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Updated: Jan 17, 2026
High-throughput Identification of Bacteria Repellent Polymers for Medical Devices
Published on: November 5, 2016
Development of antibacterial coatings for endotracheal tubes with enhanced antibacterial release properties through
Matthew P Wylie1, Jia Li1, Grainne Murphy1
1School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
Background:
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a significant cause of patient morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study describes a strategy to develop antibacterial hydrogel-based coating for endotracheal tubes, composed of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and methacrylic acid, capable of simultaneously delivering a combination of antibacterial agents to mitigate VAP.
Methods:
Copolymer hydrogels were loaded with gentamicin, levofloxacin, and benzalkonium chloride (BAK), and their drug release profiles, antibacterial activity, and duration were determined.
Key Findings:
More than 95% and 99.99% reduction of bacterial adherence was observed for all the antibiotic-containing hydrogels after 4 and 24 h, respectively. Hydrogels loaded with BAK provided protection against Staphylococcus aureus for more than 30 days and hydrogels loaded with levofloxacin exhibited more than 10 days of persistence against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Dual loading of levofloxacin and BAK showed additive effects against bacteria and provided delayed release of both agents.
Conclusions:
The use of combined antibiotic-loaded hydrogel coatings provides a promising approach to combating the development of VAP.
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