Hybrid Antimicrobial Enzyme and Silver Nanoparticle Coatings for Medical Instruments (Postprint)

摘要

We report a method for the synthesis of antimicrobial coatings on medical devices that combine the bacteriolytic activity of lysozyme and the biocidal properties of silver nanoparticles. Colloidal suspensions of lysozyme and silver nanoparticles were electrophoretically deposited onto the surface of stainless steel surgical blades and needles. The coatings retained the hydrolytic properties of lysozyme and exhibited antimicrobial activity against a range of bacterial species. In particular, coated blades demonstrated potent bactericidal activity, reducing cell viability by > log 10 within 1.5 h for Klebsiella pneumonia, Bacillus anthracis Sterne and Bacillus subtilis and within 3 h for Staphylococcus aureus. The results confirmed that complex antimicrobial coatings can be easily made using facile silver nanoparticle synthesis and electrodeposition methods.