Functionalisation of Silicone by Drug-Embedded Chitosan Nanoparticles for Potential Applications in Otorhinolaryngology

Abstract

Silicones are widely used medical materials that are also applied for tympanostomy tubes with a trending goal to functionalise the surface of the latter to enhance the healing of ear inflammations and other ear diseases, where such medical care is required. This study focuses on silicone surface treatment with various antimicrobial coatings. Polysaccharide coatings in the form of chitosan nanoparticles alone, or with an embedded drug mixture composed of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (co-amoxiclav) were prepared and applied onto silicone material. Plasma activation was also used as a pre-treatment for activation of the material’s surface for better adhesion of the coatings. The size of the nanoparticles was measured using the DLS method (Dynamic Light Scattering), stability of the dispersion was determined with zeta potential measurements, whilst the physicochemical properties of functionalised silicone materials were examined using the UV-Vis method (Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), XPS (X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy). Moreover, in vitro drug release testing was used to follow the desorption kinetics and antimicrobial properties were tested by a bacterial cell count reduction assay using the standard gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. The results show silicone materials as suitable materials for tympanostomy tubes, with the coating developed in this study showing excellent antimicrobial and biofilm inhibition properties. This implies a potential for better healing of ear inflammation, making the newly developed approach for the preparation of functionalised tympanostomy tubes promising for further testing towards clinical applications.

Applicability of electro-osmotic flow for the analysis of the surface zeta potential

“…Chitosan is commonly applied as an antimicrobial coating. [51][52][53] Therefore the SZP of a PP foil modied with chitosan, which introduces cationic charge (i.e. PP coated with Fig.…”

Role of Biofilms in Post-Tympanostomy Tube Otorrhea

“…46 In an in vitro study, chitosan nanoparticles were prepared by ionic gelation (in ionic gelation method, chitosan polysaccharide is dissolved in aqueous acidic solution to get the cation of chitosan) and were used to encapsulate a co-amoxiclav drug mixture and their consequent adsorption onto O 2 plasma-activated silicone TTs. 47 The activity was tested against S aureus test strain and was proven that these coated TTs had excellent antimicrobial and biofilm inhibition properties.…”

Development of Biodegradable Whey-Based Laminate Functionalised by Chitosan–Natural Extract Formulations

“…Despite this, the intensity of the larger particles in terms of microns is a little bit higher. Nevertheless, both of the prepared dispersions showed suitable characteristics in terms of nanosize, which is reflected in the larger active area and absence of the larger fraction of agglomerates for their further application as antioxidant and antimicrobial effective layers [38]. The results of the electrokinetic properties and particle size of CSNP colloidal formulations with embedded extracts showed a successful formation of particles in the nano range with a high positive charge.…”