title: Antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity and inflammatory response of novel plastics embedded with silver nanoparticles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Infections associated with medical devices are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Microorganisms are responsible for catheter infections that may then result in the local or systemic dissemination of the microorganism into the bloodstream. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) embedded in polyurethane plastics, commonly used for catheter fabrication.
  
  
  METHODS
  AgNPs in the range of 25-30 nm were synthesized and embedded in polyurethane plastics at different concentrations. The antimicrobial activities of these plastics were tested against the three pathogenic microorganisms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Candida albicans, frequently associated with catheter infections. The cytotoxicity of the plastics was evaluated on human-derived macrophages using propidium iodide and the secretion of the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-a was measured using ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant reduction of 6- to 7-log in the number of bacteria was measured, while a reduction of 90% was measured in the case of C. albicans. Neither cytotoxic effect on macrophages nor immunological response was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plastics embedded with AgNPs have great potential to limit microbial colonization of implanted medical devices.
authors: Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors: Fidel
authors: F
authors: Martínez-Gutiérrez
authors: Jesús M
authors: JM
authors: Guajardo-Pacheco
authors: María E
authors: ME
authors: Noriega-Trevino
authors: Emily P
authors: EP
authors: Thi
authors: Neil
authors: N
authors: Reiner
authors: Erasmo
authors: E
authors: Orrantia
authors: Yossef
authors: Y
authors: Av-Gay
authors: Facundo
authors: F
authors: Ruiz
authors: Horacio
authors: H
authors: Bach
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D012834:Silver / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011140:Polyurethanes; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D012834:Silver