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Novel Antibacterial and Antimicrobial Nanoparticles for Healthcare Applications

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A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Biology and Medicines".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 12809

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Ana María Díez-Pascual

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Guest Editor

Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Química Analítica, Universidad de Alcalá, Química Física e Ingeniería Química, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona Km. 33.6, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
Interests: nanomaterials; polymers; nanocomposites; inorganic nanoparticles; antibacterial agents; surfactants; interphases
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Owed to the extraordinary rise in bacterial resistance towards antibiotics, infections continue to proliferate, and millions of deaths in hospitals take place. For instance, in the UK, about 300,000 people acquire infections in hospitals each year, resulting in nearly 5000 deaths. Hospital-acquired infections result in up to $4.5 billion in additional healthcare expenses annually in the US, and about £1 billion per year in UK, and these costs come directly out of the hospital’s wallet. Therefore, infection-prevention strategies are essential. Antibacterial nanoparticles constitute a suitable solution to antimicrobial resistance. These compounds not only kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria via different mechanims of action, but can also be combined with actual relevant antibiotics to further aid to overcome antimicrobial resistance. As such, antibacterial nanoparticles are currently gaining a lot of attention.

Nanotechnology can be specially advantageous in treating bacterial infections. Examples comprise the use of nanoparticles in antibacterial coatings for implantable devices, in bacterial detection systems to porvide microbial diagnostics, in medicinal nanomaterials to prevent infections and promote wound healing, in antibiotic delivery systems to treat diseases, and so forth. The antibacterial mechanisms of nanoparticles are not well understood yet, although accepted mechanisms include ROS generation, metal ion release, and non-oxidative mechanisms.

This Special Issue is devoted to both original research and review papers regarding the synthesis, design and characterization of new antimicrobial nanoparticles (e.g., carbon-based nanoparticles, metal nanoparticles, and polymeric nanoparticles) which significantly prevent the growth of or eradicate bacteria, specially focused on healthcare applications.

Prof. Dr. Ana María Díez-Pascual
Guest Editor

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

antimicrobial nanomaterials
biomedical applications
infections
metallic nanoparticles
polymeric nanoparticles

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 4386 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nano-Delivery System of Ethanolic Extract of Propolis Targeting Mycobacterium tuberculosis via Aptamer-Modified-Niosomes

by Sirikwan Sangboonruang, Natthawat Semakul, Sureeporn Suriyaprom, Kuntida Kitidee, Jiaranai Khantipongse, Sorasak Intorasoot, Chayada Sitthidet Tharinjaroen, Usanee Wattananandkul, Bordin Butr-Indr, Ponrut Phunpae and Khajornsak Tragoolpua

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(2), 269; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano13020269 - 08 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2062

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) therapy requires long-course multidrug regimens leading to the emergence of drug-resistant TB and increased public health burden worldwide. As the treatment strategy is more challenging, seeking a potent non-antibiotic agent has been raised. Propolis serve as a natural source of bioactive molecules. It has been evidenced to eliminate various microbial pathogens including Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). In this study, we fabricated the niosome-based drug delivery platform for ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) using thin film hydration method with Ag85A aptamer surface modification (Apt-PEGNio/EEP) to target Mtb. Physicochemical characterization of PEGNio/EEP indicated approximately −20 mV of zeta potential, 180 nm of spherical nanoparticles, 80% of entrapment efficiency, and the sustained release profile. The Apt-PEGNio/EEP and PEGNio/EEP showed no difference in these characteristics. The chemical composition in the nanostructure was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. Apt-PEGNio/EEP showed specific binding to Mycobacterium expressing Ag85 membrane-bound protein by confocal laser scanning microscope. It strongly inhibited Mtb in vitro and exhibited non-toxicity on alveolar macrophages. These findings indicate that the Apt-PEGNio/EEP acts as an antimycobacterial nanoparticle and might be a promising innovative targeted treatment. Further application of this smart nano-delivery system will lead to effective TB management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Antibacterial and Antimicrobial Nanoparticles for Healthcare Applications)

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21 pages, 8424 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of New Strategies to Improve the Performance of Antimicrobial Peptides

by Lin Wang, Hang Liu, Xinsong Li and Chen Yao

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(20), 3691; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12203691 - 20 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1197

Abstract

In this research, we constructed a novel engineered tripeptide modified with lipoic acid (LA-RWR), followed by crosslinking of lipoic acid to form nanoparticles (c-LA-RWR). LA-RWR was also modified with phenethylamine (PEA) on the C-terminus to achieve better antibacterial activities. The as-prepared c-LA-RWR and LA-RWR-PEA were effective against E.coli, S.aureus, C.albicans, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 2 to 16 µg/mL, which greatly improved the performance of LA-RWR. Similar antibacterial activities were demonstrated in anti-biofilm activity; there was no matter on the biofilm that was already established or forming. Moreover, c-LA-RWR/LA-RWR-PEA remarkably induced cytoplasmic membrane depolarization and outer membrane permeabilization, resulting in varying degrees of damage to the bacterial morphology, which were consistent with the results obtained via electron microscopy. Thus, our results show that c-LA-RWR/LA-RWR-PEA exhibited excellent efficacy against a variety of microorganisms with good biosafety, providing new strategies by which to improve the performance of antimicrobial peptides. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Antibacterial and Antimicrobial Nanoparticles for Healthcare Applications)

