Adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa onto surfactant-laden contact lenses

There is an immense research interest to utilise contact lens (CLs) as a popular platform for ocular drug delivery. However, CLs are the major predisposing factors of bacterial keratitis which is commonly caused by adhesion of microbes such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The aim of the current study is to explore the effect of surfactants; Poloxamer 188, Polysorbate 80 and Tetronic^® 90R4 (at 0.25% - 3% v/v) on the characteristics of CLs and on the adhesion abilities of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the lenses' surfaces. CLs were formulated using a hydrophilic monomer; 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) together with silicone-based polymer such as Poly dimethyl siloxane (PDMS) or 3,3,3-trifluoropropylsilane (FSA) then lenses were polymerized under UV light. The formulated CLs with surfactants were found to have an increased equilibrium water content (EWC) due to hydrophilic moiety present in surfactants. A relationship was deduced between EWC and surface contact angle of lenses containing surfactants; where an increased EWC was associated with a decrease in contact angle reflecting a more hydrophilic surfaces of CLs. Apart from the 3% Polysorbate 80 (p < .0001) CLs, all other formulations had light transmission values over 80%. Lenses with surfactants were found to have lower bacterial ATP concentration than lenses without surfactants. Poloxamer 188 in FSA lenses reduced bacterial adhesion from 4.22 × 10^-4 ± 1.30 × 10^-4 pM to 1.03 × 10^-4 ± 4.86 × 10^-5 pM, a reduction by 75.59% when compared to the control lenses (p = .002). Moreover, 1% Tetronic^® 90R4 in PDMS showed a reduction by 57.17% in ATP concentration. Polysorbate 80 in FSA exhibited the least bacterial adhesion with an average bacterial ATP concentration of 3.85 × 10^-5 ± 2.61 × 10^-5 pM; i.e 90.88% less bacterial ATP than control lenses (p = .001). Bioluminescence studies demonstrated a decrease in Pseudomonas aeruginosa adhesion to CLs containing surfactants without impairing the optical and mechanical characteristics of the lenses.