Mitigating catheter infections with a bio-based coating

A bio-based nanocomposite coating has been engineered.

Foley catheter and urine drainage bag collect urine for disability or patient in hospital. © Ssweet_tomato/Shutterstock

Recurrent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) in catheterised patients, increase their morbidity and hospital stay, underlining efficient strategies for mitigating CAUTIs.

A bio-based nanocomposite coating is engineered with bactericidal, antibiofilm and antioxidant properties on commercial silicone catheters, using a combined ultrasound/nanoparticles (NPs) driven coating approach.

The approach detailed in Durable Bio-Based Nanocomposite Coating on Urinary Catheters Prevents Early-Stage CAUTI-Associated Pathogenicity in Advanced Materials Interfaces 'integrates citronellal-loaded lauryl gallate NPs (CLG_NPs), as both antimicrobial and structural elements, with chitosan (CS), in a substrate-independent sonochemical coating process'.

The hybrid CS/CLG_NPs coating demonstrates pH-dependent citronellal release and strong antibacterial activity toward the common CAUTI pathogens Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in the paper.

It also reportedly exhibits strong antioxidant activity, and biocompatibility to fibroblast and keratinocytes.

The nano-enabled coating described in the paper is reported to significantly mitigate bacterial biofilm formation after a week in a simulated human bladder, which the paper claims outperforms commercially available silicone catheters.