Poly‐ε‐Lysine or Mel4 Antimicrobial Surface Modification on a Novel Peptide Hydrogel Bandage Contact Lens. Issue 21 (21st September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lace, Rebecca; Doherty, Kyle G.; Dutta, Debarun; Willcox, Mark D. P.; Williams, Rachel L.
• Is Part Of: Advanced materials interfaces. Volume 7:Issue 21(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-09-21
• Subjects: antimicrobial peptides -- contact lens -- microbial keratitis -- Pseudomonas; Materials science -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/admi.202001232
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2196-7350

Abstract

Abstract: Microbial keratitis (MK) is a serious issue in many countries and is often caused by contact lens wear. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a potentially useful tool for creating antimicrobial surfaces in light of increasing antibiotic resistance. Poly‐ε‐lysine (pεK) is an AMP that has been used extensively as a food preservative and Mel4 has recently been synthesized and studied as an antimicrobial coating for contact lenses. A hydrogel synthesized of pεK cross‐linked with biscarboxylic acids provides a potential lens material which has many surface free amines, that can be subsequently used to attach additional AMPs, creating an antimicrobial lens. The aim of this study is to investigate pεK hydrogels against a clinical strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) for preventing or treating MK. Covalent attachment of AMPs is investigated and confirmed by fluorescently tagged peptides. Bound pεK effectively reduces the number of adherent P. aeruginosa in vitro (>3 log). In ex vivo studies positive antimicrobial activity is observed on bare pεK hydrogels and those with additionally bound pεK or Mel4; lenses allow the maintenance of the corneal epithelium. A pεK hydrogel contact lens with additional AMPs can be a therapeutic tool to reduce the incidence of MK. Abstract : The antimicrobial activity of a poly‐ε‐lysine (pεK)–based hydrogel can be enhanced by attachment of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). The AMPs, Mel4, or additional pεK, are covalently attached to the hydrogel using carbodiimide chemistry. Hydrogel lenses demonstrate antimicrobial activity in vitro and in an ex vivo porcine corneal infection model.