Active Antibacterial Components Research Articles

A respiratory Streptococcus strain inhibits Acinetobacter baumannii from causing inflammatory damage through ferroptosis

BackgroundMicroecological equilibrium is essential for human health. Previous research has demonstrated that Streptococcus strain A, the main bacterial group in the respiratory tract, can suppress harmful microbes and protect the body. In this study, Streptococcus strain D19T was isolated from the oral and pharyngeal cavities of healthy children. Its antibacterial mechanism against Acinetobacter baumannii was examined, as well as its potential to prevent inflammatory damage to cells. We evaluated the effect of the fermentation conditions of D19T on inhibition of Acinetobacter baumannii growth; Isolation and purification of antibacterial active components of strain D19T and molecular mechanism of inhibition of Acinetobacter baumannii; Molecular mechanism of D19T antibacterial protein reversing cellular inflammatory injury induced by Acinetobacter baumannii.ResultsThe supernatant of fermentation broth of Streptococcus D19T was the active component against Acinetobacter baumannii, but the bacteria had no antibacterial activity. The supernatant of D19T fermentation broth was precipitated by (NH4)2SO4 solution, and the protein was the active antibacterial component. After gel filtration chromatography and anion gel filtration chromatography, the molecular weight of antibacterial protein was 53kD. D19T antibacterial protein can improve cell membrane permeability, limit extracellular soluble protein release, inhibit Acinetobacter baumannii biofilm formation, and prevent Acinetobacter baumannii adhesion. Acinetobacter baumannii induces inflammatory damage to respiratory cells via ferroptosis, and the D19T antibacterial protein can counteract this damage, protecting the respiratory tract.ConclusionStreptococcus strain D19T, as a potential probiotic, inhibits the growth of Acinetobacter baumannii and the inflammatory damage of respiratory cells, playing a protective role in human respiratory health.

Recombinant Keratin-Chitosan Cryogel Decorated with Gallic Acid-Reduced Silver Nanoparticles for Wound Healing.

Wound healing is a complex physiological process that can be roughly divided into four stages: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Conventional wound dressings often fail to meet the diverse needs of these healing stages due to their limited functionality. Cryogels, however, possess several attractive properties, such as large, interconnected pores, good mechanical strength, and ease of modification, making them suitable for developing advanced dressings with multiple functions. In this study, we developed a multifunctional cryogel dressing, with biocompatible polysaccharides as the main component, designed to provide a breathable, moist, and antibacterial microenvironment for chronic infected wounds, thereby promoting wound healing. Recombinant keratin 31 (RK31) was combined with chitosan (CS) to produce a CS/RK31 cryogel, referred to as CK. Gallic acid-reduced silver nanoparticles (GA/Ag NPs) were incorporated as the active antibacterial component to create the CS/K31@GA/Ag cryogel, known as CKGA. The cryogel was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a universal testing machine, and its biocompatibility was assessed in vitro. The dynamic hemostatic performance of the cryogel was evaluated with a rat tail amputation bleeding model. Additionally, the antibacterial effects of the cryogel against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were tested using agar diffusion assays and turbidimetry. The antioxidant capacity of the CKGA cryogel was also measured in vitro. Finally, the cryogel's ability to promote wound healing was tested in an SD rat model of infected wounds. Characterization results showed that the CKGA cryogel features an interpenetrating porous network structure and exhibits excellent mechanical properties, with a swelling rate of up to 1800%. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that the cryogel has good biocompatibility, effectively absorbs exudates, and rapidly stops bleeding. The addition of GA/Ag NPs provided significant antibacterial effects, achieving an inhibition rate of over 99.9% against both S. aureus and E. coli. Furthermore, CKGA cryogels demonstrated a strong scavenging capacity for ROS in a dose-dependent manner. Studies using the SD rat infected wound model showed that the cryogel effectively inhibited bacterial proliferation on wound surfaces, reduced local tissue inflammation, and promoted the healing of infected wounds. The multifunctional cryogel, with its rapid hemostatic, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, as well as its ability to promote cell proliferation, could be widely used as a wound dressing for the healing of bacterial infections.

