title: Preparation, characterization and antimicrobial study of a hydrogel (soft contact lens) material impregnated with silver nanoparticles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Contact lenses that incorporate antimicrobial properties may reduce the risk for microbial-associated adverse events for lens wearers. The aim of this study was to assess the antimicrobial effects of silver nanoparticles (NP) when impregnated in a hydrogel material.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hydrogel disks, used as a proxy for soft contact lenses, were prepared with silver NPs to add an antimicrobial effect to the polymer. Six groups of disks were created, each with a different concentration of silver NPs. The antimicrobial effect of the hydrogels against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC15442) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC6538) was evaluated at 6, 24, 48 and 72 h.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Silver NP concentrations ranged from 20.71 to 98.06 μg/disk. All groups demonstrated excellent antibacterial effects against P. aeruginosa at each time point. After 6h all disks didn't exhibit desirable antibacterial activity against S. aureus; whereas except those with 20.71 μg silver NPs showed antibacterial activity at 24h and only the disks with 57.13 and 98.06 μg silver NPs showed antimicrobial activity at 48 and 72 h.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development of contact lenses made of a silver NP-impregnated hydrogel material may bring antimicrobial effects sufficient to decrease the risk of microbial-related adverse events for lens wearers.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Bibi Sedigheh
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Fazly Bazzaz
authors.affiliation: Students Research Committee, Department of Food and Drug Control, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Bahman
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Khameneh
authors.affiliation: Targeted Drug Delivery Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad-mehdi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Jalili-Behabadi
authors.affiliation: Nanotechnology Research Centre, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Bizhan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Malaekeh-Nikouei
authors.affiliation: Targeted Drug Delivery Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: mohajeria@mums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Seyed Ahmad
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mohajeri
mesh_terms: D065966:Absorption, Physicochemical; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic / Q000382:microbiology*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D020100:Hydrogels; D012834:Silver
keywords: Antimicrobial; Disinfection; Hydrogel; Keratitis; Microbial keratitis; Silver nanoparticles; Soft contact lens