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Antibacterial Strategies in Biomaterials: Current Progress and Challenges 2.0

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2024 | Viewed by 6697

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Faculty of Biology, Microbiology Department, University of Bucharest, Aleea Portocalelor, No. 1-3, 060101 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: alternative antimicrobials; biofilm modulation; host-pathogen interactions; antibacterial nanoparticles
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Dear Colleagues,

As bacteria adapt quickly, current antibiotics become ineffective, leading the era of antibiotics to a close end. Patients in critical care units and those with indwelling devices are the most prone to severe infections, caused by drug-resistant and biofilm-related pathogens, which cause more than 70% of the deaths in these patients. Currently, clinicians and researchers seek for efficient alternatives to obtain vaccines and advanced antimicrobials, such as those with natural origin, or innovative synthetic antibiotics able to reduce the selection of resistant bugs, while avoiding harmful effects both against the host and environment. Nanostructured materials, used as plain particles or functionalized with natural compounds or synthetic antibiotics proved their potential of being efficient against most clinically relevant microorganisms, including resistant bacteria (superbugs) and biofilm-embedded microbes. The purpose of this Special Issue is to publish an updated collection of original research papers and reviews aiming to reveal the latest progress in the field of antimicrobial nanoparticles and coatings, as a promising solution for infections produced by multidrug-resistant bacteria and biofilms.

Dr. Alina-Maria Holban
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • nanobiomaterials
  • antimicrobial nanoparticles
  • biofilm modulation
  • surfaces and coatings to control bacterial attachment
  • molecules and nanodrugs
  • drug delivery
  • multifunctional materials
  • infection control
  • vaccines for drug resistant bacteria

