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Lytic Bacteriophage as a Biomaterial to Prevent Biofilm Formation and Promote Neural Growth

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Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Aims and scope

Abstract

Background

Although non-lytic filamentous bacteriophages have been made into biomaterial to guide tissue growth, they had limited ability to prevent bacterial infection. In this work a lytic bacteriophage was used to make an antibacterial biomaterial for neural tissue repair.

Methods

Lytic phages were chemically bound to the surface of a chitosan film through glutaraldehyde crosslinking. After the chemical reaction, the contact angle of the sample surface and the remaining lytic potential of the phages were measured. The numbers of bacteria on the samples were measured and examined under scanning electron microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe the phages and phage-infected bacteria. A neuroblast cell line was cultured on the samples to evaluate the sample’s biocompatibility.

Results

The phages conjugated to the chitosan film preserved their lytic potential and reduced 68% of bacterial growth on the sample surface at 120 min (p < 0.001). The phage-linked surface had a significantly higher contact angle than that of the control chitosan (p < 0.05). After 120 min a bacterial biofilm appeared on the control chitosan, while the phage-linked sample effectively prevented biofilm formation. The TEM images demonstrated that the phage attached and lysed the bacteria on the phage-linked sample at 120 min. The phage-linked sample significantly promoted the neuroblast cell attachment (p < 0.05) and proliferation (p < 0.01). The neuroblast on the phage-linked sample demonstrated more cell extensions after day 1.

Conclusion

The purified lytic phages were proven to be a highly bioactive nanomaterial. The phage-chitosan composite material not only promoted neural cell proliferation but also effectively prevent bacterial growth, a major cause of implant failure and removal.

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Acknowledgement

This work is supported by a grant from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan. Grant number: MOST 110-2637-E-027-006.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Institute of Chemical Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, 3, Zhongxiao E Rd, Taipei, 106, Taiwan

    Zi-Hao Liu, Ming-Tse Chiang & Hsin-Yi Lin

  2. Graduate Institute of Biochemical and Biomedical Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, 3, Zhongxiao E Rd, Taipei, 106, Taiwan

    Hsin-Yi Lin

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  1. Zi-Hao Liu
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Liu, ZH., Chiang, MT. & Lin, HY. Lytic Bacteriophage as a Biomaterial to Prevent Biofilm Formation and Promote Neural Growth. Tissue Eng Regen Med 19, 987–1000 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-022-00462-4

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