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Novel Metal‐Polyurethane Complexes with Enhanced Antimicrobial Activity
Author(s) -
Francolini Iolanda,
Ruggeri Valeria,
Martinelli Andrea,
D'Ilario Lucio,
Piozzi Antonella
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.200500786
Subject(s) - polyurethane , staphylococcus epidermidis , biofilm , antimicrobial , polymer , materials science , bacterial growth , metal , nuclear chemistry , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , chemical engineering , bacteria , organic chemistry , composite material , staphylococcus aureus , biology , engineering , genetics
Summary: The silver coating of polymers has been intensively investigated in the last few decades as an effective non‐resistance‐inducing strategy to prevent medical device‐related infections. We have developed a completely new approach to incorporate silver ions in polymers by the synthesis of a carboxylated polyurethane able to coordinate Ag + . The obtained polymers possess mechanical properties suitable for the development of medical devices, without any risk of loss of activity. To minimize the risk of increasing antibiotic resistance, the metal ion‐containing polymers are loaded with ciprofloxacin, which possesses a different mechanism of antimicrobial action, thus a system able to inhibit Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa growth for at least one month is developed.SEM images showing a mature S. epidermidis biofilm on the surface of the carboxylated polyurethane (left) and the surface of the silver ion‐containing polyurethane free from bacterial colonization (right) after 48 h of incubation.