A Review on Potential Applications of Phage-Based Binding Affinity in Antibacterial Catheter Nanocoatings

Catheter use in debilitated patients often precedes a number of nosocomial infections by bacterial strains that show multidrug resistance or total drug resistance, particularly through biofilm formation. Common etiological agents include Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Klebsiella spp., Acinetobacter baumannii, and Burkholderia cepacia. As catheters provide exposure to typically sterile environments, fomites and aerosols are able to transfer severe infection to the affected patients, particularly due to their immunocompromised states. The catheters may be coated using a hydrogel layer containing immobilized bacteriophages, yet different approaches may be used, including stratification, serial activation of strata, liquid nanocoatings, diffusible membranes, multi-receptor bacteriophages, and the use of lytic and lysogenic phages should be distinguished. The multifaceted growth requirements of the bacteria additionally allow for factors such as pH and temperature to be utilized in the hydrogel layer through absorptive action once bacterial attachment to the layer occurs. Moreover, nanocoating is aimed at preventing the colonization of numerous bacterial cells, thus inhibiting quorum sensing ability of the bacteria and biofilm formation.