Nanofibrous zein/PEG based membranes incorporated with natural antimicrobial compounds were fabricated by electrospinning method. Structural and thermal analysis of prepared nanofibers revealed that the applied processing technique did not significantly affect the structure of pristine zein polymer. Morphological characterization showed a higher degree of polydispersity in the fibers modified with eugenol, thymol, nisin, or their combinations, and an average fiber diameter in the range from 300 to 390 nm. Nanofibrous samples with eugenol and thymol prevented the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, while the nisin or its mixtures with phenols proved a high antibacterial effect against Gram-positive Listeria ivanovii. Zein/PEG membranes with bioactive molecules significantly eliminated biofilm formation, with the most pronounced effect of zein/PEG/Eug/Thy combination. Biodegradability testing of bioactive membranes revealed no significant slowdown of degradation process in comparison to control sample. Zein/PEG hydrophilic nanofibers enriched with phenol/nisin combinations demonstrated a high potential for development of sustainable packaging to improve the shelf-life and quality of foods.
- Keywords
- Antibacterial, Antibiofilm, Biodegradable, Nanofibers, Nisin, Sustainable, Zein,
- MeSH
- Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology chemistry MeSH
- Anti-Infective Agents * pharmacology chemistry MeSH
- Biofilms drug effects MeSH
- Escherichia coli drug effects MeSH
- Listeria drug effects MeSH
- Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
- Nanofibers * chemistry ultrastructure MeSH
- Nisin pharmacology chemistry MeSH
- Food Packaging * methods MeSH
- Polyethylene Glycols * chemistry MeSH
- Staphylococcus aureus drug effects MeSH
- Zein * chemistry MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Anti-Bacterial Agents MeSH
- Anti-Infective Agents * MeSH
- Nisin MeSH
- Polyethylene Glycols * MeSH
- Zein * MeSH
Conventional Ag-decorated TiO2 coatings suffer from low adsorption capacity and burst release kinetics, limiting long-term antibacterial efficacy and risking cytotoxicity. An entirely different payload release approach can be based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which offer tunable porosity, high surface area, and internal diffusion channels. Here, we report a thermally stabilized Ti-based MOF [NH2-MIL-125(Ti)] functionalized with Ag+ via reactive deposition, enabling high Ag loading (∼14.7 wt %) and sustained release. Annealing at 250 °C enhances aqueous stability, allowing diffusion-governed Ag+ delivery over >48 h, with 77% of the Ag still present in the MOF after a 24 h release. The system exhibits dose-dependent antibacterial activity in powders and comparable efficacy in coatings, with a more gradual release profile. This scalable platform is promising for long-acting coatings, wound interfaces, and implantable materials.
- Keywords
- NH2-MIL-125, antibacterial activity, metal−organic-frameworks (MOFs), silver,
- MeSH
- Anti-Bacterial Agents * chemistry pharmacology MeSH
- Escherichia coli drug effects MeSH
- Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
- Metal-Organic Frameworks * chemistry MeSH
- Porosity MeSH
- Staphylococcus aureus drug effects MeSH
- Silver * chemistry pharmacology MeSH
- Titanium * chemistry MeSH
- Drug Liberation MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Anti-Bacterial Agents * MeSH
- Metal-Organic Frameworks * MeSH
- Silver * MeSH
- Titanium * MeSH
- titanium dioxide MeSH Browser
The aim of this research is to analyse the impact of surface cleaner type and hydrodynamic flow on bacterial detachment. For that purpose, a new liquid flow chamber was constructed and applied. In experiments, Staphylococcus aureus was grown on linoleum surfaces that are used in health care institutions. The bare surfaces were characterized by contact angle, zeta potential and surface roughness measurements. Material element analysis of linoleum was made. The main object is to determine how efficient different clearner type and strength of the liquid flow remove adhered bacteria from the linoleum surface. Bacterial detachment from linoleum surface was studied by turbulent liquid flow of cleaning solutions at room temperature. The impact of different surface cleaners on bacterial detachment was examined and compared to the effect of distilled water. For this reason, the exact identification of cleaner constituents was performed. Very realistic cleaning technique based on multiple swiping with a cloth was also applied. Results show that the turbulent flow can remove a significant number of bacteria adhered to the linoleum surface. The effect increases with the liquid flow rate and is cleaner specific.
