Lignin-based hydrogels as an innovative solution to combat the global healthcare challenge of medical device-associated infections (360G-Wellcome-207213_Z_17_Z)

The proposed research involves investigation of the antimicrobial properties of zinc-loaded, lignin-based hydrogels as candidate infection-resistant medical device coatings to combat the escalating burden of device-associated infections. Lignin is the second most abundant naturally-occurring polymer globally and is also a major waste product of industrial processes, for example paper and bio-refinery industries. The rationale of this project is based on the ability of lignin-based hydrogels to absorb metallic cations, which are widely recognized for their broad-spectrum bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities, and consequently enhance the inherent, and recently reported, antimicrobial activity of lignin itself. Prevention of bacterial colonisation on implanted medical devices with the use of lignin-based hydrogel coatings is anticipated to have transformational impacts on patient health and would, additionally, represent an important mechanism of re-using this major industrial waste product. Key goals are to: Determine resistance of the novel materials to adherence of Proteus mirabilis and Staphylococcus aureus, representative Gram-negative and –positive nosocomial pathogens respectively. Characterise efficacy of eluted metallic cations, including zinc, in inhibiting growth of nosocomial pathogens. These findings will ultimately inform further development of these innovative, low-cost and environmentally-friendly materials as medical device coatings to combat the global healthcare challenge of device-associated infections.