Activity of HOCl-generating e-bandage with clinically available hydrogels against Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii biofilms.

Biofilms hinder wound infection healing, making wound infections a healthcare challenge for which innovative treatments are needed. A 1.77 cm² electrochemical bandage (e-bandage), which generates the biocide hypochlorous acid (HOCl), has shown promising anti-biofilm activity in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. The e-bandage is a three-electrode system operationalized by a hydrogel. In addition to providing a conductive electrolyte for the electrodes, the hydrogel provides a protective barrier for the wound. How different hydrogels impact e-bandage functionality is not completely defined. Here, the in vitro activity of seven clinically available hydrogels (xanthan gum, 3M, Duoderm, Prontosan, Purilon, Skintegrity, and Solosite) was evaluated with 1.77 cm² HOCl-generating e-bandages using a potentiostat with a multiplexer in a membrane biofilm model against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus IDRL-6169 and Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC-17978. When applied with polarized HOCl-producing e-bandages, all evaluated hydrogels except Solosite yielded ≥5.5 log₁₀CFU/cm² reductions in bacterial quantities after 6 h of treatment, with most being below the detection limit at that time point. Prontosan exhibited antibacterial activity independent of e-bandage. Results of this study inform the selection of clinically available hydrogels that may be suitable for use with a 1.77 cm² HOCl-producing e-bandage.

Importance: In this study, it was shown that some clinically available hydrogels, combined with a 1.77 cm² HOCl-generating electrochemical bandage, deliver time-dependent antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii biofilms, offering a potential approach to treat wound infections, including those caused by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.