Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026
High-throughput Identification of Bacteria Repellent Polymers for Medical Devices
Published on: November 5, 2016
Antimicrobial effects of an NO-releasing poly(ethylene vinylacetate) coating on soft-tissue implants in vitro and in
Anton F Engelsman1, Bastiaan P Krom, Henk J Busscher
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Infection of surgical meshes used in abdominal wall reconstructions often leads to removal of the implant and increases patient morbidity due to repetitive operations and hospital administrations. Treatment with antibiotics is ineffective due to the biofilm mode of growth of the infecting bacteria and bears the risk of inducing antibiotic resistance. Hence there is a need for alternative methods to prevent and treat mesh infection. Nitric oxide (NO)-releasing coatings have been demonstrated to possess bactericidal properties in vitro. It is the aim of this study to assess possible benefits of a low concentration NO-releasing carbon-based coating on monofilament polypropylene meshes with respect to infection control in vitro and in vivo. When applied on surgical meshes, NO-releasing coatings showed significant bactericidal effect on in vitro biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and CNS. However, using bioluminescent in vivo imaging, no beneficial effects of this NO-releasing coating on subcutaneously implanted surgical meshes in mice could be observed.
Insights
Nitric oxide (NO)-releasing coatings show promise for preventing surgical mesh infections by killing bacteria in lab tests. However, these coatings did not prevent infections in a mouse model.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials science
- Infectious disease research
- Surgical innovation
Background:
- Surgical mesh infections complicate abdominal wall reconstructions, necessitating implant removal and increasing patient morbidity.
- Antibiotic treatments are often ineffective against bacterial biofilms on meshes and risk promoting antibiotic resistance.
- Novel strategies are crucial for preventing and treating surgical mesh infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a nitric oxide (NO)-releasing carbon-based coating on polypropylene meshes for infection control.
- To assess the coating's performance against common bacterial pathogens in vitro and in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Polypropylene meshes were coated with a low-concentration NO-releasing carbon-based material.
- In vitro biofilm assays were performed using Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and CNS.
- In vivo efficacy was assessed using subcutaneously implanted meshes in a mouse model with bioluminescent imaging.
Main Results:
- The NO-releasing coating demonstrated significant bactericidal activity against in vitro biofilms of tested bacteria.
- No significant beneficial effect was observed for the NO-releasing coating in preventing infection of implanted surgical meshes in vivo.
Conclusions:
- While NO-releasing coatings show in vitro potential against surgical mesh biofilm infections, their in vivo efficacy remains unproven.
- Further research is needed to develop effective NO-releasing strategies for preventing surgical mesh-related infections in clinical settings.
