This study’s goal is to determine if the polyphenols epigallocatechin and gallic acid would make for satisfactory eluents from a polymeric surgical suture coating that not only shows slow release characteristics, but also satisfactory Gram-positive and Gram-negative antibacterial activity. The polyphenols as well as the reference antibiotic need to be complexed with the polymer. To successfully coat the surgical silk with each coating solution a coating method needs utilized from a previous study. After the surgical silk is successfully coated, then the antibacterial efficacy was studied by way of in-vitro analysis. Finally, the release kinetics of the polymer were studied utilizing the absorption properties and antibiotics in solution. This characterization would place in an in-vitro environment.<br/><br/>The goals of the study are multitudinous. To begin, the complex that is formed between the polyphenol and the polymer studied by FT-IR spectroscopy. The coating of the suture would be determined by weight before and after coating. Qualitative in-vitro assays in the form of a Kirby-Bauer plater diffusion test and serial plate diffusion test would be used to characterize the short and prolonged antibacterial activity of the polyphenol-loaded polymers. The release kinetics will be studied via in-vitro release assay in phosphate buffer.<br/><br/>The capability of certain polyphenols to be used as the eluent in a drug delivery system will be further demonstrated. The more that is known about the capability of these polyphenols to act as antibacterial agents, the lower the prevalence of antibacterial resistance and prevalence of SSIs. This study is geared towards combating the issue of antibiotic resistance as well as the prevalence of surgical site infections. This work can give rise to a decreased dependence on antibiotics and therefore a decrease in the recent rise of antibiotic resistance.

Efficacy of specific polyphenolic compounds epigallocatechin gallate and gallic acid as antibacterial eluents in a macroscale polymeric drug delivery system for surgical sutures

255th National Meeting (2018)

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