Nanostructured Silver-Coated Silicone Tracheal Stents Confer Hybrid Anti-Biofilm Activity In Vivo

Abstract

Bacterial colonization and biofilm formation remain major limitations of airway stenting, contributing to device obstruction and infection-related complications. Here, we translated to silicone tracheal stents a previously developed plasma-assisted micro/nanostructured silver interface designed to provide hybrid anti-biofilm activity through reduced bacterial adhesion and controlled silver release. The coated stents were characterized to confirm the generation of the nanostructured silver coating and were evaluated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in vitro, followed by in vivo assessment in a miniature pig airway model.