International Journal of Molecular Sciences

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17 pages, 8980 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Shell Distribution of Vitamin K3 within Reinforced Electrospun Nanofibers for Improved Photo-Antibacterial Performance

by Wenjian Gong, Meng-Long Wang, Yanan Liu, Deng-Guang Yu and Sim Wan Annie Bligh

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(17), 9556; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25179556 - 3 Sep 2024

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Abstract

Personal protective equipment (PPE) has attracted more attention since the outbreak of the epidemic in 2019. Advanced nano techniques, such as electrospinning, can provide new routes for developing novel PPE. However, electrospun antibacterial PPE is not easily obtained. Fibers loaded with photosensitizers prepared [...] Read more.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) has attracted more attention since the outbreak of the epidemic in 2019. Advanced nano techniques, such as electrospinning, can provide new routes for developing novel PPE. However, electrospun antibacterial PPE is not easily obtained. Fibers loaded with photosensitizers prepared using single-fluid electrospinning have a relatively low utilization rate due to the influence of embedding and their inadequate mechanical properties. For this study, monolithic nanofibers and core–shell nanofibers were prepared and compared. Monolithic F1 fibers comprising polyethylene oxide (PEO), poly(vinyl alcohol-co-ethylene) (PVA-co-PE), and the photo-antibacterial agent vitamin K3 (VK3) were created using a single-fluid blending process. Core–shell F2 nanofibers were prepared using coaxial electrospinning, in which the extensible material PEO was set as the core section, and a composite consisting of PEO, PVA-co-PE, and VK3 was set as the shell section. Both F1 and F2 fibers with the designed structural properties had an average diameter of approximately 1.0 μm, as determined using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. VK3 was amorphously dispersed within the polymeric matrices of F1 and F2 fibers in a compatible manner, as revealed using X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Monolithic F1 fibers had a higher tensile strength of 2.917 ± 0.091 MPa, whereas the core–shell F2 fibers had a longer elongation with a break rate of 194.567 ± 0.091%. Photoreaction tests showed that, with their adjustment, core–shell F2 nanofibers could produce 0.222 μmol/L ·OH upon illumination. F2 fibers had slightly better antibacterial performance than F1 fibers, with inhibition zones of 1.361 ± 0.012 cm and 1.296 ± 0.022 cm for E. coli and S. aureus, respectively, but with less VK3. The intentional tailoring of the components and compositions of the core–shell nanostructures can improve the process–structure–performance relationship of electrospun nanofibers for potential sunlight-activated antibacterial PPE. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Application in Biomedical Fields)

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17 pages, 4583 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biosynthesis of Polyhydroalkanoates Doped with Silver Nanoparticles Using Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas aeruginosa for Antibacterial Polymer Applications

by Carmen Liliana Cruz-Romero, Abraham Ulises Chávez-Ramírez, Cyntia R. Flores-Juárez, Noé Arjona, Alejandra Álvarez-López, Laura del Bosque Plata, Vanessa Vallejo-Becerra and Juan de Dios Galindo-de-la-Rosa

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(16), 8996; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25168996 - 19 Aug 2024

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Abstract

In this study, the biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) was carried out using Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These PHAs were produced using reagent-grade glycerol and crude glycerol as the carbon sources. The objective was to compare the production of PHAs and to [...] Read more.

In this study, the biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) was carried out using Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These PHAs were produced using reagent-grade glycerol and crude glycerol as the carbon sources. The objective was to compare the production of PHAs and to functionalize these polymers with silver nanoparticles to provide antibacterial properties for potential biomedical applications. The findings from the physical and chemical analyses confirmed the successful synthesis and extraction of PHAs, achieving comparable yields using both crude glycerol and reagent-grade glycerol as carbon sources across both strains. Approximately 16% higher PHAs production was obtained using Pseudomonas putida compared to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and no significant difference was observed in the production rate of PHAs between the two carbon sources used, which means that crude glycerol could be utilized even though it has more impurities. Notably, PHAs functionalized with silver nanoparticles showed improved antibacterial effectiveness, especially those derived from reagent-grade glycerol and the Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Application in Biomedical Fields)

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17 pages, 2404 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chitosan/Pomegranate Seed Oil Emulgel Composition as a New Strategy for Dermal Delivery of Hydrocortisone

by Zofia Helena Bagińska, Magdalena Paczkowska-Walendowska, Anna Basa, Michał Rachalewski, Karolina Lendzion, Judyta Cielecka-Piontek and Emilia Szymańska

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(7), 3765; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25073765 - 28 Mar 2024

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Abstract

Multifunctional delivery systems capable of modulating drug release and exerting adjunctive pharmacological activity have attracted particular attention. Chitosan (CS) and pomegranate seed oil (PO) appear to be attractive bioactive components framing the strategy of complex therapy and multifunctional drug carriers. This research is [...] Read more.

