Chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) blending hydrogel coating improves the surface characteristics of segmented polyurethane urethral catheters

Abstract

Segmented polyurethane (SPU) is commonly used to manufacture urethral catheters. Surface modifications for SPU catheters are needed to reduce friction and protein adsorption, in order to minimize catheter-related complications, including urethral trauma, encrustation, catheter obstruction, bacterial colonization, and infection. In this study, a four-step surface modification method was developed to create a thin lubricious layer of chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel on the SPU catheter. Modification steps included oxidation of the SPU surface, functionalities modification, carbodiimide reaction and coupling, and hydrogel crosslinking. The success of each modification step was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Measurement of the water contact angle revealed that hydrogel coating created a highly hydrophilic surface and atomic force microscope analyses demonstrated that the surface was slippery. Protein absorption of the SPU catheter was significantly reduced by coating hydrogel. Chitosan in the hydrogel could provide antimicrobial activity, and the hydrogel coating SPU samples showed significant antibacterial effects in this study. In summary, the four-step modification method developed in this study provided a simple and effective way to coat the surface of SPU catheters with a chitosan/PVA blending hydrogel that could help to minimize the risk of complications related to the use of urethral catheters.

Antimicrobial and Antifouling Hydrogels Formed In Situ from Polycarbonate and Poly(ethylene glycol) via Michael Addition

“…[13][14][15] For example, chitosan hydrogels/ fi lms and UV cross-linked hydrogels made from a hydrophobic alkyl-modifi ed quaternized ammonium chitosan grafted with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were reported to have antimicrobial effi cacy against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as fungi. [15][16][17] However, the quality and molecular weight of chitosan may vary from batch to batch. Another promising approach using hydrogels containing zwitterionic polymers was proposed by Jiang and his co-workers, [ 12 ] and in this approach, a mild antimicrobial agent (salicylate) was used as an anionic counter ion in a carboxybetaine ester hydrogel.…”

Degradation and antibacterial properties of magnesium alloys in artificial urine for potential resorbable ureteral stent applications

“…However, heparin is an anticoagulant and causes complications with healing of open wounds . Other recent advances have shown surface coatings of chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) reduced friction and protein adsorption on PU stents and reduced bacterial adhesion to stents . Although current coating strategies reduced bacterial adhesion, these ureteral stents still require removal eventually due to non‐degradable nature of the substrate material (i.e., PU).…”

Prevention of Biofilm Associated Infections and Degradation of Polymeric Materials Used in Biomedical Applications

“…However, due to the risk for silver toxicity (that may happen in case of high release rate) new antimicrobial agents are currently under development which are non-cytotoxic for human cells but has good efficiency against a variety of microorganisms (i.e. chitosan and bioactive antibodies) (Rojas et al, 2000, Yang et al, 2007 Besides synthetic materials, biological coatings or surface modifications are also reported and this field is growing extensively to exchange the currently used synthetic materials with more "human friendly" ones. In these studies biosurfactants produces by bacteria strains and bacteriophages as a coating to inhibit the biofilm formation on the surfaces (Goldman et al, 2009, Rivardo et al, 2009, Rodrigues et al, 2006 give the main frame of the research.…”