Antibacterial biodegradable PLA-based nanofibers loaded with phenolic monoterpenes - thymol, eugenol, carvacrol, and cinnamaldehyde, were prepared by electrospinning. The effect of bioactive molecule on the surface, thermal, morphological, and biological properties has been investigated about the potential pharmaceutical and food processing applications. Fiber diameters ranged from 320 nm for PLA fibrous mat up to 480 nm for PLA membrane with 6 % thymol. All the prepared active nanofibers exhibited hydrophobic surfaces with a slightly decreasing contact angle after the incorporation of phenols. Antimicrobial testing proved a strong efficiency against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, depending on the specific type and content of the bioactive compound. A significant biofilm formation reduction of bioactive PLA nanofibers was revealed against tested microorganisms. Modification of PLA fibers with active molecules did not significantly affect the biodegradation kinetics in comparison to PLA samples with their absence. This study demonstrates the high potential of newly developed PLA-based/phenol nanofibrous membranes for use as antibacterial and antifouling systems applicable in wound dressings and food packaging.
- Keywords
- Antibacterial, Antifouling, Biodegradable, Biomedical applications, Electrospinning, Polylactic acid, Sustainable,
- MeSH
- Anti-Bacterial Agents * pharmacology chemistry MeSH
- Biofilms drug effects MeSH
- Cymenes MeSH
- Escherichia coli drug effects MeSH
- Phenols * chemistry pharmacology MeSH
- Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
- Monoterpenes * chemistry pharmacology MeSH
- Nanofibers * chemistry ultrastructure MeSH
- Food Packaging MeSH
- Polyesters * chemistry MeSH
- Staphylococcus aureus drug effects MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Anti-Bacterial Agents * MeSH
- carvacrol MeSH Browser
- Cymenes MeSH
- Phenols * MeSH
- Monoterpenes * MeSH
- poly(lactide) MeSH Browser
- Polyesters * MeSH
Self-propelled nano- and micromachines have immense potential as autonomous seek-and-act devices in biomedical applications. In this study, we present microrobots constructed with inherently biocompatible materials and propulsion systems tailored to skin-related applications. Addressing the significant treatment challenge posed by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) skin infections, we demonstrate that photocatalytic titanium dioxide microrobots decorated with silver or platinum can effectively and rapidly eradicate MRSA biofilms grown on skin-mimicking membranes and porcine skin tissues. These microrobots are powered by hydrogen peroxide or ultraviolet light─agents considered toxic in high concentrations but commonly used in controlled amounts for skin disinfection and naturally encountered by the skin. By examining the effects of different metal coatings on the propulsion abilities of the microrobots, we show that these chemically propelled devices can eliminate biofilms without causing significant damage to the surrounding skin tissues, as confirmed by histological analysis. This work paves the way for the use of microrobots in skin-related biomedical applications, particularly in cases where traditional antibiotics are ineffective.
- Keywords
- Janus particles, biofilm, microrobots, skin infection, titanium dioxide,
- MeSH
- Anti-Bacterial Agents * pharmacology chemistry MeSH
- Biofilms drug effects MeSH
- Skin * microbiology drug effects MeSH
- Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus * drug effects physiology MeSH
- Hydrogen Peroxide chemistry pharmacology MeSH
- Platinum chemistry pharmacology MeSH
- Swine MeSH
- Robotics * instrumentation MeSH
- Staphylococcal Skin Infections * drug therapy microbiology MeSH
- Silver chemistry pharmacology MeSH
- Titanium chemistry pharmacology MeSH
- Ultraviolet Rays MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Anti-Bacterial Agents * MeSH
- Hydrogen Peroxide MeSH
- Platinum MeSH
- Silver MeSH
- Titanium MeSH
- titanium dioxide MeSH Browser
Efficient treatment of osteomyelitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus is a great clinical challenge due to bacterial resistance and immune evasion issues. Macrophages play a crucial role in the fight against S. aureus but suffer from deficiencies in function in the infectious milieu leading to persistent infection. Here, a strategy of exploiting aged neutrophil membrane (aNM) is developed to camouflage 2D MnPSe3 nanosheets (MPS NSs), denoted as aNM@MPS, to mediate in situ macrophage engineering, thereby potentiating macrophages to eradicate refractory osteomyelitis. When administered systematically, the biofunctional aNM@MPS ensures selectivity for osteomyelitis lesions, enhanced bone marrow retention, and subsequent phagocytosis by macrophages. In the mouse model of osteomyelitis, the aNM@MPS enables dysfunctional macrophages to digest intracellular bacteria by generating highly toxic hydroxyl radicals and sequentially reprogramming bactericidal immunity through manganese ion-mediated immune activation, which synergistically terminates persistent infection-initiated pathological cascades and subsequently reestablish host-directed bactericidal potency, thereby conferring a satisfactory osteoprotective effect. These findings demonstrate that macrophages in the skeletal infectious milieu can be precisely remodeled via the lesion-macrophage dual-targeting metalloimmunotherapy strategy, which holds potential for osteomyelitis treatment.
