(293e) Polymer Film Coated Surgical Mesh for Controlled Release of Antibiotics

Bacterial infection on surgical implants and its postoperative device failure is a significant clinical problem. Moreover, bacterial biofilm formation is highly resistant to systemic delivery of antibiotics. To address this issue, we have developed highly porous poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) films as coatings for surgical implants with the films containing antibiotics. The specific application is the development of infection resistant biological meshes to be used in hernia surgery. The porous films are based on ?breath figure? method of generating porous structures by evaporating solutions of polymer in a volatile solvent in a humid environment. We have conducted studies of drug delivery (using the antibiotics, Vancomycin and Gentamycin) from these spin coated thin films and its effects on post surgery bacterial infection. High resolution scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the film morphology and its degradation pattern on tissue based surgical coatings. A four-week film degradation study showed a gradual deterioration of the pore structure. In vitro drug release experiments for the PLGA film in pH 7.4 phosphate buffered saline solution (PBS) showed a sustained release profile for a month with initial burst release. The release kinetics of drug was accelerated by the addition of hydrophilic polymer, Polyethylene glycol (PEG). The antibiotic activity of films was assessed by Kirby-Bauer disk-diffusion method. It was observed that Vancomycin released from the films, inhibited the bacterial growth and the films were active against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain for at least 10 days. Our continuing studies will focus on biofilm growth inhibition using these meshes followed by in vivo animal experiments.