Multifunctional delivery systems capable of modulating drug release and exerting adjunctive pharmacological activity have attracted particular attention. Chitosan (CS) and pomegranate seed oil (PO) appear to be attractive bioactive components framing the strategy of complex therapy and multifunctional drug carriers. This research is aimed at evaluating the potential of CS in combination with PO in studies on topical emulgels containing hydrocortisone as a model anti-inflammatory agent. Its particular goal was to distinguish alterations in anti-inflammatory action followed with drug dissolution or penetrative behavior between the designed formulations that differ in CS/PO weight ratio. All formulations favored hydrocortisone release with up to a two-fold increase in the drug dissolution rate within first 5 h as compared to conventional topical preparations. The clear effect of CS/PO on the emulgel biological performance was observed, and CS was found to be prerequisite for the modulation of hydrocortisone absorption and accumulation. In turn, a greater amount of PO played the predominant role in the inhibition of hyaluronidase activity and enhanced the anti-inflammatory effect of preparation E-3. Emulgels showed a negligible reduction in mouse fibroblasts’ L929 cell viability, confirming their non-irritancy with skin cells. Overall, the designed formulation with a CS/PO ratio of 6:4 appeared to be the most promising topical carrier for the effective treatment of inflammatory skin diseases among the tested subjects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Application in Biomedical Fields)

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18 pages, 5501 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Nanoparticles Covalently Bound with BODIPY for Their Photodynamic Therapy Applicability

by Miryam Chiara Malacarne, Enrico Caruso, Marzia Bruna Gariboldi, Emanuela Marras, Gianluca Della Bitta, Orlando Santoro, Alan Simm, Rong Li and Calum T. J. Ferguson

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(6), 3187; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25063187 - 10 Mar 2024

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Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) relies on the combined action of a photosensitizer (PS), light at an appropriate wavelength, and oxygen, to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) that lead to cell death. However, this therapeutic modality presents some limitations, such as the poor water solubility [...] Read more.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) relies on the combined action of a photosensitizer (PS), light at an appropriate wavelength, and oxygen, to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) that lead to cell death. However, this therapeutic modality presents some limitations, such as the poor water solubility of PSs and their limited selectivity. To overcome these problems, research has exploited nanoparticles (NPs). This project aimed to synthesize a PS, belonging to the BODIPY family, covalently link it to two NPs that differ in their lipophilic character, and then evaluate their photodynamic activity on SKOV3 and MCF7 tumor cell lines. Physicochemical analyses demonstrated that both NPs are suitable for PDT, as they are resistant to photobleaching and have good singlet oxygen (¹O₂) production. In vitro biological analyses showed that BODIPY has greater photodynamic activity in the free form than its NP-bounded counterpart, probably due to greater cellular uptake. To evaluate the main mechanisms involved in PDT-induced cell death, flow cytometric analyses were performed and showed that free BODIPY mainly induced necrosis, while once bound to NP, it seemed to prefer apoptosis. A scratch wound healing test indicated that all compounds partially inhibited cellular migration of SKOV3 cells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Application in Biomedical Fields)

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14 pages, 4195 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Supercritical Impregnation of Mesoglycan and Lactoferrin on Polyurethane Electrospun Fibers for Wound Healing Applications

by Stefania Mottola, Gianluca Viscusi, Giovanna Iannone, Raffaella Belvedere, Antonello Petrella, Iolanda De Marco and Giuliana Gorrasi

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(11), 9269; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24119269 - 25 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1401

Abstract

Fibrous membranes of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) were fabricated through a uni-axial electrospinning process. Fibers were then separately charged with two pharmacological agents, mesoglycan (MSG) and lactoferrin (LF), by supercritical CO₂ impregnation. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis [...] Read more.

Fibrous membranes of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) were fabricated through a uni-axial electrospinning process. Fibers were then separately charged with two pharmacological agents, mesoglycan (MSG) and lactoferrin (LF), by supercritical CO₂ impregnation. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis proved the formation of a micrometric structure with a homogeneous distribution of mesoglycan and lactoferrin. Besides, the degree of retention is calculated in four liquid media with different pHs. At the same time, angle contact analysis proved the formation of a hydrophobic membrane loaded with MSG and a hydrophilic LF-loaded one. The impregnation kinetics demonstrated a maximum loaded amount equal to 0.18 ± 0.20% and 0.07 ± 0.05% for MSG and LT, respectively. In vitro tests were performed using a Franz diffusion cell to simulate the contact with the human skin. The release of MSG reaches a plateau after about 28 h while LF release leveled off after 15 h. The in vitro compatibility of electrospun membranes has been evaluated on HaCaT and BJ cell lines, as human keratinocytes and fibroblasts, respectively. The reported data proved the potential application of fabricated membranes for wound healing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Application in Biomedical Fields)

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Review

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20 pages, 2668 KiB

Open AccessReview

Antimicrobial Polymer Surfaces Containing Quaternary Ammonium Centers (QACs): Synthesis and Mechanism of Action

by Orlando Santoro and Lorella Izzo

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(14), 7587; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25147587 - 10 Jul 2024

Viewed by 682

Abstract

Synthetic polymer surfaces provide an excellent opportunity for developing materials with inherent antimicrobial and/or biocidal activity, therefore representing an answer to the increasing demand for antimicrobial active medical devices. So far, biologists and material scientists have identified a few features of bacterial cells [...] Read more.

