Abstract
Resistance of pathogens towards commonly used drugs endangers the survival of mankind. Nosocomial infections, increasing treatment duration and costs are already recorded throughout the world. New classes of antimicrobial agents based on natural plant extracts offer valuable solutions due to their naturally evolved synergistic mechanisms in the fight against microorganisms . Aloe Vera Barbadensis Miller (AV) is used since centuries against ailments due to its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory properties. Iodine is well known and used traditionally as antimicrobial agent, although it has the side effects of skin discoloration and irritation. Another drawback of iodine is the uncontrolled and fast iodine release resulting in short activity. We combined AV gel extract with iodine through a cost-effective and easy one-pot synthesis with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as encapsulating and stabilizing agent. Smart triiodides with halogen bonding were formed within the PVP matrix by adding iodine (I2) and sodium iodide (NaI) to the AV-PVP hybrid. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) verified the composition of our compounds. The antimicrobial testing by disc diffusion method against 10 reference microbial strains showed excellent to intermediate antimicrobial activity. The triiodide moieties within AV-PVP induced controlled release of iodine and resulted in enhanced microbial inhibition enabling the use as wound care product and skin disinfectants.
Highlights
Antibiotic resistance is a danger for the existence of mankind
The samples were analyzed by SEM/EDS, x-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR)
The UV-vis spectra affirm the composition of our biocomplex compounds by the presence of all absorption signals related to Aloe Vera Barbadensis Miller (AV), PVP and iodine
Summary
Infections caused by multi-drug-resistant microorganisms lead to increasing mortality, morbidity, longterm treatment and economic burden in the United States, European Union and worldwide. Resistance has emerged through the uncontrolled use of available antibiotics worldwide and missing efforts to replace them with new generations of drugs. Delays in the healing process rates, prolonged treatment durations, rising morbidity, mortality and economic burden on the health care system are markers of the urgent need for new antimicrobial agents. The contamination of health care and public settings with microorganisms cause secondary infections and severe complications can be tackled by the use of antimicrobial agents. Polyiodides in Aloe Vera-biosynthesized composites may have the potential for developing new generation antibiotics and antimicrobials. These materials may disable microbial defense mechanisms, which usually lead to resistance. Preliminary results show increase of the antimicrobial properties of the resulting AV-AgNp-PVP-I2 biocomposites
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