Influence of hyaluronic acid on bacterial and fungal species, including clinically relevant opportunistic pathogens

J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2011 Oct;22(10):2329-38. doi: 10.1007/s10856-011-4408-2. Epub 2011 Sep 4.

Abstract

Hyaluronic acid (HA) has several clinical applications (aesthetic surgery, dermatology, orthopaedics and ophtalmology). Following recent evidence, suggesting antimicrobial and antiviral properties for HA, we investigated its effects on 15 ATCC strains, representative of clinically relevant bacterial and fungal species. The in vitro system employed allowed to assess optical density of broth cultures as a measure of microbial load in a time-dependent manner. The results showed that different microbial species and, sometimes, different strains belonging to the same species, are differently affected by HA. In particular, staphylococci, enterococci, Streptococcus mutans, two Escherichia coli strains, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida glabrata and C. parapsilosis displayed a HA dose-dependent growth inhibition; no HA effects were detected in E. coli ATCC 13768 and C. albicans; S. sanguinis was favoured by the highest HA dose. Therefore, the influence of HA on bacteria and fungi warrants further studies aimed at better establishing its relevance in clinical applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Drug Resistance, Fungal
  • Fungi / drug effects*
  • Hyaluronic Acid / chemistry
  • Hyaluronic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Time Factors
  • Viscosupplements / chemistry
  • Viscosupplements / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Viscosupplements
  • Hyaluronic Acid