Surgical implants coated with one of 'nature's antibiotics' could prevent infection

Researchers at the University of British Columbia have discovered a mimic of one of "nature's antibiotics" that can be used to coat medical devices to prevent infection and rejection.

The study, published in the Jan. 30 issue of Chemistry & Biology, found that a synthetic form – short tethered cationic antimicrobial peptides (cationic peptide) – can protect surfaces, killing bacteria and fungi that come into contact with them. The discovery could lead to new protection for surgical implants, catheters, hip replacements and joint prostheses.

“The rapid progress of biomedical technology and an aging population places increasing demands on medical implants to treat serious tissue disorders and replace organ function,” Robert Hancock, principal investigator and Canada Research Chair in Pathogenomics and Antimicrobials at UBC’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology, said in a press release. “These cationic peptides are currently being developed as soluble antibiotics for administration to patients to combat infection. We have developed a new method for finding a variety of effective peptides that can bind to a surface and still kill harmful bacteria and fungus.”

According to Hancock, the special feature of these peptides is that they are active when attached to surfaces. Not all peptides that are effective as antibiotics in solution are also active when bound to surfaces. When bacteria come into contact with these peptides, the bacterium loses its integrity and destroys itself.

Reference:

Hilpert K, Elliott M, Jenssen H, et al. Screening and characterization of surface-tethered cationic peptides for antimicrobial activity. Chem Bio. 16;1:58-69.