Ag2O-Containing Biocidal Interpolyelectrolyte Complexes on Glass Surfaces-Adhesive Properties of the Coatings.

Biocidal coatings are of great interest to the healthcare system. In this work, the biocidal activity of coatings based on a complex biocide containing polymer and inorganic active antibacterial components was studied. Silver oxide was distributed in a matrix of a positively charged interpolyelectrolyte complex (IPEC) of polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDADMAC) and sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) using ultrasonic dispersion, forming nanoparticles with an average size of 5-6 nm. The formed nanoparticles in the matrix are not subject to agglomeration and changes in morphology during storage. It was found that the inclusion of silver oxide in a positively charged IPEC allows a more than 4-fold increase in the effectiveness of the complex biocide against E. coli K12 in comparison with the biocidal effect of PDADMAC and IPEC. Polycation, IPEC, and the IPEC/Ag2O ternary complex form coatings on the glass surface due to electrostatic adsorption. Adhesive and cohesive forces in the resulting coatings were studied with micron-scale coatings using dynamometry. It was found that the stability of the coating is determined primarily by adhesive interactions. At the macro level, it is not possible to reliably identify the role of IPEC formation in adhesion. On the other hand, use of the optical tweezers method makes it possible to analyze macromolecules at the submicron scale and to evaluate the multiple increase in adhesive forces when forming a coating from IPEC compared to coatings from PDADMAC. Thus, the application of ternary IPEC/Ag2O complexes makes it possible to obtain coatings with increased antibacterial action and improved adhesive characteristics.

Core–shell nanofibers as carrier systems for sustained delivery of tea tree oil

Tea tree ( Melaleuca alternifolia) oil is a plant-derived essential oil with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. In this study, tea tree oil, a volatile essential oil, was encapsulated into a polymeric matrix by emulsion electrospinning to prepare core–shell nanofibers and investigate composite nanofibrous membranes as potential delivery vehicles of the antimicrobial agent. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), which is a biodegradable polymer used as a medical material, was combined with tea tree oil for pharmaceutical and medical applications. Composite PVA nanofibers with a well-aligned core–shell structure containing tea tree oil were obtained via electrospinning from an emulsion comprising the oil and an aqueous PVA solution. Thermal treatment was used to make the PVA-based nanofibrous membranes stable in moist environments. The effects of drying and thermal treatment on the release behavior of tea tree oil from the composite membranes were thoroughly investigated. The antimicrobial effects of tea tree oil embedded in nanofibrous membranes were assessed against Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus aureus. Although the thermal treatment of the PVA nanofibers loaded with tea tree oil reduced the emission of volatile organic compounds, terpinen-4-ol, an active antibacterial component of the oil, was released continuously over 14 days. The composite membranes containing tea tree oil presented strong antibacterial effects against Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus aureus. Thus, these bioactive nanofibrous membranes show promise as potential carrier systems for tea tree oil, which represses microbial growth, and may be used for topical skin infection treatment.

Microbiological Studies on the Influence of Essential Oils from Several Origanum Species on Respiratory Pathogens.

