Antimicrobial functionalization of silicone surfaces with engineered short peptides having broad spectrum antimicrobial and salt-resistant properties.
Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are often preceded by pathogen colonization on catheter surfaces and are a major health threat facing hospitals worldwide. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a class of new antibiotics that hold promise in curbing CAUTIs caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens. This study aims to systematically evaluate the feasibility of immobilizing two newly engineered arginine/lysine/tryptophan-rich AMPs with broad antimicrobial spectra and salt-tolerant properties on silicone surfaces to address CAUTIs. The peptides were successfully immobilized on polydimethylsiloxane and urinary catheter surfaces via an allyl glycidyl ether (AGE) polymer brush interlayer, as confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and water contact angle analyses. The peptide-coated silicone surfaces exhibited excellent microbial killing activity towards bacteria and fungi in urine and in phosphate-buffered saline. Although both the soluble and immobilized peptides demonstrated membrane disruption capabilities, the latter showed a slower rate of kill, presumably due to reduced diffusivity and flexibility resulting from conjugation to the polymer brush. The synergistic effects of the AGE polymer brush and AMPs prevented biofilm formation by repelling cell adhesion. The peptide-coated surface showed no toxicity towards smooth muscle cells. The findings of this study clearly indicate the potential for the development of AMP-based coating platforms to prevent CAUTIs.
School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459, Singapore.
Xiang
X
Li
Peng
P
Li
Rathi
R
Saravanan
Anindya
A
Basu
Biswajit
B
Mishra
Suo Hon
SH
Lim
Xiaodi
X
Su
Paul Anantharajah
PA
Tambyah
Susanna Su Jan
SS
Leong
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D055767:Immobilized Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D015202:Protein Engineering; D012828:Silicones / Q000737:chemistry*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012995:Solubility; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D062885:Urinary Catheters; D017155:Wettability / Q000187:drug effects
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D055767:Immobilized Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D012828:Silicones; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate
Antimicrobial peptide; Catheter; Infections; Polymer brush; Silicone