Synthetic polymer surfaces provide an excellent opportunity for developing materials with inherent antimicrobial and/or biocidal activity, therefore representing an answer to the increasing demand for antimicrobial active medical devices. So far, biologists and material scientists have identified a few features of bacterial cells that can be strategically exploited to make polymers inherently antimicrobial. One of these is represented by the introduction of cationic charges that act by killing or deactivating bacteria by interaction with the negatively charged parts of their cell envelope (lipopolysaccharides, peptidoglycan, and membrane lipids). Among the possible cationic functionalities, the antimicrobial activity of polymers with quaternary ammonium centers (QACs) has been widely used for both soluble macromolecules and non-soluble materials. Unfortunately, most information is still unknown on the biological mechanism of action of QACs, a fundamental requirement for designing polymers with higher antimicrobial efficiency and possibly very low toxicity. This mini-review focuses on surfaces based on synthetic polymers with inherently antimicrobial activity due to QACs. It will discuss their synthesis, their antimicrobial activity, and studies carried out so far on their mechanism of action. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Application in Biomedical Fields)

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23 pages, 1291 KiB

Open AccessReview

Novel Material Optimization Strategies for Developing Upgraded Abdominal Meshes

by Alfred Najm, Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu, Marius Rădulescu, Bogdan Severus Gaspar, Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu and Mircea Beuran

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(18), 14298; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241814298 - 19 Sep 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1308

Abstract

Over 20 million hernias are operated on globally per year, with most interventions requiring mesh reinforcement. A wide range of such medical devices are currently available on the market, most fabricated from synthetic polymers. Yet, searching for an ideal mesh is an ongoing [...] Read more.

Over 20 million hernias are operated on globally per year, with most interventions requiring mesh reinforcement. A wide range of such medical devices are currently available on the market, most fabricated from synthetic polymers. Yet, searching for an ideal mesh is an ongoing process, with continuous efforts directed toward developing upgraded implants by modifying existing products or creating innovative systems from scratch. In this regard, this review presents the most frequently employed polymers for mesh fabrication, outlining the market available products and their relevant characteristics, further focusing on the state-of-the-art mesh approaches. Specifically, we mainly discuss recent studies concerning coating application, nanomaterials addition, stem cell seeding, and 3D printing of custom mesh designs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Application in Biomedical Fields)

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32 pages, 478 KiB

Open AccessReview

Biodegradable Polymer-Based Drug-Delivery Systems for Ocular Diseases

by Ta-Hsin Tsung, Yu-Chien Tsai, Hsin-Pei Lee, Yi-Hao Chen and Da-Wen Lu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(16), 12976; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241612976 - 19 Aug 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3837

Abstract

Ocular drug delivery is a challenging field due to the unique anatomical and physiological barriers of the eye. Biodegradable polymers have emerged as promising tools for efficient and controlled drug delivery in ocular diseases. This review provides an overview of biodegradable polymer-based drug-delivery [...] Read more.

Ocular drug delivery is a challenging field due to the unique anatomical and physiological barriers of the eye. Biodegradable polymers have emerged as promising tools for efficient and controlled drug delivery in ocular diseases. This review provides an overview of biodegradable polymer-based drug-delivery systems for ocular diseases with emphasis on the potential for biodegradable polymers to overcome the limitations of conventional methods, allowing for sustained drug release, improved bioavailability, and targeted therapy. Natural and synthetic polymers are both discussed, highlighting their biodegradability and biocompatibility. Various formulation strategies, such as nanoparticles, hydrogels, and microemulsions, among others, are investigated, detailing preparation methods, drug encapsulation, and clinical applications. The focus is on anterior and posterior segment drug delivery, covering glaucoma, corneal disorders, ocular inflammation, retinal diseases, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. Safety considerations, such as biocompatibility evaluations, in vivo toxicity studies, and clinical safety, are addressed. Future perspectives encompass advancements, regulatory considerations, and clinical translation challenges. In conclusion, biodegradable polymers offer potential for efficient and targeted ocular drug delivery, improving therapeutic outcomes while reducing side effects. Further research is needed to optimize formulation strategies and address regulatory requirements for successful clinical implementation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Application in Biomedical Fields)

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