SURFACE MODIFICATION FOR INFECTION-RESISTANT BIOMATERIALS

INFECTIONS ARE THE MOST SERIOUS COMPLICATION OF MEDICAL DEVICES. A HIGH INCIDENCE OF INFECTION IS ASSOCIATED WITH ALL DEVICES, INCLUDING CONTACT LENSES, CATHETERS, DIALYSIS MATERIALS, AND CARDIOVASCULAR IMPLANTS. INFECTIONS ARE TREATED AS THEY OCCUR, BUT PREVENTION IS THE MOST PROMISING APPROACH TO DECREASING THESE PROBLEMS. ONE LIKELY METHOD FOR REDUCING DEVICE-RELATED INFECTIONS IS TO BOND A COATING TO THE MATERIAL THAT WILL REPEL MICROBIAL ATTACHMENT AND COLONIZATION. PRELIMINARY RESULTS SHOW THAT COVALENTLY COUPLED COATINGS REDUCE BACTERIAL COLONIZATION OF POLYSTYRENE. IN THIS PHASEI EFFORT, IT IS PLANNED TO IMMOBILIZE THESE COATINGS TO CONTACT LENS MATERIALS AND TO INVESTIGATE THE ABILITY OF THESE COATINGS TO REDUCE MICROBIAL ADHERENCE AND PROLIFERATION. THE ABILITY OF THESE HYDROGEL COATINGS TO ACT AS ANTIBIOTIC, SLOW-RELEASE DRUG DELIVERY VEHICLES WILL ALSO BE STUDIED. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE RESULTS FROM THIS PHASE I PROJECT WILL DEMONSTRATE THAT PHOTOCHEMICAL SURFACE MODIFICATION WILL REPEL MICROBIAL ATTACHEMENT TO CONTACT LENS MATERIALS. PHASE II EFFORTS WILL OPTIMIZE COATING CHEMISTRIES AND EXPAND THE TESTING TO ANIMAL MODELS.