Evaluation of silver nanoparticle-impregnated PMMA loaded with vancomycin or gentamicin against bacterial biofilm formation

Abstract

Introduction: Bone cement containing vancomycin or gentamicin is a therapeutic strategy for combating orthopedic infections: however, the activity of these antibiotics is narrow. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are nanocomponents with a wide spectrum, including multidrug-resistant bacteria. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of AgNP-loaded polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) on biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Methods: The effect of AgNP-loaded PMMA with and without vancomycin or gentamicin on biofilm production was quantitatively analyzed. S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. epidermidis were included as biofilm-producing microorganisms in the in vitro model.

Results: AgNP-loaded PMMA with antibiotics reduced the number of colony-forming units (CFUs; p<0.001). However, AgNP-loaded PMMA alone did not significantly reduce biofilm formation.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrated the potential of AgNP-loaded PMMA. Notably, we observed that AgNP-loaded PMMA containing vancomycin or gentamycin exhibited significantly superior efficacy, with satisfactory activity against most biofilm-forming microbial agents examined.

Keywords: Antimicrobial; Bone cement; Infection; Mechanical properties; Nanoparticles.