Combating Bacterial Adhesion and Protein Deposition on Cosmetic Contact Lenses Using Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

Araby, Eman; Elbastawisy, Hanan; El-Tablawy, Seham

doi:10.21608/ejrsa.2018.2092.1030

Combating Bacterial Adhesion and Protein Deposition on Cosmetic Contact Lenses Using Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority

² Drug Radiation Research Department, National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), P.O. Box 29,Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt.

10.21608/ejrsa.2018.2092.1030

Abstract

CONTACT lenses (CLs) are frequently used for medical or cosmetic purposes. Readily available cosmetic contact lenses (CCLs) sold at night market and lack of awareness, represent the main reasons for microbial keratitis (MK) and consequently losing sight. MK arises from bacterial contamination of lenses, lens casing and solutions. Improper handling and unhygienic use of the CLs allow pathogens to adhere and produce biofilm on its surface. This study aims to evaluate the adherence ability of pathogenic bacterial strains isolated from worn CCLs and the potentiality of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on their colonization in absence and presence of two types of deposited proteins. The results revealed that all the isolated strains had the ability to produce strong biofilm. ZnONPs highly affected the biofilm formation ability of the tested strains and significantly decreased their adherence on the tested proteins coated lenses. Using scanning field emission electron microscopy; extensive colonization covering CCLs surface of control and lysozyme coated lenses was observed. While micrographs illustrated that ZnONPs are effective in restraining bacterial colonization with deformed cells on the surface of lysozyme coated lenses. In addition, the data exhibited that 75% of the tested packaging solutions were highly contaminated with bacteria, so they were subjected to increasing doses of gamma- radiation. The results proved that 6.0kGy was sufficient to eliminate bacterial bio burden of the tested solutions. It may be hoped that the present study will encourage efforts towards the development of novel antibacterial agents against microbial infection of CCLs.

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