2-heptylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid loaded acylated chitosan membranes inhibit bacterial biofilms

Statement of Purpose: Biofilms formed on the surface of implanted medical devices and musculoskeletal wounds can cause infectious complications. Preventive anti-infective strategies for inhibition and dispersal of biofilms include local drug delivery of antimicrobials facilitated by sustained release of drugs. Guided regeneration membranes can provide a template for healing tissue and delivering antimicrobials for use as wound dressings for traumatically injured tissues. Chitosan has been investigated as a sustained drug delivery system due to its biocompatibility and physiochemical characteristics [1]. Previous research has shown that cis-2-decenoic acid (C2DA), a short chain fatty acid, disperses and inhibits biofilm formation [2]. However, the cis structure of C2DA is not stable at elevated temperatures or when exposed to light and radiation, due to cis/trans isomerization and oxidative degradation of its cis double bond. 2-Heptylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (2CP), however, contains a cyclopropyl isoteric replacement of the cis double bond in C2DA increasing its stability and shelf life (Figure 1). Initial preliminary experiments have shown that 2-CP exhibits greater biofilm dispersion compared to C2DA. The objectives of this study were to determine loading, release, and efficacy of 2-CP loaded into acyl-modified electrospun chitosan membranes. Methods: Chitosan (Primex; molecular weight 311.5