RESUMEN
AIMS: The development of technology for preparing chitosan-protein scaffolds loaded with lysostaphin, which potentially could be used as dressing for wound treatment and soft tissue infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus. METHODS AND RESULTS: The unique technology of chitosan solubilization using gaseous CO(2) instead of organic or inorganic acids was used for the incorporation of lysostaphin, the enzyme that exhibits bactericidal activity against staphylococci, within the structure of chitosan-protein sponges. The developed chitosan-protein scaffolds loaded with lysostaphin revealed high antistaphylococcal activity, which has been confirmed with a large (n = 143) collection of clinical (skin and wound infections) and animal (bovine mastitis) isolates of these bacteria, including MRSA. No change of bactericidal activity of the lyophilized materials has been observed during half-year storage at 4°C. CONCLUSIONS: The developed materials are potential candidates for preparing biologically active, antistaphylococcal wound dressing materials. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Staphylococci belong to the most popular and most burdensome aetiological factors of wound and soft tissues infections. The developed chitosan-protein scaffolds loaded with lysostaphin could be a possible solution to problems associated with treatment of these infections.