Developing a Urinary Catheter with Anti-Biofilm Coated Surface Using Phyto-Assisted Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

Abstract

Background: Biofilm-related infections represent one of the major challenging health problems that enhances antimicrobial resistance with subsequent treatment failure of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). Aim: This study aimed to employ and comprehensively characterize the use of nanoparticles to inhibit bacterial biofilm formation. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are considered one of the most important biofilm inhibitors. Methods: The current study aimed to characterize the influence of the bioreductive green synthesis of ZnO-NPs using pomegranate peel extract on bacterial colonization to protect against urinary catheter infections. ZnO-NPs were investigated for their physicochemical properties using UV, FTIR, Dynamic light scattering, and TEM. Catheters were coated with ZnO-NPs using Pistacia lentiscus (mastic), and the slow release of free zinc ions (Zn +2 ) from, the ZnO-NPs-coated catheters, was evaluated using the ICP-AES technique. Results: The current study revealed that catheter coated by ZnO-NPs exhibited a sustained antibiofilm activity against biofilm-forming and antibiotic-resistant clinical isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. Conclusion: The present study supports the efficiency of ZnO-NPs as a good candidate for prevention of biofilm formation. Keywords: urinary catheters, biofilm, bacterial colonization, zinc oxide nanoparticles, catheter associated infection