Recent Advances in Antimicrobial Hydrogels

A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Chemistry and Physics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2022) | Viewed by 6708

Special Issue Editors

School of Medical and Health Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China
Interests: gels; antibacterial activity; anti-infection; wound healing; anti-inflammatory
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
School of Medical and Health Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China
Interests: biomaterials; tissue engineering; surface modification
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on “Recent Advances in Antimicrobial Hydrogels” is dedicated to recent developments of antimicrobial gels, ranging from theoretical and fundamental aspects to fabrication, characterization, and applications. Within this context, a broad range of subjects, including the structure of antibacterial agents and gels, the antibacterial behavior of gels, the antibacterial mechanisms of gels, tissue regeneration, and applications of antibacterial gels will be discussed.

Bacterial infection is one of the major threats to human health. With the intensive usage of antibiotics, antibacterial-resistant bacteria (i.e., superbugs) have been reported, and pose a serious challenge to human health worldwide. Hence, the development of new antibacterial materials with long-lasting, broad-spectrum activity and antimicrobial resistance is highly desired. Antimicrobial gels are one of the most popular dressings, and can be used in clinical applications such as wound healing, among others. Progress in this field requires an interdisciplinary effort to accomplish a more detailed understanding of the structure of antibacterial gels and antibacterial mechanisms that define the antibacterial activity. Since it is impossible to cover all aspects of antimicrobial gel science in one Issue, this Special Issue will contain only a few representative examples, illustrating the complexity of the antibacterial problem. It is hoped that the topics will stimulate new research and discoveries in the field of antimicrobial networks and gels.

Dr. Chao Zhou
Dr. Yang Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • antibacterial activity
  • wound healing
  • anti-inflammatory
  • controlled release
  • angiogenesis
  • hydrogel dressing
  • bone repair
  • chronic wound
  • burn
  • diabetic foot
  • tissue engineering
  • corneal
  • tissue regeneration
  • drug delivery

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 1139 KiB  
Article
Herbal Fennel Essential Oil Nanogel: Formulation, Characterization and Antibacterial Activity against Staphylococcus aureus
by Aftab Alam, Ahmed I. Foudah, Mohammad Ayman Salkini, Mohammad Raish and Jyotiram Sawale
Gels 2022, 8(11), 736; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels8110736 - 12 Nov 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2068
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest threats to humanity in the world. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria spread easily in communities and hospitals. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a serious human infectious agent with threatening broad-spectrum resistance to many commonly used antibiotics. [...] Read more.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest threats to humanity in the world. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria spread easily in communities and hospitals. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a serious human infectious agent with threatening broad-spectrum resistance to many commonly used antibiotics. To prevent the spread of pathogenic microorganisms, alternative strategies based on nature have been developed. Essential oils (EOs) are derived from numerous plant parts and have been described as antibacterial agents against S. aureus. Fennel essential oils were selected as antibacterial agents encapsulated in nanoparticles of polylactic acid and glycolic acid (PLGA). The optimum size of the formulation after loading with the active ingredient was 123.19 ± 6.1595 nm with a zeta potential of 0.051 ± 0.002 (23 ± 1.15 mV). The results of the encapsulation efficiency analysis showed high encapsulation of EOs, i.e., 66.4 ± 3.127. To obtain promising carrier materials for the delivery of fennel EOs, they were incorporated in the form of nanogels. The newly developed fennel oils in PLGANPs nanogels have good drug release and MIC against S. aureus. These results indicate the potential of this novel delivery system for antimicrobial therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Antimicrobial Hydrogels)
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11 pages, 4474 KiB  
Article
Antibacterial and Angiogenic Poly(ionic liquid) Hydrogels
by Chengju Sheng, Xuemei Tan, Qing Huang, Kewen Li, Chao Zhou and Mingming Guo
Gels 2022, 8(8), 476; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels8080476 - 28 Jul 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1966 | Correction
Abstract
Wounds, particularly under low-hydration conditions, require more time to repair successfully. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop wound dressings that can accelerate wound healing. Hydrogels, which can maintain a moist environment around the wound and allow gas to pass through the [...] Read more.
Wounds, particularly under low-hydration conditions, require more time to repair successfully. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop wound dressings that can accelerate wound healing. Hydrogels, which can maintain a moist environment around the wound and allow gas to pass through the material, act as antibacterial hydrogels as dressings and have great application value in the treatment of wounds. In addition, wound dressings (hydrogels) containing antibacterial capacity have lasting antibacterial effects and reduce damage to cells. In this work, we firstly synthesized two antibacterial agents: imidazolium poly(ionic liquids) containing sulfhydryl (Imidazole-SH) and ε-Poly(lysine) containing SH (EPL-SH). Then, lysine as a cross-linking agent, by “thiol-ene” click reaction, was mixed with Deferoxamine (DFO) to prepare the antibacterial hydrogels. The in vitro assays showed that the hydrogels could effectively kill Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). In addition, it also could reduce the inflammatory response produced by Lipopolysaccharide (LPS). More importantly, according to the transwell and angiogenesis assays, DFO-incorporated hydrogels promoted the migration and vascular repair of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). All the results revealed that the hydrogels provided new strategies for wound dressings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Antimicrobial Hydrogels)
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9 pages, 3089 KiB  
Article
Azobenzene Based Photo-Responsive Hydrogel: Synthesis, Self-Assembly, and Antimicrobial Activity
by Runmiao Yang, Wei Jin, Chingcheng Huang and Yuhai Liu
Gels 2022, 8(7), 414; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels8070414 - 01 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2022
Abstract
A new azobenzene-based symmetric amphiphile was synthesized and characterized using 1H NMR spectroscopy. Its self-assembly behavior as well as photo-responsive behavior in its solution and gel states were investigated. Such a compound can self-assemble into fiber mesophases in water solvent. After irradiation [...] Read more.
A new azobenzene-based symmetric amphiphile was synthesized and characterized using 1H NMR spectroscopy. Its self-assembly behavior as well as photo-responsive behavior in its solution and gel states were investigated. Such a compound can self-assemble into fiber mesophases in water solvent. After irradiation of the gels with UV light, the trans isomer of the compound rapidly photoisomerized to the cis isomer, which resulted in a rapid destruction of the gel. High temperature also caused a rapid drop in viscosity. To verify the antimicrobial activity of the hydrogel, live and death assays of human fibroblasts L929 properties were used for in vitro cell viability studies. The compound was converted to the terminal tertiary amine in a quaternary ammonium salt molecule by using hydrochloric acid. This azobenzene quaternary ammonium salt has a relatively better antimicrobial effect biocidal activity that was demonstrated when challenged against Escherichia coli on in vitro conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Antimicrobial Hydrogels)
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