Essential oils (EOs) with established and well-known activities against human pathogens might become new therapeutics in multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, including respiratory tract infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of EOs obtained from several samples of Origanum vulgare, O. syriacum, and O. majorana cultivated in Poland. EOs were analyzed by GC-MS and tested against four bacterial strains: Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Chemical analyses showed that the Eos were characterized by a high diversity in composition. Based on the chemical data, four chemotypes of Origanum EOs were confirmed. These were carvacrol, terpineol/sabinene hydrate, caryophyllene oxide, and thymol chemotypes. Thin-layer chromatography-bioautography confirmed the presence of biologically active antibacterial components in all tested EOs. The highest number of active spots were found among EOs with cis-sabinene hydrate as the major compound. On the other hand, the largest spots of inhibition were characteristic to EOs of the carvacrol chemotype. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were evaluated for the most active EOs: O. vulgare 'Hirtum', O. vulgare 'Margarita', O. vulgare 'Hot & Spicy', O. majorana, and O. syriacum (I) and (II); it was shown that both Haemophilus strains were the most sensitive with an MIC value of 0.15 mg/mL for all EOs. O. majorana EO was also the most active in the MIC assay and had the highest inhibitory rate in the anti-biofilm assay against all strains. The most characteristic components present in this EO were the trans-sabinene hydrate and terpinen-4-ol. The strain with the least sensitivity was the MRSA with an MIC of 0.6 mg/mL for all EOs except for O. majorana, where the MIC value reached 0.3 mg/mL. Scanning electron microscopy performed on the Haemophilus influenzae and Haemophilus parainfluenzae biofilms showed a visible decrease in the appearance of bacterial clusters under the influence of O. majorana EO.

Antibacterial activity of chitosan and zinc oxide impregnated in PVA-based membranes

The development of alternatives to conventional antibiotics against superbugs represents an important step to avoid the increasing resistance of bacteria observed in conventional treatments. Herein, it was evaluated the influence of different combinations of two active antibacterial components (chitosan and zinc oxide) and a host poly (vinyl alcohol - PVA) in membranes produced by the solvent casting technique. Those systems were evaluated in terms of the biofilm inactivation, kill-time assays and inhibition haloes against S. aureus (ATCC 25923) in membranes that must release reactive components while preserving their integrity and favoring the generation of reactive species to improve the antibacterial activity. The results suggest the potential of the combination of chitosan, zinc oxide and poly (vinyl alcohol) to inhibit the growth of S. aureus colonies since the PVA improved the dispersion of the components, whereas chitosan-ZnO chelate improves the mutual activity of the metal oxide and the natural polymer template.

Zein-Functionalized MCM-41 Silica Nanoparticles with Enzyme-Responsive for Controlled Release in Antibacterial Activity

This research provided a novel enzyme-responsive antimicrobial carrier aiming at overcoming the volatile loss of active antibacterial components, by employing mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MCM-41) as the matrix of encapsulation and Zein as the molecular gate. Since Zein could be consumed by bacteria, Zein-functionalized MCM-41 acted as an enzyme-responsive gate and improved the controlled-release capacity. The results showed that the amount of capsaicin released from Zein-functionalized MCM-41 without bacteria was quite low compared with the essential oils liberated with bacteria. This validated that the delivery of capsaicin was hampered by Zein and the existence of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) promoted the release of encapsulated cargo. The release rate of capsaicin in Zein-functionalized MCM-41 climbed with the growth velocity of bacteria. These functions were realized in the form of controlled diffusion of essential oils encapsulated in MCM-41 by electrostatic interaction, and Zein was performed by both covalent bonding interaction and electrostatic interaction. Zein-functionalized MCM-41 was 2.4 times more effective in killing E. coli and 1.2 times more effective in inhibiting S. aureus than an equal amount of free capsaicin, and possessed a long-lasting antibacterial activity. The responsive antimicrobial material might be used as a promising preservative in the food industry for antimicrobial activity enhancement.

Comparative antibacterial analysis of the anthraquinone compounds based on the AIM theory, molecular docking, and dynamics simulation analysis.

