Chitosan