A new stable pluronic F68 gel carrier for antibiotics in contaminated wound treatment.

Pluronic F68 was selected as the gel carrier for antimicrobial agents because of its extensive use as a wound cleanser in humans without discernable side effects. When the concentration of this surfactant is increased to 46%, it forms a water soluble gel that can serve as a carrier for antimicrobial agents. The stability of this gel can be enhanced by immediately cooling (-15 degrees C) the gel for 24 hours before storage and subsequent application. Immediate cooling of the gel causes hydration of the surfactant that is associated with gel strengthening and prolonged shelf life stability. In experimental animals, this stable gel carrier containing 0.2% nitrofurazone significantly reduces the bacterial concentration of Staphylococcus aureus in wounds to a greater degree than silver sulfadiazine. This antimicrobial gel has the same antimicrobial activity as polyethylene glycol carriers containing 0.2% nitrofurazone, but does not carry the potential risk of polyethylene glycol intoxication.

Inhibition of self-splicing group I intron RNA: high-throughput screening assays.

High-throughput screening assays have been developed to rapidly identify small molecule inhibitors targeting catalytic group I introns. Biochemical reactions catalyzed by a self-splicing group I intron derived from Pneumocystis carinii or from bacteriophage T4 have been investigated. In vitro biochemical assays amenable to high-throughput screening have been established. Small molecules that inhibit the functions of group I introns have been identified. These inhibitors should be useful in better understanding ribozyme catalysis or in therapeutic intervention of group I intron-containing microorganisms.