Hydroxyanthraquinones and anthraquinone glucoside derivatives are always considered as the active antibacterial components. Comparison of structure characteristics and antibacterial effect of these compounds was performed by applying quantum chemical calculations, atoms in molecules theory, molecular docking, and dynamics simulation procedure. Density functional theory calculation with B3LYP using 6-31G (d, p) basis set has been used to determine ground state molecular geometries. The molecular geometric stability, electrostatic potential, frontier orbital energies, and topological properties were analyzed at the active site. Once glucose ring is introduced into the hydroxyanthraquinone rings, almost all of the positive molecular potentials are distributed among the hydroxyl hydrogen atoms of the glucose rings. In addition, low electron density ρ (r) and positive Laplacian value of the O-H bond of the anthraquinone glucoside are the evidences of the highly polarized and covalently decreased bonding interactions. The anthraquinone glucoside compounds have generally higher intermolecular binding energies than the corresponding aglycones due to the strong interaction between the glucose rings and the surrounding amino acids. Molecular dynamics simulations further explored the stability and dynamic behavior of the anthraquinone compound and protein complexes through RMSD, RMSF, SASA, and Rg. The type of carboxyl, hydroxyl, and hydroxymethyl groups on phenyl ring and the substituent glucose rings is important to the interactions with the topoisomerase type II enzyme DNA gyrase B.

Antibacterial Activity of Jojoba Seed residue and Its Possible Active Compound

Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) (Link) C.K. is a shrub plant widely used in cosmetics, especially jojoba oil. The residue will remain when producing jojoba oil and become waste. This study aimed to determine the antibacterial activity of Jojoba seed residue (JSR) and its possible active antibacterial compounds. JSR was collected from Sudan and extracted by maceration with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and 70% ethanol. The antibacterial activity was determined with the microdilution method against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The 70% ethanol extract showed the value of MIC and MBC against E. coli, which was 7.8 mg/ml; meanwhile, against S. aureus was 3.9 mg/mL and 7.8 mg/mL, respectively. Fractionation of 70% ethanol extract using silica gel column chromatography with gradient elution produced ten fractions. Fraction 3 showed the MIC and MBC values in E. coli which were 3.1 mg/mL and 12 mg/ml, and in S. aureus, which were 3.1 mg/mL and 6.2 mg/mL. The fractionation continued to Fraction 3 using preparative thin layer chromatography to collect subfraction 3.2 at an Rf value of 0.76, actively based on contact autobiography against E. coli and S. aureus. Embelin was detected in Subfraction 3.2 using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS) and suggested as the active antibacterial component in JSR.

Characterization of bacteria isolates colonizing the throat of hospitalized patients at Sobi Specialist Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria and in vitro antimicrobial effects of Citrus aurantifolia and Alum on the isolates

Background: Antibiotic resistance in microorganisms implicated in nosocomial respiratory infections is a major reason for prolonged hospital stay and increased cost of therapeutic treatment of hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP). This study was designed to isolate bacterial pathogens colonizing the throat of hospitalized patients at the Sobi Specialist Hospital, Ilorin, and to evaluate antibacterial effects of extracts of Citrus aurantifolia peel and Alum against these bacterial isolates.
 Methodology: This was a cross sectional study of 100 randomly recruited hospitalized patients at the Sobi Specialist Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. Throat samples collected from consenting participants were cultured on selective agar media (MacConkey, Eosin-Methylene blue and Mannitol salt) for isolation of bacteria. Identification of isolates from culture plates was done by Gram reaction and conventional biochemical tests while confirmation of the isolates was done by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Antibiotic susceptibility test for each isolate to selected antibiotics (ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, cefuroxime, ceftazidime, gentamicin, nitrofuran, ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin) was done by the Kirby Buer disc diffusion method. Aqueous extract of Alum ([KAl(SO4).12H2O]) was done to produce concentrations of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50% (w/v) at pH 3.6 and tested on the bacterial isolates using agar diffusion method. Citrus aurantifolia peel was extracted using methanol and hexane solvents to produce extract concentrations of 500mg/ml, 250mg/ml and 150mg/ml, and tested on the isolates by agar diffusion, and by the broth dilution method to obtain minimum inhibitory (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of C. aurantifolia. 
 Results: A total of 14 bacterial isolates were recovered from throat samples of 100 hospitalized patients with Staphylococcus aureus (43%, n=6) being the most frequent while Escherichia coli (14.5%, n=2) was the least frequent. The isolates were generally resistant to penicillin, aminoglycoside and fluoroquinolone groups of antibiotics tested. The zone of inhibition for hexane and methanol extracts of C. aurantifolia and aqueous extract of alum on the bacterial isolates ranged from 11.5-19.2mm, 9.8-15.8mm, and 9.3-21.2mm respectively while those of selected antibiotics ranged from 7.0-25.0mm. The MICs of hexane and methanol extracts of C. aurantifolia against S. aureus were 10mg/ml and 25mg/ml, while the MBCs were 50 and 100mg/ml respectively.
 Conclusion: Findings from this study showed the presence of resistant pathogenic bacteria colonizing the throat of hospitalized patients receiving care at the Sobi Specialist Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. The crude extracts of C. aurantifolia and Alum in this study showed inhibitory effects (albeit at higher concentrations) on the bacterial isolates comparable to the standard antibiotics. We posit that based on the inhibition capacity, further studies to characterize, purify and isolate the active anti-bacterial components in the extracts should be considered for novelty.

