Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026

11:52
Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activities of Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Surfaces In Vitro
Published on: April 21, 2023
In vitro Antimicrobial Activity of SinuSurf™
Jennifer M Kofonow1, Nithin D Adappa
1Division of Rhinology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Summary
SinuSurf, a sinonasal surfactant, significantly reduced bacterial growth and biofilm formation in vitro. When combined with antibiotics, it enhanced eradication of resistant bacteria like MRSA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Area of Science:
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) often involves bacterial biofilms.
- Topical surfactant therapy shows promise in managing CRS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the in vitro antibacterial efficacy of SinuSurf, a sinonasal surfactant.
- To assess SinuSurf's impact on antibiotic effectiveness against common CRS pathogens.
Main Methods:
- Bacterial cultures (MRSA, PA) were treated with SinuSurf and antibiotics (mupirocin, gentamicin).
- Colony-forming units (CFUs) and biofilm formation were quantified.
- Effectiveness was tested in contaminated sinus irrigation bottles.
Main Results:
- SinuSurf alone achieved significant log reductions in MRSA and PA CFUs.
- SinuSurf enhanced antibiotic efficacy, leading to complete bacterial eradication at lower concentrations.
- SinuSurf reduced MRSA and PA biofilm formation by 83% and 76%, respectively.
- SinuSurf significantly reduced bacterial contamination in irrigation bottles.
Conclusions:
- SinuSurf demonstrates potent in vitro antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity.
- Combining SinuSurf with topical antibiotics improves treatment effectiveness for recalcitrant CRS.
- SinuSurf holds potential as an adjunct therapy for sinonasal infections.
Related Concept Videos
Antimicrobial Effectiveness
The effectiveness of antimicrobial agents depends on various factors influencing their ability to eliminate microbial populations. Larger microbial populations require more time for complete eradication, emphasizing the importance of population size analysis when evaluating antimicrobial efficacy.Microbial resistance to antimicrobial agents varies significantly. Highly resilient microorganisms include endospores, gram-negative bacteria, and non-enveloped viruses, while prions are exceptionally...
Surface Membrane Barriers
The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism
Synergism is a useful mechanism where combining two or more drugs is more effective than each constituent used alone. Such combinations are also called supra-additive interactions. The drugs collectively enhance the final therapeutic effect by acting on different targets. Another advantage is that the low dose of each constituent drug is sufficient to achieve the desired effect. This helps reduce the duration of therapy and lower the adverse effects of these drugs.
Such synergistic combinations...
Such synergistic combinations...
Inhibitors of Bacterial DNA Synthesis
Bacterial pathogens depend on precise and efficient DNA replication to sustain infection. Two type II topoisomerases—DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV—are critical to this process, as they resolve DNA supercoiling and unlink chromosomes during replication. Fluoroquinolones, synthetic derivatives of quinolones, exploit this mechanism by stabilizing the transient DNA–enzyme cleavage complex, preventing strand religation, and causing lethal double-strand breaks. These antibiotics are selectively...
