Characterization and antibacterial activity of PVA–PVP–CS carvacrol-loaded polymer composite films for urinary catheter

ABSTRACT

The formation of biofilm over the urinary catheter leading to CAUTI remains an unresolved major cause of bacteremia in hospital patients. In-order to find an alternative, feasible solution we developed a new potential composite film containing polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and chitosan by solvent evaporation technique. The developed composite film was loaded with carvacrol (CAV), a naturally occurring broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent and was characterized. The CAV-loaded film exhibited appreciable growth inhibition, resistance to biofilm formation, and microbial penetration of infectious bacterial strains isolated from hospital such as Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Salmonella typhimurium. Thus, the developed CAV-loaded polymer composite film can serve as a potential alternative biomaterial for developing biofilm formation-resistant urinary catheter.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Antibiofilm
• carvacrol
• CAUTI
• PVA–PVP–chitosan films
• urinary catheter

Additional information

Funding

This study was financially supported by Chonnam National University, 2016 Grant Number (2015-0136) and Chonnam National University Hospital Biomedical Research Institute Grant Number (CRI 16 000-1 *project number CRI 17032-1). Author VKL thank Chonnam National University Medical School for the facilities provided.