A spectrum-effect based method for screening antibacterial constituents in Niuhuang Shangqing Pill using comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography

To investigate and screen the active antibacterial constituents of Niuhuang Shangqing Pill (NSP), the current study developed a two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2DLC) method combining microcalorimetry technique. 60% ethanol extracts from 10 batches of different commercial NSP samples were analyzed and their chemical fingerprint were developed by the comprehensive 2DLC system of Shimadzu Nexera X2. Anti-streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) constituents were determined by microcalorimetry. Thermal kinetic parameters of the SP thermogram affected by 60% ethanol extracts from 10 NSP samples were analyzed by principal component analysis. Spectrum-effect correlation between comprehensive 2DLC fingerprint and the antibacterial activity were analyzed by orthogonal partial least squares (OPLS) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). Findings showed that peak X1 (unknown), X9 (aloe-emodin), X10 (baicalein), X11 (unknown), X14 (wogonin), X15 (glycyrrhizic acid) and X17 (unknown) are the relevant components that are in positive correlation with inhibitory rate. Regarding inhibitory rate, X17 is the most powerful one, followed by X14, X15, X10, X11, X1 and X9, suggesting that compound X17, wogonin, glycyrrhizic acid and baicalein are the major active antibacterial components of NSP. The current method employing 2DLC with microcalorimetry technique proposes a new insight for screening and identifying antibacterial components in complex herbal formula.

Antibacterial activity of cuminaldehyde on food-borne pathogens, the bioactive component of essential oil from Cuminum cyminum L. collected in Thailand.

Background Cuminum cyminum L., commonly known as cumin, has been traditionally used in Thai traditional medicine and traditional food flavoring. The present study investigated the chemical composition, antimicrobial activity against all tested major food-borne pathogenic bacteria, and bioactive components of essential oil extracted from C. cyminum L. collected in Thailand. Methods The main components of the essential oil were investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. Antibacterial activities against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella Typhi were investigated by disk diffusion and microdilution method. The presence of the biologically active antibacterial components was also confirmed by the thin-layer chromatography (TLC)-bioautography. Results The main components of the essential oil investigated by GC-MS were cuminaldehyde (27.10%), beta-pinene (25.04%) and gamma-terpinene (15.68%). The essential oil exhibited antibacterial activity against B. cereus, S. aureus, E. coli and S. Typhi. The essential oil showed the strongest antimicrobial activity against B. cereus with a comparable inhibition zone to tetracycline. TLC confirmed the presence of biologically active antibacterial component in the essential oil against all tested food-borne bacteria. It is further demonstrated that cuminaldehyde was the most active compound in TLC-bioautography which inhibited all of tested bacteria. Conclusions Essential oil extracted from C. cyminum L. exhibited antibacterial activity against all tested major food-borne pathogenic bacteria. Cuminaldehyde is a major bioactive component. Our results suggest that the essential oil extracted from C. cyminum L. could be applied as an alternative natural preservative to control food-borne disease and have the potential for further development of new antibacterial agents.