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 8408 KiB  
Article
Green Approach for Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles with Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties from Grapevine Waste Extracts
by Anda Maria Baroi, Irina Fierascu, Andra-Ionela Ghizdareanu, Bogdan Trica, Toma Fistos, Roxana Ioana Matei (Brazdis), Radu Claudiu Fierascu, Cristina Firinca, Ionela Daniela Sardarescu and Sorin Marius Avramescu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(8), 4212; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25084212 - 10 Apr 2024
Viewed by 323
Abstract
The present work aims to study the possibilities of developing silver nanoparticles using natural extracts of grape pomace wastes originating from the native variety of Fetească Neagră 6 Șt. This study focused on investigating the influence of grape pomace extract obtained by two [...] Read more.
The present work aims to study the possibilities of developing silver nanoparticles using natural extracts of grape pomace wastes originating from the native variety of Fetească Neagră 6 Șt. This study focused on investigating the influence of grape pomace extract obtained by two different extraction methods (classical temperature extraction and microwave-assisted extraction) in the phytosynthesis process of metal nanoparticles. The total phenolic content of the extracts was assessed using the spectrophotometric method with the Folin–Ciocâlteu reagent, while the identification and quantification of specific components were conducted through high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). The obtained nanoparticles were characterized by UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), along with assessing their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties against Gram-positive bacteria. The data collected from the experiments indicated that the nanoparticles were formed in a relatively short period of time (96 h) and, for the experimental variant involving the use of a 1:1 ratio (v/v, grape pomace extract: silver nitrate) for the nanoparticle phytosynthesis, the smallest crystallite sizes (from X-ray diffraction—4.58 nm and 5.14 nm) as well as spherical or semispherical nanoparticles with the lowest average diameters were obtained (19.99–23 nm, from TEM analysis). The phytosynthesis process was shown to enhance the antioxidant properties (determined using the DPPH assay) and the antimicrobial potential (tested against Gram-positive strains) of the nanoparticles, as evidenced by comparing their properties with those of the parent extracts; at the same time, the nanoparticles exhibited a selectivity in action, being active against the Staphylococcus aureus strain while presenting no antimicrobial potential against the Enterococcus faecalis strain. Full article
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13 pages, 2679 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity against Nosocomial Pathogens of an Enzymatically Derived α-Aminophosphonates Possessing Coumarin Scaffold
by Paweł Kowalczyk, Dominik Koszelewski, Anna Brodzka, Karol Kramkowski and Ryszard Ostaszewski
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(19), 14886; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241914886 - 04 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1265
Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the synergistic effect of two important pharmacophores, coumarin and α-amino dimethyl phosphonate moieties, on antimicrobial activity against selected strains of multidrug-resistant nosocomial pathogenic bacteria. The previously developed enzyme-catalysed Kabachnik–Fields protocol allowed us to obtain [...] Read more.
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the synergistic effect of two important pharmacophores, coumarin and α-amino dimethyl phosphonate moieties, on antimicrobial activity against selected strains of multidrug-resistant nosocomial pathogenic bacteria. The previously developed enzyme-catalysed Kabachnik–Fields protocol allowed us to obtain the studied compounds with high yields which were free from metal impurities. The structure–activity relationship revealed that inhibitory activity is strongly related to the presence of the trifluoromethyl group (CF3−) in the coumarin scaffold. MIC and MBC studies carried out on six selected pathogenic bacterial strains (Gram-positive pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 23235) strain, as well as on Gram-negative Acinetobacter baumannii (ATCC 17978), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442), Enterobacter cloacae (ATCC 49141), Porphyromonas gingivalis (ATCC 33277), and Treponema denticola (ATCC 35405)) have shown that tested compounds show a strong bactericidal effect at low concentrations. Among all agents investigated, five exhibit higher antimicrobial activity than those observed for commonly used antibiotics. It should be noted that all the compounds tested showed very high activity against S. aureus, which is the main source of nosocomial infections that cause numerous fatalities. Furthermore, we have shown that the studied coumarin-based α-aminophosphonates, depending on their structural characteristics, are non-selective and act efficiently against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, which is of great importance for hospitalised patients. Full article
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14 pages, 3341 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Effect of Antibacterial Peptides on Model Monolayers
by Iwona Golonka, Jakub E. Pucułek, Katarzyna E. Greber, Andrzej Dryś, Wiesław Sawicki and Witold Musiał
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(19), 14861; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241914861 - 03 Oct 2023
Viewed by 637
Abstract
The aim of the study was to assess the effect of the synthesized antibacterial peptides: P2 (WKWK)2-KWKWK-NH2, P4 (C12)2-KKKK-NH2, P5 (KWK)2-KWWW-NH2, and P6 (KK)2-KWWW-NH2 on the physicochemical properties [...] Read more.
The aim of the study was to assess the effect of the synthesized antibacterial peptides: P2 (WKWK)2-KWKWK-NH2, P4 (C12)2-KKKK-NH2, P5 (KWK)2-KWWW-NH2, and P6 (KK)2-KWWW-NH2 on the physicochemical properties of a model biological membrane made of azolectin or lecithin. The Langmuir Wilhelmy method was used for the experiments. Based on the compressibility factor, it was determined that the monolayers formed of azolectin and peptides in the aqueous subphase are in the condensed liquid phase. At the boundary between the condensed and expanded liquid phases, there was a monolayer made of lecithin and P4, P5 or P6 in the aqueous subphase. In turn, the film consisting of lecithin alone (37.7 mN/m) and lecithin and P2 (42.6 mN/m) in the water subphase was in the expanded liquid phase. All peptides change, to varying degrees, the organization and packing of molecules in the monolayer, both those made of azolectin and of lecithin. The test results can be used for further research to design a system with the expected properties for specific organisms. Full article
