" Chlorine Dioxide for the Prevention of Biomaterial-Associated Infections "
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Abstract: Infections associated with biomaterials remain a significant complication of medical implants.  In an effort to improve the prevention and treatment of infections, this research has focused on three objectives: the development of an alternative sterilization method for medical devices; assessing a new antimicrobial material for the prevention of infections in situ; and assessing mechanisms of acquired microbial resistance.  The biocide being investigated in this body of work is chlorine dioxide gas.

While multiple sterilization methods are available, there are limitations to all of these technologies.  For example, chemical sterilization can leave residues on the surface of the material.  These residuals can be toxic, causing sensitization reactions when the materials are implanted in the body.  Research has shown the quantity of residuals increases when the materials are sterilized with increasing concentrations of the chemical sterilizing agent.  The studies presented here will ascertain the environmental parameters required for the sterilization of biomaterials with low concentrations of chlorine dioxide gas and assess polymers sterilized using these parameters for the presence of chemical residuals. 

Investigations into preventing biomaterial-based infections in situ have focused on changing the biomaterial properties.  Materials with altered physicochemical characteristics to prevent bacterial adhesion have been developed, and antibiotics and silver have been incorporated into the biomaterials to inhibit bacterial colonization.  Unfortunately, the rapid depletion of incorporated antimicrobial agents, altered bactericidal activity in vivo, and the development of antibiotic resistance, have all limited the effectiveness of current technologies.  In these studies a chlorine dioxide generating material was assessed using in vitro and in vivo assays.