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Chitosan-Coated Surgical Sutures Prevent Adherence and Biofilms of Mixed Microbial Communities

Subramani Prabha1, Jothipandiyan Sowndarya1, Parepalli Janaki Venkata Sai Ram1

  • 1Biofilm Biology Laboratory, Centre for Research on Infectious Diseases [CRID], School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Tirumalaisamudram, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613 401, India.

Current Microbiology
|January 3, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Extracted chitosan from crab shells effectively prevents drug-resistant biofilms on surgical sutures, inhibiting both bacterial and fungal pathogens. This crab shell chitosan offers a novel solution for preventing surgical site infections (SSIs).

Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Sutures are prone to polymicrobial biofilm colonization, leading to drug-resistant surgical site infections (SSIs).
  • Existing antibacterial sutures have limited efficacy against mixed-species biofilms.
  • Preventing biofilm formation on sutures is crucial for reducing SSI rates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of extracted chitosan (EC) from crab shells in preventing polymicrobial biofilm formation on surgical sutures.
  • To compare the anti-biofilm and anti-pathogen properties of EC with commercial chitosan and triclosan-coated sutures.
  • To investigate the impact of EC-coated sutures on bacterial and fungal virulence factors.

Main Methods:

  • Extraction of chitosan from crab shells.
  • In vitro testing of EC-coated sutures against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Candida albicans biofilms.
  • Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to visualize biofilm formation and C. albicans hyphae.
  • Comparison with commercial chitosan and triclosan-coated sutures.

Main Results:

  • Extracted chitosan (EC) significantly inhibited the adherence and slime formation of S. epidermidis and C. albicans.
  • EC demonstrated superior mixed-species biofilm inhibition compared to commercial chitosan.
  • EC-coated sutures inhibited both bacterial and fungal growth, unlike triclosan-coated sutures which were only antibacterial.
  • SEM revealed that EC-coated sutures inhibited C. albicans hyphal formation.

Conclusions:

  • Extracted chitosan from crab shells is a potent agent against drug-resistant polymicrobial biofilms relevant to SSIs.
  • EC-coated sutures offer broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, inhibiting both bacterial and fungal pathogens.
  • Utilizing crab shell waste for EC production presents a sustainable approach to developing novel anti-biofilm surgical materials.

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