title: Effects of polymer-based, silver nanoparticle-coated silicone splints on the nasal mucosa of rats.
abstract: Infection is a serious complication after nasal packing that otolaryngologists seek to avoid. The aim of this study is to investigate the use of silver (Ag) nanoparticle, which serves as antimicrobial agents, with nasal tampons. The study design is an experimental animal model and the setting is tertiary referral center. Twenty-four rats were randomized into the following four groups: (1) control group (n = 6); (2) silicone nasal splint (SNS) group (n  =  6); (3) polypropylene-grafted polyethylene glycol (PP-g-PEG) amphiphilic graft copolymer-coated SNS group (n  =  6); and (4) Ag nanoparticle-embedded PP-g-PEG (Ag-PP-g-PEG) amphiphilic graft copolymer-coated SNS group (n  =  6). These tampons were applied to rats for 48 h, after which they were removed in a sterile manner, and the rats were sacrificed. The nasal septa of the rats were excised, and assessments of tissue changes in the nasal mucosa were compared among the groups. The removed tampons were microbiologically examined, and quantitative analyses were made. When the groups were compared microbiologically, there were no significant differences in bacterial colonization rates of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. among the three groups (p = 0.519), but there was a statistically significant difference among bacterial colonization rates of Heamophilus parainfluenzae and Corynebacterium spp. (p = 0.018, p = 0.004). We found that H. parainfluenzae grew less robustly in the Ag-PP-g-PEG than the PP-g-PEG group (p = 0.017). However, we found no significant difference between the Ag-PP-g-PEG and SNS groups, or between the SNS and PP-g-PEG groups. The growth of Corynebacterium spp. did not differ significantly between the Ag-PP-g-PEG and SNS groups (p = 1.000). When Group 4 was compared with Group 2, the former showed less inflammation. Compared with other tampons, Ag-PP-g-PEG amphiphilic graft copolymer-coated silicone nasal tampons caused less microbiological colonization and inflammation. Therefore, the use of these tampons may prevent secondary infections and reduce the risk of developing complications by minimizing tissue damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey. drsultan@mynet.com.
authors.forename: Sultan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Şevik Eliçora
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors.forename: Duygu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Erdem
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aykut Erdem
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Dinç
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Faculty of Arts and Science, Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors.forename: Özlem
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Altunordu Kalaycı
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Engineering of Nanotechnology, Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors.forename: Baki
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hazer
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gamze
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yurdakan
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors.forename: Canan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Külah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery; D059747:Nasal Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D012828:Silicones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012834:Silver / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013165:Splints; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013630:Tampons, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012828:Silicones; D012834:Silver
keywords: Ag nanoparticle; Nasal splint; Nasal tampon; Polyethylene glycol