Nitric oxide-releasing polyacrylonitrile disperses biofilms formed by wound-relevant pathogenic bacteria.
AIMS
To test the antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of a nitric oxide (NO)-releasing polymer against wound-relevant bacterial pathogens.


METHODS AND RESULTS
Using a variety of 96-well plate assay systems that include standard well plates and the minimum biofilm eradication concentration biofilm assay well plate, a NO-releasing polymer based on (poly)acrylonitrile (PAN/NO) was studied for antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against the common wound pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAO1), Staphylococcus aureus (Mu50) and Enterococcus faecalis (V583). The polymer was capable of dispersing single-species biofilms of Ps. aeruginosa as well as a more clinically relevant multispecies biofilm that incorporates Ps. aeruginosa along with Staph. aureus and Ent. faecalis. PAN/NO also synergistically enhanced the susceptibility of the multispecies biofilms to the common broad-spectrum antibiotic, ciprofloxacin. Multiple in vitro biocompatibility assays show that PAN/NO has limited potential for mammalian cytotoxicity.


CONCLUSION
This study demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing the NO-releasing polymer, PAN/NO, to manage biofilms formed by wound-relevant pathogens, and provides proof-of-concept for use of this NO-releasing polymer platform across multiple disciplines where bacterial biofilms pose significant problems.


SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY
In the clinical sector, bacterial biofilms represent a substantial treatment challenge for health care professionals and are widely recognized as a key factor in prolonging patient morbidity. This study highlights the potential role for the ubiquitous signalling molecule nitric oxide (NO) as an antibiofilm therapy.
['Craven|M|M|', 'Kasper|S H|SH|', 'Canfield|M J|MJ|', 'Diaz-Morales|R R|RR|', 'Hrabie|J A|JA|', 'Cady|N C|NC|', 'Strickland|A D|AD|']
D000180:Acrylic Resins D000890:Anti-Infective Agents D018441:Biofilms D002939:Ciprofloxacin D013293:Enterococcus faecalis D009569:Nitric Oxide D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa D013203:Staphylococcal Infections D013211:Staphylococcus aureus
biofilm nitric oxide polymer biofilm dispersal chronic wounds