Drug-Free Cyclodextrin-Based Nanosponges for Antimicrobial Activity

Abstract

Conventional and novel drug delivery systems encompass therapeutic effects for treatment and management of various conditions like cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease but mostly show side or adverse effects. To overcome such undesirable effects, new approaches like functionalized polymers, biocarriers, drug-free particles, and metallic nanocomposite display potential applications in healthcare. Presently, nanosponges emerge as a promising carrier in various fields like agriculture, textile, fire engineering, drug delivery, and sterilization. β-Cyclodextrin cross-linked nanosponges are porous, biocompatible, biomimetic, and therapeutic carrier for enhancing solubility, bioavailability, and stability and offering desirable pharmacokinetic profiles. Among these diversified applications of nanosponges, still, there is a lack of research interest on Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms. Such drug-free nanosponges will act as an alternative to avoid or reduce toxic effects and resistance to therapeutics. So, the objective of the present study was to investigate the antimicrobial action of β-cyclodextrin-based nanosponges prepared by polymer condensation and interfacial phenomenon methods on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Candida albicans, and Clostridia perfringens. β-Cyclodextrin cross-linked nanosponges showed spherical structure with a particle size range of 100–600 nm with 0.1–0.5 of polydispersity index (PdI). The antimicrobial studies indicated that the formulations were effective against various microorganisms like E. coli > P. aeruginosa > S. aureus > S. typhi > C. albicans > Clostridia. Thus, carbonyldiimidazole cross-linked β-cyclodextrin-based nanosponges showed antimicrobial activity and will emerge as an antimicrobial agent in the form of drug-free therapy against various microbes in the near future.