Antibiotic Releasing Urethane Polymers for Prevention of Catheter Related InfectionsDepartment of Chemistry, University of Rome "La Sapienza", P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, P.O. BOX 34 - Roma 62 walter.marconi{at}uniromal.it
Department of Chemistry, University of Rome "La Sapienza", P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, P.O. BOX 34 - Roma 62
Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Rome, "La Sapienza", P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome In order to improve the resistance of catheters to microbial infections (particularly Staphylococci), a cephalosporin type antibiotic (cefamandole, CEF), and a glycopeptidic antibiotic (vancomycin), were adsorbed onto functionalized polyurethane films. The polymers were characterized by chemical, FT-IR and 'H-NMR analysis. The amounts of antibiotic adsorbed were higher than the ones reported in the literature. The kinetics of release, under standard conditions, was evaluated by in vitro tests; both the adsorption yield and the antibiotic release from the polymer surface depended on the type of the surface-antibiotic interactions. In particular, matrix hydrophilicity, formation of strong ionic bonds, existence of "spacing arms" between antibiotic and matrix bonding site play a role. The antimicrobial activity of the treated films was evaluated by optical microscopy and the Kirby-Bauer test. When exhausted polymer films, previously treated with CEF were submitted to a second adsorption, a superior antibacterial activity was observed.
Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers, Vol. 16, No. 5,
393-407 (2001) This article has been cited by other articles:
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