Bacterial infections complicate the outcome of millions of medical procedures each year.  Catheters, orthopedic implants, and other devices can become the locus of infection when pathogenic bacteria form biofilms.  Nerites develops anti-fouling coatings that prevent bacteria from attaching to surfaces, thereby disrupting the formation of biofilms and their harmful consequences.

Technology

Nerites couples a biocompatible surface anchoring group to an anti-fouling polymer, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), to passively inhibit bacteria from adhering to the medical device.  Because bacteria cannot colonize on the device surface, they cannot create biofilms.

Benefits of Anti-Fouling Coatings

Many medical device coatings attempt to reduce bacterial infection by releasing active biocides.  These biocides may not protect against new bacterial strains, and may actually promote the evolution of resistant strains.  Moreover, the biocides can prove toxic to surrounding tissues.

Nerites anti-fouling coatings prevent bacterial attachment and colonization on a device surface.  They are biocompatible and act against all bacterial strains, including those that resist other biocides.  Importantly, anti-fouling coatings may also reach the market with lower regulatory costs because they do not contain active biocides.

Performance

In preliminary testing, the Nerites anti-fouling coatings have reduced bacterial attachment by more than 99% over untreated titanium surfaces.