Оптимизация процессов получения экстрактов фитобиотических фармсубстанций ягодного сырья

The research features new processing methods of extraction of active antibacterial components from Siberian berries. The paper describes the content of biologically active agents and antibacterial dynamics in blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) and common sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) extracts. The study involved an analysis of the bactericidal biologically active agents in the extracts. The experiment revealed the main effect and synergism of the principal components, i.e. flavonoids, tannins, and vitamin C. It also established the leading role of the phenolic substances (flavonoids, tannins, phenolic acids, and glycosides) in the antibacterial influence on cultures of some kinds of pathogenic, potentially pathogenic, and unwanted microflora. The authors revealed some regularities of useful substances extraction in the conditions of ultrasonic processing. The optical density indicator of extracts during extraction helped to establish the optimum parameters of the process: mash ratio – 1:15; ultrasonic exposure frequency – 22 kHz. The experiment determined the mass fraction of extractive substances and active components, as well as the values of extraction coefficients of the berry raw material. Tannins and vitamin C were more extractable than flavonoids. The research also touched upon the impact of ultrasonic processing on the acceleration of extraction. When processing water-alcohol solutions of the raw material by ultrasonic irradiation with an intensity of 2 W/cm2 and a frequency of 22 kHz, the extraction duration fell from 300 to 15–20 minutes before the comparable values of balance concentrations of extractives were reached, in comparison with the control samples.

Plants of the Cerrado with antimicrobial effects against Staphylococcus spp. and Escherichia coli from cattle

BackgroundBoth diarrhea in calves and mastitis in cows limit cattle production. The bacteria involved in these diseases have shown multi-resistance to antimicrobials, however plant metabolites therefore can provide an alternative method of control. This study selected and characterized Cerrado plant extracts showing inhibitory effects against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus spp. from cattle. Thirteen leaf extracts were initially screened and diameters of inhibition zones produced against the pathogens were recorded using an agar disk diffusion method. Total condensed tannin contents were determined and antibacterial activities were analyzed after tannin removal from the five selected extracts. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were evaluated by macro-dilution antimicrobial susceptibility tests, and the extracts were characterized by high performance liquid chromatography.ResultsInter- and intra-specific bacterial variations in the susceptibility to the extracts were detected. The aqueous extract (AE) from Caryocar brasiliense Cambess. leaves produced larger inhibition zones against E. coli strains than did other selected extracts. However, the AE from Schinopsis brasiliensis was the most effective against Staphylococcus spp. strains (P < 0.001). The MIC of ethanolic extracts (EE) from C. brasiliense (0.27 mg/mL) and S. brasiliensis (0.17 mg/mL) were lower than those of other extracts. The MIC and MBC of the Annona crassiflora EE were 6.24 mg/mL for all bacteria. Flavonoids were the main metabolites detected in the A. crassiflora EE as well as in the AE and EE from C. brasiliense, while tannins were the main metabolites in the S. brasiliensis leaf extracts.ConclusionThe AE from C. brasiliense was more effective against Gram-negative bacteria, while the AE from S. brasiliensis was more effective against Gram-positive bacteria. A. crassiflora EE and S. brasiliensis extracts are potent bactericide. After removal of the tannins, no antimicrobial effects were observed, indicating that these metabolites are the main active antibacterial components.

Capsaicin-Inspired Thiol-Ene Terpolymer Networks Designed for Antibiofouling Coatings.

Novel photocurable ternary polymer networks were prepared by incorporating N-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)-acrylamide (HMBA) into a cross-linked thiol-ene network based on poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate (PEGDA) and (mercaptopropyl)methylsiloxane homopolymers (MSHP). The ternary network materials displayed bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and reduced the attachment of marine organism Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Extensive soaking of the polymer networks in aqueous solution indicated that no active antibacterial component leached out of the materials, and thus the ternary thiol-ene coating killed the bacteria by surface contact. The surface structures of the polymer networks with varied content ratios were studied by sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that the PDMS Si-CH3 groups and mimic-capsaicine groups are predominantly present at the polymer-air interface of the coatings. Surface reorganization was apparent after polymers were placed in contact with D2O: the hydrophobic PDMS Si-CH3 groups left the surface and returned to the bulk of the polymer networks, and the hydrophilic PEG chains cover the polymer surfaces in D2O. The capasaicine methoxy groups are able to segregate to the surface in an aqueous environment, depending upon the ratio of HMBA/PEGDA. SFG measurements in situ showed that the antibacterial HMBA chains, rather than the nonfouling PEG, played a dominant role in mediating the antibiofouling performance in this particular polymer system.