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23 pages, 3749 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Curcumin Sustained Release with a Hybrid Chitosan-Silk Fibroin Nanofiber Containing Silver Nanoparticles as a Novel Highly Efficient Antibacterial Wound Dressing

by Parisa Heydari Foroushani, Erfan Rahmani, Iran Alemzadeh, Manouchehr Vossoughi, Mehrab Pourmadadi, Abbas Rahdar and Ana M. Díez-Pascual

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(19), 3426; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12193426 - 29 Sep 2022

Cited by 52 | Viewed by 3458

Abstract

Drug loading in electrospun nanofibers has gained a lot of attention as a novel method for direct drug release in an injury site to accelerate wound healing. The present study deals with the fabrication of silk fibroin (SF)-chitosan (CS)-silver (Ag)-curcumin (CUR) nanofibers using the electrospinning method, which facilitates the pH-responsive release of CUR, accelerates wound healing, and improves mechanical properties. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to investigate the effect of the solution parameters on the nanofiber diameter and morphology. The nanofibers were characterized via Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), zeta potential, and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). CS concentration plays a crucial role in the physical and mechanical properties of the nanofibers. Drug loading and entrapment efficiencies improved from 13 to 44% and 43 to 82%, respectively, after the incorporation of Ag nanoparticles. The application of CS hydrogel enabled a pH-responsive release of CUR under acid conditions. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) assay on E. coli and S. aureus bacteria showed that nanofibers with lower CS concentration cause stronger inhibitory effects on bacterial growth. The nanofibers do not have any toxic effect on cell culture, as revealed by in vitro wound healing test on NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Antibacterial and Antimicrobial Nanoparticles for Healthcare Applications)

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Review

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21 pages, 3962 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

LbL Nano-Assemblies: A Versatile Tool for Biomedical and Healthcare Applications

by Ana M. Díez-Pascual and Abbas Rahdar

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(6), 949; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12060949 - 14 Mar 2022

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3288

Abstract

Polyelectrolytes (PEs) have been the aim of many research studies over the past years. PE films are prepared by the simple and versatile layer-by-layer (LbL) approach using alternating assemblies of polymer pairs involving a polyanion and a polycation. The adsorption of the alternating PE multiple layers is driven by different forces (i.e., electrostatic interactions, H-bonding, charge transfer interactions, hydrophobic forces, etc.), which enable an accurate control over the physical properties of the film (i.e., thickness at the nanoscale and morphology). These PE nano-assemblies have a wide range of biomedical and healthcare applications, including drug delivery, protein delivery, tissue engineering, wound healing, and so forth. This review provides a concise overview of the most outstanding research on the design and fabrication of PE nanofilms. Their nanostructures, molecular interactions with biomolecules, and applications in the biomedical field are briefly discussed. Finally, the perspectives of further research directions in the development of LbL nano-assemblies for healthcare and medical applications are highlighted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Antibacterial and Antimicrobial Nanoparticles for Healthcare Applications)

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36 pages, 6504 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins: Implications for Nanotechnological Applications in Biosensing and Drug/Gene Delivery

by Simge Er, Ushna Laraib, Rabia Arshad, Saman Sargazi, Abbas Rahdar, Sadanand Pandey, Vijay Kumar Thakur and Ana M. Díez-Pascual

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(11), 3002; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11113002 - 08 Nov 2021

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 5222

Abstract

Over various scientific fields in biochemistry, amino acids have been highlighted in research works. Protein, peptide- and amino acid-based drug delivery systems have proficiently transformed nanotechnology via immense flexibility in their features for attaching various drug molecules and biodegradable polymers. In this regard, novel nanostructures including carbon nanotubes, electrospun carbon nanofibers, gold nanoislands, and metal-based nanoparticles have been introduced as nanosensors for accurate detection of these organic compounds. These nanostructures can bind the biological receptor to the sensor surface and increase the surface area of the working electrode, significantly enhancing the biosensor performance. Interestingly, protein-based nanocarriers have also emerged as useful drug and gene delivery platforms. This is important since, despite recent advancements, there are still biological barriers and other obstacles limiting gene and drug delivery efficacy. Currently available strategies for gene therapy are not cost-effective, and they do not deliver the genetic cargo effectively to target sites. With rapid advancements in nanotechnology, novel gene delivery systems are introduced as nonviral vectors such as protein, peptide, and amino acid-based nanostructures. These nano-based delivery platforms can be tailored into functional transformation using proteins and peptides ligands based nanocarriers, usually overexpressed in the specified diseases. The purpose of this review is to shed light on traditional and nanotechnology-based methods to detect amino acids, peptides, and proteins. Furthermore, new insights into the potential of amino protein-based nanoassemblies for targeted drug delivery or gene transfer are presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Antibacterial and Antimicrobial Nanoparticles for Healthcare Applications)

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