- Keywords
- biofunctional nanosheets, macrophage engineering, metalloimmunotherapy, osteomyelitis, phagolysosomal killing,
- MeSH
- Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology chemistry MeSH
- Phagocytosis drug effects MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Macrophages * metabolism drug effects MeSH
- Manganese * chemistry pharmacology MeSH
- Disease Models, Animal MeSH
- Mice, Inbred C57BL MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Nanostructures * chemistry MeSH
- Neutrophils metabolism MeSH
- Osteomyelitis * drug therapy microbiology pathology therapy MeSH
- RAW 264.7 Cells MeSH
- Staphylococcal Infections * drug therapy MeSH
- Staphylococcus aureus drug effects MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Anti-Bacterial Agents MeSH
- Manganese * MeSH
Previous studies of green synthesized selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) showed their unique properties such as antibacterial activity, biocompatibility, and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to use traditional Zambian medicinal herbs (Azadirachta indica, Moringa oleifera Gliricidia sepium, Cissus quadrangularis, Aloe barbadensis, Kigelia Africana, and Bobgunnia madagascariensis) to synthesize SeNPs and examine their potential to enhance the endogenous antioxidant system of model eukaryote. For SeNP characterization, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,and absorbance spectra were used. Their minimal inhibitory concentration was investigated on Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. The antioxidant potential of SeNPs was examined on Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae). Cell viability, total antioxidant capacity, and activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were evaluated. SeNPs did not show antimicrobial activity against E. coli, only mild activity against S. aureus. Experimental data suggested that SeNPs didn´t inhibit Saccharomyces cerevisiae growth while plant extracts and sodium selenite had an inhibitory effect. All tested plant extracts and SeNPs resulted in a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase activity compared to the control. Catalase activity significantly increased only in treatments with plant extracts or sodium selenite alone. Glutathione peroxidase activity remained the same for all studied SeNPs and plant extracts. These findings provide evidence of a complex influence of SeNPs or plant extracts on the cellular antioxidant system in S. cerevisiae. From the point of view of overall effectiveness, Azadirachta indica, Moringa oleifera, Aloe barbadensis, and Cissus quadrangularis SeNPs are promising, green-synthetized nanoparticles for combating oxidative stress in living organisms.
- MeSH
- Anti-Infective Agents * pharmacology chemistry MeSH
- Antioxidants * pharmacology chemistry MeSH
- Escherichia coli drug effects MeSH
- Metal Nanoparticles * chemistry MeSH
- Plants, Medicinal * chemistry MeSH
- Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
- Nanoparticles * chemistry MeSH
- Plant Extracts chemistry pharmacology MeSH
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae drug effects growth & development MeSH
- Selenium * chemistry pharmacology MeSH
- Staphylococcus aureus drug effects MeSH
- Superoxide Dismutase metabolism MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Anti-Infective Agents * MeSH
- Antioxidants * MeSH
- Plant Extracts MeSH
- Selenium * MeSH
- Superoxide Dismutase MeSH
Current antibiotics and chemotherapeutics are becoming ineffective because pathogenic bacteria and tumor cells have developed multiple drug resistance. Therefore, it is necessary to find new substances that can be used in treatment, either alone or as sensitizing molecules in combination with existing drugs. Peptaibols are bioactive, membrane-active peptides of non-ribosomal origin, mainly produced by filamentous fungi such as Trichoderma spp. This study focused on producing peptaibol-rich extracts from Trichoderma atroviride O1, cultivated on malt extract agar (MA) under circadian and constant darkness conditions for 13 days. Peptaibol production was detected by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry after six days of cultivation. The extracts demonstrated antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus strains, particularly the methicillin-resistant variant, but not against the Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Quorum sensing interference revealed that a peptaibol-rich extract suppressed Vibrio campbellii BAA-1119's AI-2 signaling system to a degree comparable with gentamycin. Beyond antibacterial properties, the extracts exhibited notable antiproliferative activity against human ovarian cancer cells and their adriamycin-resistant subline in both 2D and 3D models. Specifically, MA-derived extracts reduced ovarian cancer cell viability by 70% at 50 μg/mL, especially under light/dark regime of cultivation. Compared to previously published results for PDA-based extracts, MA cultivation shifted the biological effects of peptaibol-containing extracts toward anticancer potential. These findings support the idea that modifying fungal cultivation parameters, the bioactivity of secondary metabolite mixtures can be tailored for specific therapeutic applications.
