Nanocomposites as Effective and Targeted Antibacterial Agents
A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomaterials".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2021) | Viewed by 5018
Special Issue Editors
Interests: antimicrobial agents; synthesis of heterocyclic compounds; sortase A inhibitors; antibiofilm compounds; antimicrobial resistance
Interests: controlled drug release; bio-adhesive buccal delivery systems; sublingual delivery; lipid-micro and nanoparticles; drug absorption from the oral cavity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Research on nanocomposites applied to medical and healthcare applications has attracted many researchers, as evidenced by recent improvements in medical research that have involved nanomaterials as useful tools to fight bacteria and other microbial pathogens. The rapid development of nanocomposites in preventing growth and microbial colonization is helping to solve the current global health crisis with regards to antimicrobial resistance.
Many materials have turned out to possess intrinsic antimicrobial properties when they are in nano-dimensions, such as silver nanoparticles, titanium oxide nanoparticles, quantum dots (QDs), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). Biomaterials-based nanoparticles (NPs), such as chitosan or cellulose, and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) are increasingly used to target bacteria as an alternative to antibiotics.
The bio-based matrices not only provide support for nanoparticles, but can also improve the antimicrobial effects of the agents they incorporate, and expand the potential applications of these materials to meet multiple demands in the biomedical field, in water treatment, and in the food industry. The use of nanocomposites containing natural compounds to confer antimicrobial properties is also an interesting challenge in the formulation of non-active medical devices and in the design of biodegradable food packaging.
This Special Issue will focus on enhancing the antimicrobial properties of nanocomposites as effective and targeted antibacterial agents. They could either actively release antimicrobial agents or passively act through antiseptic surface properties.
Original full research articles, short communications, and reviews related to any of the topics on nanocomposites are welcome, as well as critical reviews on the negative effects of NPs on human health and the environment. Particular attention will be given to the green synthesis approaches of nanocomposites, also through the use of bioorganic compounds, for example, plant extracts as green reactants or microorganisms to obtain new bio-based polymer nanocomposites useful for biomedical and packaging applications.
Scientific contributions regarding the use of natural compounds for the construction of nanocomposites and/or nanoparticles are also welcome. Finally, considering that the mechanism of the bactericidal effect of metal-NPs is still to be clarified, studies aiming to understand their mechanism of action will be well received.
Prof. Maria Valeria Raimondi
Dr. Viviana De Caro
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- Nanocomposite
- Nanoparticles
- Antibacterial activity
- Bio-based compounds
- Natural polymer nanocomposites
- Antibiofilm compounds
- Antimicrobial resistance
- Green synthesis approaches
- Bactericidal effects of metal-NPs
