Anti-infective antimicrobial-containing biomaterials

Abstract

Fatty acid-derived biomaterials, methods of making the biomaterials, and methods of loading them with silver compounds are described. The silver-containing biomaterials can be utilized alone or in combination with a medical device for the release and local delivery of one or more anti-infective agents. Methods of forming and tailoring the properties of said biomaterials and methods of using said biomaterials for treating injury in a mammal are also provided.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]Implantable medical devices are indispensable in the ability to treat a variety of medical conditions in critically and chronically ill patients. Catheters can be used to deliver drugs or nutrients to a patient or to safely remove waste products. Stents can be used to open blocked coronary arteries and restore blood flow to the heart. Vascular grafts can also be used to restore blood flow in addition to providing easier access and improved treatment of a patient with kidney failure by dialysis. Hernia mesh devices allow for improved patient outcomes in the treatment of abdominal wounds by providing additional strength to the surgical repair.[0002]One complication in the use of implantable medical devices is the risk of these devices becoming colonized with bacteria during surgical implantation (see, e.g., A. M. Carbonell et al. Surg Endosc. 2005; Vol. 19, pgs 430-435; T. Bechert et al. Nature Medicine. 2000; Vol. 6, No. 8, pgs 1053-1056; R. Kuijer et...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]What is desired is a material (e.g., a device coating, gel or stand-alone film) that can be utilized to prevent or diminish chronic inflammation due to the hydrolysis products of the coating, as well as to reduce infection resulting from surgical implantation of medical devices. Furthermore, it is desirable that the material release and deliver therapeutic agents (e.g., an antimicrobial, e.g., an antibiotic agent) in a sustained and controlled fashion. When in the form of a stand alone film, such a device can be useful in wound healing applications.

[0006]Thus, provided herein is a composition comprising an antimicrobial agent, a fatty acid, and a glyceride, wherein the fatty acid and glyceride components are cross-linked. Such a composition can be referred to as an “antimicrobial agent-containing biomaterial.” When the antimicrobial agent is a silver compound, the composition can be referred to as a “silver-containing biomaterial.” This composition has both anti-inflammation and anti-infection properties, and can come in many forms, e.g., a coating for a medical device, a stand-alone film, a gel, a particle, or an emulsion. When the composition is a coating, it can be placed on the surface of a medical device in order to prevent bacterial colonization and infection. The antimicrobial-containing biomaterial can also be used to prevent tissue adhesion, as well as to facilitate general wound healing, when, e.g., in the form of a film.

Problems solved by technology

One complication in the use of implantable medical devices is the risk of these devices becoming colonized with bacteria during surgical implantation (see, e.g., A. M. Carbonell et al.

Thus, an infected medical device not only results in increasing medical costs, but also results in increased risk of morbidity and mortality to the patient (A. M. Carbonell et al., 2005; T. Bechert et al, 2000; R. Kuijer et al., 2007).

In the case of hernia repair, abnormal peritoneal healing can occur when there is the expression of inflammatory cytokines from macrophages (e.g., α-TNF) that can result in an inability of the fibrin matrix to be properly broken down and can result in the formation of adhesions (Y. C. Cheong et al., 2001).

Abdominal adhesions formed after hernia repair can result in pain, bowel strangulation, infertility and in some cases death (Y. C. Cheong et al., 2001).

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