Poloxamer 407 as a bacterial abhesive for hydrogel contact lenses

✍ Scribed by Portolés, Marta ;Refojo, Miguel F. ;Leong, Fee-Lai

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1994
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 689 KB
• Volume: 28
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-9304
• DOI: 10.1002/jbm.820280304

✦ Synopsis

Bacterial adherence and colonization of biomedical prosthetic implants is one of the main causes for implant withdrawal. The abhesive (anti-adhesive) effect of poloxamer 407 on several Gram-positive and Gramnegative strains and the site of action of its effect have been investigated. Poloxamer 407 significantly inhibited 92-99% of Pseudornonas aeruginosa adherence to hydrophilic contact lenses (P < .05). This adherence inhibition was concentration-dependent. A reduction of about 50-60% was obtained for Staphylococcus strains, and 50-70% for Gram-negative strains other than Pseudomonas. The poloxamer seems to act on the bacteria surface, but not on the contact lens surface. Poloxarner 407 could potentially prevent implant-related infections and keratitis associated with contact lens wear, by inhibiting bacterial adherence onto the implant or contact lens surface.