Bioactivity of Natural Polymers against Clinical Pathogens

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance by microorganisms is a growing global concern in the medical field. Due to the rampant of medicines, bacterial strains are evolving with new resistance mechanisms the threaten the ability to treat common infectious diseases. The majority of human infections are caused due to the quorum sensing activity of the clinical pathogens, thereby, reducing the effects of antibiotics to combat the prevailing problem. In healthcare, the development of effective strategies to counter antibiotic resistance and microbial biofilm is an urgent priority. The use of specific or potent antimicrobial systems can help to combat, eradicate, or mitigate infections. The polymers are effectively and extensively used in this field due to their inherent properties. The aim of the present study was to analyze the antimicrobial and antibiofilm effects of four natural polymers (chitin, cellulose, chitosan and polyvinylpyrrolidone) against clinical pathogens. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the test polymers was elucidated. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that the natural polymers were effective against the clinical strains at varying concentrations. Furthermore, the results highlight the advantage of using natural polymers as a strategy to combat antibiotic resistance and antibiofilm activity in various medical and biotechnological applications.