title: Optimizing biliary stent patency by coating with hydrophobin alone or hydrophobin and antibiotics or heparin: an in vitro proof of principle study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although a wide range of biliary plastic and metal stents is on offer nowadays, the ideal cost-effective stent that functions permanently and that is easy to handle regarding its exchange is still not available. Therefore we tested in an in vitro model if the coating of plastic stents with hydrophobin alone or with hydrophobin and antibiotics or heparin in combination leads to an inhibition of the clogging process.
  
  
  METHODS
  We coated commercially available biliary plastic stents with hydrophobin alone, as well as with hydrophobin and antibiotics or heparin in combination. After an incubation period of 28 days in human bile, we examined the stents by scanning electron microscopy to see whether the clogging material on its surface was reduced.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Coating of plastic stents with hydrophobin led to a reduction in the amount of adherent material on the surface of the stents. Coupling of ampicillin/sulbactam or levofloxacin did not lead to a further reduction of the clogging material, whereas coupling with highly concentrated heparin did reduce the adherent material.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The coating of biliary plastic stents with hydrophobin or with hydrophobin and heparin in combination seems to be a promising option to delay the clogging process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine II, SLK-Kliniken Heilbronn, Academic Hospital of the University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. uwe.weickert@slk-kliniken.de
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Weickert
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wiesend
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Subkowski
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eickhoff
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reiss
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001646:Bile / Q000378:metabolism; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000473:pathology; D001659:Biliary Tract / Q000473:pathology*; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D064704:Levofloxacin; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010969:Plastics; D015607:Stents
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D010969:Plastics; D064704:Levofloxacin; D006493:Heparin; D015242:Ofloxacin