Abstract
Pore-forming and hemolytic toxins are bacterial cytotoxic proteins required for virulence in many pathogens, including staphylococci and streptococci, and are notably associated with clinical manifestations of disease. Inspired by adsorption properties of naturally occurring aluminosilicates, we engineered inexpensive, laboratory-synthesized, aluminosilicate geopolymers with controllable pore and surface characteristics to remove pathogenic or cytotoxic material from the surrounding environment. In this study, macroporous and mesoporous geopolymers were produced with and without stearic acid surface modifications. Geopolymer binding efficacies were assessed by measuring adsorption of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) culture filtrate proteins, α-hemolysin and streptolysin-O toxins, MRSA whole cells, and antibiotics. Macroporous and mesoporous geopolymers were strong non-selective adsorbents for bacterial protein, protein toxins, and bacteria. Although some geopolymers adsorbed antibiotics, these synthesized geopolymers could potentially be used in non-selective adsorptive applications and optimized for adsorption of specific biomolecules.
Highlights
Antibiotic resistant bacterial infections, originating in both healthcare and community settings (Kallen et al, 2010; Mediavilla et al, 2012; Gross et al, 2014; Blair et al, 2015; Cornejo-Juarez et al, 2015; Martens and Demain, 2017), pose serious consequences for public health and burden the United States economy with up to $20 billion in healthcare costs each year (Golkar et al, 2014)
The powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) patterns of macroporous GP (macroGP) and mesoporous GP (mesoGP) showed similar broad, featureless humps centered around 27–30◦ in 2θ (Supplementary Figure 1), indicating that both are non-crystalline geopolymeric materials (Davidovits, 1991)
After modification with stearic acid (SA), the Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) patterns of SA-macroGP and SA-mesoGP were similar to their parent materials, indicating that geopolymer structure was not affected by the surface modification experiments (Supplementary Figure 1)
Summary
Antibiotic resistant bacterial infections, originating in both healthcare and community settings (Kallen et al, 2010; Mediavilla et al, 2012; Gross et al, 2014; Blair et al, 2015; Cornejo-Juarez et al, 2015; Martens and Demain, 2017), pose serious consequences for public health and burden the United States economy with up to $20 billion in healthcare costs each year (Golkar et al, 2014). Clinical use of new antibiotics will likely lead to eventual resistance. Exploring and developing alternative therapies that circumvent resistance pressures and can be used in clinical applications are critical. While bacteria infect most host tissues, skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), wound infections, invasive bloodstream infections, and urinary tract infections are frequent (Fischbach and Walsh, 2009; Woodford and Livermore, 2009). Bacteria that cause these infections possess many secreted virulence factors necessary for survival, evasion of the host immune system, and pathogenesis (Gonzalez et al, 2008). A common attribute among prominent bacterial pathogens (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli) that have developed multidrug resistance is the production of secreted pore-forming cytotoxins
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