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17 pages, 3899 KiB  
Article
Enzymatic Synthesis of a Novel Coumarin Aminophosphonates: Antibacterial Effects and Oxidative Stress Modulation on Selected E. coli Strains
by Dominik Koszelewski, Paweł Kowalczyk, Anna Brodzka, Anastasiia Hrunyk, Karol Kramkowski and Ryszard Ostaszewski
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(8), 7609; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24087609 - 20 Apr 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1442
Abstract
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the synergistic effect of two important pharmacophores, coumarin and α-amino dimethyl phosphonate moieties, on antimicrobial activity toward selected LPS-varied E. coli strains. Studied antimicrobial agents were prepared via a Kabachnik–Fields reaction promoted by lipases. [...] Read more.
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the synergistic effect of two important pharmacophores, coumarin and α-amino dimethyl phosphonate moieties, on antimicrobial activity toward selected LPS-varied E. coli strains. Studied antimicrobial agents were prepared via a Kabachnik–Fields reaction promoted by lipases. The products were provided with an excellent yield (up to 92%) under mild, solvent- and metal-free conditions. A preliminary exploration of coumarin α-amino dimethyl phosphonate analogs as novel antimicrobial agents was carried out to determine the basic features of the structure responsible for the observed biological activity. The structure–activity relationship revealed that an inhibitory activity of the synthesized compounds is strongly related to the type of the substituents located in the phenyl ring. The collected data demonstrated that coumarin-based α-aminophosphonates can be potential antimicrobial drug candidates, which is particularly crucial due to the constantly increasing resistance of bacteria to commonly used antibiotics. Full article
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20 pages, 6198 KiB  
Article
Actinomycin-X2-Immobilized Silk Fibroin Film with Enhanced Antimicrobial and Wound Healing Activities
by Wenjing Zhou, Zhenxia Xie, Ranran Si, Zijun Chen, Ansar Javeed, Jiaxing Li, Yang Wu and Bingnan Han
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(7), 6269; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24076269 - 27 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1273
Abstract
Actinomycin is a family of chromogenic lactone peptides that differ in their peptide portions of the molecule. An antimicrobial peptide, actinomycin X2 (Ac.X2), was produced through the fermentation of a Streptomyces cyaneofuscatus strain. Immobilization of Ac.X2 onto a prepared silk fibroin (SF) film [...] Read more.
Actinomycin is a family of chromogenic lactone peptides that differ in their peptide portions of the molecule. An antimicrobial peptide, actinomycin X2 (Ac.X2), was produced through the fermentation of a Streptomyces cyaneofuscatus strain. Immobilization of Ac.X2 onto a prepared silk fibroin (SF) film was done through a carbodiimide reaction. The physical properties of immobilized Ac.X2 (antimicrobial films, AMFs) were analyzed by ATR-FTIR, SEM, AFM, and WCA. The findings from an in vitro study showed that AMFs had a more broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against both S. aureus and E. coli compared with free Ac.X2, which showed no apparent strong effect against E. coli. These AMFs showed a suitable degradation rate, good hemocompatibility, and reduced cytotoxicity in the biocompatibility assay. The results of in vivo bacterially infected wound healing experiments indicated that wound inflammation was prevented by AMFs, which promoted wound repair and improved the wound microenvironment. This study revealed that Ac.X2 transformation is a potential candidate for skin wound healing. Full article
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19 pages, 5302 KiB  
Article
A New Gene SCY3 Homologous to Scygonadin Showing Antibacterial Activity and a Potential Role in the Sperm Acrosome Reaction of Scylla paramamosain
by Su Long, Fangyi Chen, Jishan Li, Ying Yang and Ke-Jian Wang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(6), 5689; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24065689 - 16 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1335
Abstract
In the study, a new gene homologous to the known antimicrobial peptide Scygonadin was identified in mud crab Scylla paramamosain and named SCY3. The full-length sequences of cDNA and genomic DNA were determined. Similar to Scygonadin, SCY3 was dominantly expressed in [...] Read more.
In the study, a new gene homologous to the known antimicrobial peptide Scygonadin was identified in mud crab Scylla paramamosain and named SCY3. The full-length sequences of cDNA and genomic DNA were determined. Similar to Scygonadin, SCY3 was dominantly expressed in the ejaculatory ducts of male crab and the spermatheca of post-mating females at mating. The mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated after stimulation by Vibrio alginolyticus, but not by Staphylococcus aureus. The recombinant protein rSCY3 had a killing effect on Micrococcus luteus and could improve the survival rate of mud crabs infected with V. alginolyticus. Further analysis showed that rSCY3 interacted with rSCY1 or rSCY2 using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR, a technology for detecting interactions between biomolecules using biosensor chips) and Mammalian Two-Hybrid (M2H, a way of detecting interactions between proteins in vivo). Moreover, the rSCY3 could significantly improve the sperm acrosome reaction (AR) of S. paramamosain and the results demonstrated that the binding of rSCY3, rSCY4, and rSCY5 to progesterone was a potential factor affecting the sperm AR by SCYs on. This study lays the foundation for further investigation on the molecular mechanism of SCYs involved in both immunity and physiological effects of S. paramamosain. Full article
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