Antimicrobial Activity of Poly-epsilon-lysine Peptide Hydrogels Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Kennedy, Stephnie M, Deshpande, Pallavi ORCID: 0000-0001-9714-9917, Gallagher, Andrew G, Horsburgh, Malcolm J ORCID: 0000-0002-3806-0039, Allison, Heather E ORCID: 0000-0003-0017-7992, Kaye, Stephen B ORCID: 0000-0003-0390-0592, Wellings, Donald A and Williams, Rachel L ORCID: 0000-0002-1954-0256 (2020) Antimicrobial Activity of Poly-epsilon-lysine Peptide Hydrogels Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, 61 (10). 18-. ISSN 0146-0404, 1552-5783

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Abstract

PURPOSE. To determine the antimicrobial activity of poly-epsilon-lysine (pK) functionalization of hydrogels against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. METHODS. Antimicrobial activities of pK and pK+ hydrogels were tested against both keratitis and a laboratory strain of P aeruginosa at a range of inocula sizes, over 4 and 24 hours. The number of viable CFU on pK and pK+ hydrogels or commercial contact lenses (CL) was investigated. Ex vivo porcine corneas were inoculated with P aeruginosa PAO1 (10³ CFU) and incubated with pK+ hydrogels or commercial hydrogel CL for 24 hours and the effects of infection determined. RESULTS. PK+ hydrogels showed log reductions in viable CFU compared with pK hydrogels for all P aeruginosa strains, depending on inocula sizes and incubation time. After 24 hours pK+ hydrogels showed >5 and >7.5 log reduction in CFU compared with commercial hydrogel CL at 10³ and 10⁶ CFU, respectively. In an ex vivo porcine corneal infection model, pK+ hydrogels led to a significant decrease in viable PAO1 CFU and histologic analysis indicated a decreased infiltration of PAO1 into the stroma. CONCLUSIONS. PK+ hydrogels demonstrated enhanced antimicrobial activity versus nonfunctionalized pK hydrogels against clinically relevant P aeruginosa strains. PK+ hydrogels have the potential to be used as a bandage CL with innate antimicrobial characteristics to minimize the risk of microbial keratitis.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	hydrogel, pseudomonas keratitis, contact lenses, antimicrobial, bandage lens
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	04 Aug 2020 08:38
Last Modified:	16 Jun 2026 07:22
DOI:	10.1167/iovs.61.10.18
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.61.10.18
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3096231
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