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. 2020 Jan 7;185(Suppl 1):637-643.
doi: 10.1093/milmed/usz222.

Novel Antimicrobial Peptides Formulated in Chitosan Matrices are Effective Against Biofilms of Multidrug-Resistant Wound Pathogens

Jennifer A Neff  1 , Danir F Bayramov  1 , Esha A Patel  1 , Jing Miao  1
Affiliations

Novel Antimicrobial Peptides Formulated in Chitosan Matrices are Effective Against Biofilms of Multidrug-Resistant Wound Pathogens

Jennifer A Neff et al. Mil Med. .

Abstract

Introduction: Infection frequently complicates the treatment of combat-related wounds, impairs healing, and leads to worse outcomes. To better manage wound infections, antimicrobial therapies that are effective against biofilm and designed for direct wound application are needed. The primary objective of this work was to evaluate a chitosan matrix for delivery of two engineered antimicrobial peptides, (ASP)-1 and ASP-2, to treat biofilm-associated bacteria. A secondary objective was to determine whether replacing the levorotatory (L) form amino acids in ASP-2 with dextrorotatory (D) form amino acids would impact peptide activity.

Materials and methods: Chitosan gels loaded with antimicrobial peptides were evaluated for peptide release over 7 days and tested for efficacy against biofilms grown both in vitro on polymer mesh and ex vivo on porcine skin.

Results: When delivered via chitosan, 70% to 80% of peptides were released over 7 days. Gels eradicated biofilms of gram-positive and gram-negative, drug-resistant bacteria in vitro and ex vivo. Under the conditions tested, no meaningful differences in peptide activity between the L and D forms of ASP-2 were detected.

Conclusions: Chitosan serves as an effective delivery platform for ASP-1 and ASP-2 to treat biofilm-embedded bacteria and warrants further development as a topical treatment.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Recovery of ASP-1 and ASP-2 peptides from chitosan gels in saline at 37°C.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
In vitro efficacy of ASP-1, ASP-2, and opticell Ag + Gels against biofilms of pseudomonas aeruginosa and MRSA grown on PET mesh for 1 day and treated for 1 day. Saline and placebo gels having no peptide served as controls. N = 3.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Ex vivo efficacy of ASP-1, ASP-2, ASP-2D, and opticell Ag + Gels against biofilms of MRSA grown on pig skin for 3 days and treated for 3 days. Saline served as a control. N = 3.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Ex vivo efficacy of ASP-1, ASP-2, ASP-2D, and opticell Ag + Gels against biofilms of pseudomonas aeruginosa grown on pig skin for 3 days and treated for 3 days. Saline served as a control. N = 3.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Ex vivo efficacy of ASP-1, ASP-2, ASP-2D, and opticell Ag + Gels against biofilms of acinetobacter baumannii grown on pig skin for 3 days and treated for 3 days. Saline served as a control. N = 3.
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