Abstract
Calcium alginate (CaALG) hydrogel beads and two sets of composite beads, formed from a combination of calcium alginate/propylene glycol alginate/human serum albumin (CaALG/PGA/HSA) and from calcium alginate with the quaternary ammonium salt, (3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl)-octadecyldimethylammonium chloride (QA), (CaALG/QA), were prepared. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was condensed with glutaraldehyde (GLA) to form a BSA/GLA hydrogel. The corresponding Ag+-containing gels of all of the above hydrogels were also formed, and slow leaching of the biocidal transition metal ion from the gels bestowed broad spectrum antimicrobial activity. In the absence of added Ag+, CaALG/QA was the only material to deliver marginal to moderate antibacterial and antifungal effects. The Ag+ impregnated hydrogel systems have the potential to maintain the antimicrobial properties of silver, minimising the risk of toxicity, and act as reservoirs to afford ongoing sterility.
Highlights
IntroductionThere is currently much interest in naturally occurring hydrogels of carbohydrate (e.g., alginate, chitosan) and protein (e.g., serum albumin) origin, as they tend to be non-toxic, biocompatible and biodegradable [1,2,3]
In a medicinal context, there is currently much interest in naturally occurring hydrogels of carbohydrate and protein origin, as they tend to be non-toxic, biocompatible and biodegradable [1,2,3]
We have shown that Ag+ -containing, functionalised alginates and Bovine serum albumin (BSA)/GLA hydrogels are readily prepared using cheap, readily available starting materials, and offer good growth inhibition across a broad range of microbial pathogens
Summary
There is currently much interest in naturally occurring hydrogels of carbohydrate (e.g., alginate, chitosan) and protein (e.g., serum albumin) origin, as they tend to be non-toxic, biocompatible and biodegradable [1,2,3]. The strong binding affinity of the Ag+ ion for protein thiol functionalities is known to be central to its non-specific, multimodal antimicrobial action and to the ultimate demise of the microorganism [11,12,13,14,15,16]. This disinfectant property, coupled with a relatively high toxicity threshold for mammalian cells (murine model LD50 values for AgCN, AgNO3 , and Ag2 O are 123, 129, and 2820 mg kg−1 , respectively), makes Ag+ a good candidate for incorporation into antimicrobial hydrogels [17,18]
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