- MeSH
- Agar * chemistry MeSH
- Anti-Bacterial Agents * pharmacology metabolism MeSH
- Culture Media chemistry MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
- Cell Line, Tumor MeSH
- Peptaibols * pharmacology metabolism biosynthesis chemistry MeSH
- Cell Proliferation drug effects MeSH
- Antineoplastic Agents * pharmacology metabolism MeSH
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa drug effects MeSH
- Staphylococcus aureus drug effects MeSH
- Trichoderma * metabolism growth & development chemistry MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Agar * MeSH
- Anti-Bacterial Agents * MeSH
- Culture Media MeSH
- Peptaibols * MeSH
- Antineoplastic Agents * MeSH
Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health. Fungal endophytes are important sources of active natural products with antimicrobial potential. The purpose of this study was to characterize the endophytes coexisting with Helichrysum oocephalum, evaluate their antimicrobial activities, and annotate the endophytes metabolites. Six fungal species, including Fusarium avenaceum and Fusarium tricinctum, were identified. Endophytes were cultured, and their metabolites were extracted. The antimicrobial effects of the extracts were tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. In addition, anti-biofilm effects of the extracts were examined against P. aeruginosa and S. epidermidis. The metabolites in the most active extract were annotated on the basis of the LC-ESI-QToF-MS/MS data. In anti-biofilm studies, F. avenaceum extract was effective in destroying and inhibiting the biofilm formation of S. epidermidis. LC-MS analysis showed that most of the identified compounds in the active extracts were enniatins (cyclic hexadepsipeptides). However, apicidin derivatives were also annotated. Our results revealed that these endophytes, especially Fusarium species, have antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, B. cereus, and C. albicans and anti-biofilm activity against S. epidermidis. According to the literature, the observed antimicrobial activity can be attributed to the enniatins. However, further phytochemical and pharmacological studies are necessary in this regard.
- Keywords
- Fusarium, LC–MS, antimicrobial, anti‐biofilm, endophyte, enniatin,
- MeSH
- Anti-Bacterial Agents * pharmacology isolation & purification chemistry MeSH
- Antifungal Agents * pharmacology isolation & purification chemistry MeSH
- Anti-Infective Agents * pharmacology isolation & purification chemistry MeSH
- Bacillus cereus drug effects MeSH
- Biofilms drug effects MeSH
- Candida albicans drug effects MeSH
- Endophytes * chemistry metabolism isolation & purification MeSH
- Escherichia coli drug effects MeSH
- Fusarium * chemistry metabolism MeSH
- Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa drug effects MeSH
- Staphylococcus aureus drug effects MeSH
- Staphylococcus epidermidis drug effects MeSH
- Tandem Mass Spectrometry MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Anti-Bacterial Agents * MeSH
- Antifungal Agents * MeSH
- Anti-Infective Agents * MeSH
The study introduces a novel method for fabricating crosslinked chitosan/polypyrrole (PPy) composite nanofibers with covalently anchored PPy. Crosslinking is achieved already during electrospinning by using dialdehyde cellulose (DAC) as a dual-functioning reagent able to simultaneously crosslink chitosan nanofibers and covalently tether PPy nanoparticles by a newly discovered aldol condensation reaction. The presented method eliminates the need for postprocessing steps. It reduces the environmental impact by avoiding toxic organic chemicals while preventing PPy leaching and improving prepared composite nanofibers' mechanical and biological properties. A direct comparison to neat chitosan nanofibres was performed to demonstrate the superiority of prepared composites. The resulting crosslinked CHIT_DAC_PPy composite nanofibers have increased tensile strength, improved stability at low pH, conductivity up to 11 mS/cm, and higher swelling compared to neat CHIT nanofibers. They also possess significantly enhanced antibacterial activity against gram-positive S. aureus, higher antioxidant activity, increased immunomodulatory effects, and substantially higher acceleration of wound healing in vitro. CHIT_DAC_PPy nanofibrous composite thus shows significant potential for fabricating advanced wound dressings.
- Keywords
- Chitosan, Nanofibers, Polypyrrole,
- MeSH
- Anti-Bacterial Agents * pharmacology chemistry MeSH
- Antioxidants * pharmacology chemistry MeSH
- Cellulose * chemistry analogs & derivatives pharmacology MeSH
- Chitosan * chemistry pharmacology MeSH
- Wound Healing drug effects MeSH
- Immunologic Factors * pharmacology chemistry MeSH
- Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Nanofibers * chemistry ultrastructure MeSH
- Tensile Strength MeSH
- Polymers * chemistry pharmacology MeSH
- Pyrroles * chemistry pharmacology MeSH
- Staphylococcus aureus drug effects MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Mice MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Anti-Bacterial Agents * MeSH
- Antioxidants * MeSH
- Cellulose * MeSH
- Chitosan * MeSH
- Immunologic Factors * MeSH
- Polymers * MeSH
- polypyrrole MeSH Browser
- Pyrroles * MeSH
