Antimicrobial Activity of Poly-epsilon-lysine Peptide Hydrogels Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

ABSTRACT: Purpose:To determine the antimicrobial activity of poly-epsilon-lysine (p?K) functionalization of hydrogels against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methods:Antimicrobial activities of p?K and p?K+ hydrogels were tested against both keratitis and a laboratory strain of Paeruginosa at a range of inocula sizes, over 4 and 24 hours. The number of viable CFU on p?K and p?K+ hydrogels or commercial contact lenses (CL) was investigated. Ex vivo porcine corneas were inoculated with Paeruginosa PAO1 (103 CFU) and incubated with p?K+ hydrogels or commercial hydrogel CL for 24 hours and the effects of infection determined. Results:P?K+ hydrogels showed log reductions in viable CFU compared with p?K hydrogels for all Paeruginosa strains, depending on inocula sizes and incubation time. After 24 hours p?K+ hydrogels showed >5 and >7.5 log reduction in CFU compared with commercial hydrogel CL at 103 and 106 CFU, respectively. In an ex vivo porcine corneal infection model, p?K+ hydrogels led to a significant decrease in viable PAO1 CFU and histologic analysis indicated a decreased infiltration of PAO1 into the stroma. Conclusions:P?K+ hydrogels demonstrated enhanced antimicrobial activity versus nonfunctionalized p?K hydrogels against clinically relevant Paeruginosa strains. P?K+ hydrogels have the potential to be used as a bandage CL with innate antimicrobial characteristics to minimize the risk of microbial keratitis.

SUBMITTER: Kennedy SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7441358 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature