Optimization of ceragenins for prevention of bacterial colonization of hydrogel contact lenses.

Purpose: We provided contact lens hydrogels with an antibacterial innate immune function using nonpeptide mimics of endogenous antimicrobial peptides.

Methods: Antimicrobial peptide mimics, ceragenins, were prepared for either covalent attachment to hydrogels or for controlled elution from lenses. The lipophilicity of the ceragenins was varied incrementally to provide differing levels of association with hydrophobic domains in lenses.

In vitro evaluation of the potential for resistance development to ceragenin CSA-13.

Objectives: Though most bacteria remain susceptible to endogenous antimicrobial peptides, specific resistance mechanisms are known. As mimics of antimicrobial peptides, ceragenins were expected to retain antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, even after prolonged exposure. Serial passaging of bacteria to a lead ceragenin, CSA-13, was performed with representative pathogenic bacteria.