| dc.description.abstract | Each year, hundreds of thousands of Americans are affected by surgical site infections (SSIs), resulting in billions of dollars spent on additional healthcare and thousands of lives lost. These SSIs are often caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), opportunistic pathogenic bacteria present in the skin flora. During surgeries, the site of incision traditionally maintains its sterility through the use of hygienic practice and chemicals. However, sterility may be compromised due to the intercalation of pathogenic bacteria into the site of incision from the crevasses of the skin thus leading to infection. Due to the secretory nature of wound sites, it is possible to use an elution-based delivery system for the direct and continuous delivery of silver ibuprofen (AgIBU), a potent antimicrobial with anti-inflammatory effects. Using electrospinning techniques, nanofiber scaffolds loaded with AgIBU were constructed and subjected to release studies. Results displayed drug release significantly higher than needed to inhibit clinical strains of P. aeruginosa, S. epidermidis, and MRSA. Thus, AgIBU based nanofiber-elution therapy may allow for the direct and continuous treatment of pathogenic bacteria in the skin flora, reducing SSIs and inflammation at wound sites. | en |
