Inhibition of S. epidermidis adhesion to hydrogel contact lenses by anionic and nonionic surfactants

Abstract

In this study the adhesion of S. epidermidis to the 4 FDA groups of hydrogel CL uncoated and coated with ½ CMC of an anionic (sodium cholate) and a non-ionic surfactant (octylglucoside) was assessed. The results revealed that cell adhesion to CL was highly dependent on surface hydrophobicity. Concerning the effect of surfactants, the non-ionic one was more effective in inhibiting microbial adhesion than the ionic surfactant. Octylglucoside promoted an inhibition in the extent of bacterial adhesion of about 62%, while sodium cholate caused a decrease in the number of cells adhered of about 43%. The effect of a commercial multipurpose care solution containing 1% of poloxamine was compared and the results indicate that adhesion inhibition was greater when 0.33% of octylglucoside was used. Octylglucoside is a natural surfactant, non-toxic, harmless to the eye, and due to its high efficiency in inhibiting microbial adhesion, as proved in this work, is recommended to be incorporated in CL care solutions.