An antimicrobial coating is formed from a biocompatible flexible polymer having incorporated therein an active material having a reducible form of silver, where at least a portion of the active material is exposed at the surface of the polymer. The coating can be applied to the surface of a catheter to inhibit bacterial growth and biofilm formation.

The present invention relates to antimicrobial materials comprising copper and zinc incorporated into or coated on a substrate material, wherein the substrate comprises a rubber component. The present invention also relates to methods of obtaining said antimicrobial materials.

Embodiments include formulations and methods for topical administration of sugar alcohol to treat a skin condition such as acne. A formulation can include a moisturizer, an emollient, a sugar alcohol and zinc. The sugar alcohol can be erythritol. The erythritol can be administered with zinc chloride. The erythritol and zinc chloride can be formulated at a molar ratio of about 3:1. The methods can also include administration of a therapeutic amount of a second agent such as benzoyl peroxide or a retinoid. Embodiments also include antimicrobial coatings that contain erythritol and zinc to reduce, negate, and prevent the proliferation and propagation of accumulating biofilm. The formulation can be used to clean and/or provide an antimicrobial coating on a medical device such as a catheter.

The compositions of the present invention comprise at least one medium polarity oil and at least one antibacterial agent, the combination of which produces a synergistic antibacterial effect against bacterial biofilms. Methods are disclosed for the reduction of bacteria in and/or elimination of bacterial biofilms on biological and non-biological surfaces, as well as methods for the treatment of wounds, skin lesions, mucous membrane lesions, and other biological surfaces infected or contaminated with bacterial biofilms.

Stabilized multi-component antimicrobial compositions for treating tissue diseases, infections or conditions include a first and second set of differently sized and/or differently shaped metal nanoparticles, and a stabilizing agent. Compositions and treatment methods may be used for treating tissue diseases, infections or conditions caused by microbial infections, such as bacteria, viral, and/or fungal infections, or for preventing the infection of a wound, such as a cut, abrasion, ulcer, lesion, sore, and the like. The compositions and treatment methods disclosed herein may also be used as a prophylactic, and in some embodiments may be applied to otherwise healthy tissue in order to prevent or reduce the occurrence of a tissue disease, infection or condition.

Described here are systems and methods for delivering an active agent to target tissues of the ear, nose, or throat using an expandable member having drug crystals layered thereon, and methods for manufacturing such systems. The expandable member can be delivered to the target tissues in a low-profile configuration and expanded to contact and/or dilate surrounding tissue. Expansion of the expandable member transfers the drug crystals to the target tissues, which then act as an in situ depot that enables maintenance of a therapeutic level of an active agent for a desired time period after removal of the expandable member. Multiple expansions of a single expandable member can be employed during treatment. For example, the systems and methods can be useful when it is desired to treat multiple paranasal sinuses with a single expandable member.

Invasive medical devices including a substantially non-eluting antimicrobial treatment are disclosed. One or more external and/or internal surfaces of the medical device include a substantially non-eluting copper-coated surface that assists in preventing microbial colonization of the coated surface. This in turn reduces the incidence of infection to the patient originating from the medical device. In one embodiment, a catheter assembly is disclosed and comprises an elongate catheter tube that defines at least one lumen, at least one extension leg including a luer connector, and a bifurcation hub including at least one fluid passageway that provides fluid communication between the extension leg and the lumen. A substantially non-eluting copper coating is disposed on a surface of at least one of the lumen, the extension leg, the luer connector, and the fluid passageway. The coating is applied via an electroless deposition process. A water-shed coating is disposed on the copper coating.

Invasive medical devices including a substantially non-eluting antimicrobial treatment are disclosed. One or more external and/or internal surfaces of the medical device include a substantially non-eluting copper-coated surface that assists in preventing microbial colonization of the coated surface. This in turn reduces the incidence of infection to the patient originating from the medical device. In one embodiment, a catheter assembly is disclosed and comprises an elongate catheter tube that defines at least one lumen, at least one extension leg including a luer connector, and a bifurcation hub including at least one fluid passageway that provides fluid communication between the extension leg and the lumen. A substantially non-eluting copper coating is disposed on a surface of at least one of the lumen, the extension leg, the luer connector, and the fluid passageway. The coating is applied via an electroless deposition process. A water-shed coating is disposed on the copper coating.

Antimicrobial metal ion coatings. In particular, described herein are coatings including an anodic metal (e.g., silver and/or zinc and/or copper) that is co-deposited with a cathodic metal (e.g., palladium, platinum, gold, molybdenum, titanium, iridium, osmium, niobium or rhenium) on a substrate (including, but not limited to absorbable/resorbable substrates) so that the anodic metal is galvanically released as antimicrobial ions when the apparatus is exposed to a bodily fluid. The anodic metal may be at least about 25 percent by volume of the coating, resulting in a network of anodic metal with less than 20% of the anodic metal in the coating fully encapsulated by cathodic metal.

An endoscopic coating composition including a solid lubricant, a fluorine-containing surfactant, a thermosetting resin, and a solvent, a lubricating member provided by a coating treatment using the coating composition and being suitable as an endoscopic member, a method for producing the lubricating member, and an endoscopic flexible tube and an endoscope including the lubricating member.