Open AccessDeveloping Novel Biointerfaces: Using Chlorhexidine Surface Attachment as a Method for Creating Anti‐Fungal Surfaces
Author(s) -
Bryant Jack A.,
Riordan Lily,
Watson Rowan,
Nikoi Naa Dei,
Trzaska Wioleta,
Slope Louise,
Tibbatts Callum,
Alexander Morgan R.,
Scurr David J.,
May Robin C.,
de Cogan Felicity
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
global challenges
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2056-6646
DOI - 10.1002/gch2.202100138
Subject(s) - chlorhexidine , biocide , candida albicans , antimicrobial , cryptococcus neoformans , microbiology and biotechnology , broad spectrum , anti infective agents , biology , medicine , chemistry , dentistry , pathology , combinatorial chemistry
There is an increasing focus in healthcare environments on combatting antimicrobial resistant infections. While bacterial infections are well reported, infections caused by fungi receive less attention, yet have a broad impact on society and can be deadly. Fungi are eukaryotes with considerable shared biology with humans, therefore limited technologies exist to combat fungal infections and hospital infrastructure is rarely designed for reducing microbial load. In this study, a novel antimicrobial surface (AMS) that is modified with the broad‐spectrum biocide chlorhexidine is reported. The surfaces are shown to kill the opportunistic fungal pathogens Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans very rapidly (<15 min) and are significantly more effective than current technologies available on the commercial market, such as silver and copper.