Impregnation of catheters with anacardic acid from cashew nut shell prevents Staphylococcus aureus biofilm development.

AIM: The effect of anacardic acid impregnation on catheter surfaces for the prevention of Staphylococcus aureus attachments and biofilm formations were evaluated.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Silicon catheter tubes were impregnated using different concentrations of anacardic acids (0·002-0·25%). Anacardic acids are antibacterial phenolic lipids from cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale) shell oil. Anacardic acid-impregnated silicon catheters revealed no significant haemolytic activity and were cytocompatible against fibroblast cell line (L929). Sustained release of anacardic acids was observed for 4 days. Anacardic acid-impregnated silicon catheters efficiently inhibited S. aureus colonization and the biofilm formation on its surface. The in vivo antibiofilm activity of anacardic acid-impregnated catheters was tested in an intraperitoneal catheter-associated medaka fish infection model. Significant reduction in S. aureus colonization on anacardic acid-impregnated catheter tubes was observed.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that anacardic acid-impregnated silicon catheters may help in preventing catheter-related staphylococcal infections.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study opens new directions for designing antimicrobial phytochemical-coated surfaces with ideal antibiofilm properties and could be of great interest for biomedical research scientists.