Strategies for combatting the formation of fungal biofilms on biomaterials surfaces /
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(Published version)
Date
2018
Authors
Naderi, Javad
Editors
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Journal Title
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Type:
thesis
Citation
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Abstract
Microbial biofilms can be formed on surfaces of materials by microbial colonisation, causing infections affecting a wide range of biomedical devices and implants. They are caused by bacterial or fungal species, or both kinds of microbes. Over the last two decades research has mostly focused on bacterial infections and anti-bacterial surfaces/coatings. Although fungal infections related to biomaterials are increasing and threatening human lives, this field has received comparatively little interest. Attachment of fungal cells onto biomaterial surfaces is the first step to biofilm formation; hence, this initial attachment should be prevented. In this PhD thesis, two different strategies have been investigated for their potential to prevent fungal biofilm formation. One strategy is to prepare coatings with covalently bound, FDA-approved antifungal agents such as echinocandins and polyenes on solid material surfaces, aiming for long-lasting effects while being non-toxic to human cells. On the other hand, immobilising some drugs is not effective, because of limited penetration through the cell membrane, if their mode of activity requires binding to an intracellular target. Hence, it can be useful to release drugs via coatings containing absorbed (loaded) drugs. Loading fluconazole (Flu), from the approved class of azoles, which is able to diffuse to intracellular targets, offers an avenue for producing coatings that can selectively deter fungal colonisation while not affecting mammalian cell attachment.
School/Discipline
University of South Australia. Future Industries Institute.
Future Industries Institute
Future Industries Institute
Dissertation Note
Thesis (PhD(Biomaterials Engineering and Nanomedicine))--University of South Australia, 2018.
Provenance
Copyright 2018 Javad Naderi.
Description
1 ethesis (xix, 130 pages) :
illustrations (some colour), charts (some colour).
Includes bibliographical references (pages 117-130)
illustrations (some colour), charts (some colour).
Includes bibliographical references (pages 117-130)
Access Status
506 0#$fstar $2Unrestricted online access