Functionalization of Polydopamine via the Aza-Michael Reaction for Antimicrobial Interfaces.

Polydopamine (pDA) coatings afford tremendous versatility due to their capabilities to provide substrate-independent functionalization with a wide range of amine- and thiol-containing molecules. In this work, we developed a new and facile conjugation approach to the formation of β-amino carbonyl linkages between pDA and acrylate/acrylamide molecules via the aza-Michael reaction. Sulfobetaine acrylamide (SBAA), sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA), and poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGMA) were employed to graft onto pDA films, giving rise to formation of antifouling coatings. Because of the universal adhesive property of pDA, the coating strategy was applied to different substrates, including TiO2, gold, SiO2, Nitinol alloy, polystyrene, and poly(dimethylsiloxane). The variation of surface chemistry and surface wettability upon pDA modification and subsequent conjugation was monitored with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and water contact angle measurements. Antifouling properties of coatings were challenged by three common Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Cytocompatibility of the coatings with NIH-3T3 fibroblasts was accessed using MTT assay. The results showed that pDA coatings grafted with SBAA exhibited superhydrophilicity and excellent fouling resistance likely due to the high chemical reactivity of acrylamide, leading to high grafting density. In addition, dual functional coatings containing passive and active antibacterial components were constructed through the in situ deposition of antimicrobial agent, silver nanoparticles, in pDA, followed by the grafting of SBAA for bacterial repellence. The composite coatings allowed reducing adsorption of E.coli by >95%, while killing attached bacteria by up to 98% upon the releasing of Ag(+) ions as measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Consequently, this work paves a new avenue to the grafting strategy to engineer pDA and to the functional bioinspired antifouling interfaces in a substrate-independent fashion.

Antibacterial performance of polypropylene nonwoven fabric wound dressing surfaces containing passive and active components

A growing number of wound dressing-related nosocomial infections necessitate the development of novel antibacterial strategies. Herein, polypropylene non-woven fabric (PPNWF) was facilely modified with passive and active antibacterial components, namely photografting polymerization both N-Vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) monomers, and the introduction of guanidine polymer through the reaction between active amino groups and epoxy groups. The modified samples were confirmed by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. Water contact angle measurement, antibacterial test, platelet and red blood cell adhesion were used to evaluate the hydrophilicity, antibacterial properties and hemocompatibility of the samples. It was found that the antibacterial properties were obviously enhanced, meanwhile significantly suppressing platelet and red blood cell adhesion after the above modification. This PPNWF samples that possess antifouling and antimicrobial properties, have great potential in wound dressing applications.

Antimicrobial activities of oregano and nutmeg essential oils combined with emulsifier/stabilizer compound in ready-to-cook barbecued chicken

Summary The effects of essential oils (EOs) of oregano and nutmeg with and without commercial emulsifier/stabilizer compound (E/S) on the microbial quality of ready-to-cook barbecued chicken were evaluated. Barbecued chicken was traditionally prepared. 3 µL/g and 10 mg/g of EOs and/or E/S were then added to the barbecued chicken, respectively. The samples were stored at 3°C for 144 h, 8 and 20oC for 72 h, accordingly, prior to being subjected to enumeration of aerobic mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria at different storage times. No inhibitory effects were detected in the presence of nutmeg EO together with and/or without E/S on the psychrotrophic and aerobic mesophilic counts (AMC) in barbecued chicken. Whereas, AMC and psychrotrophic counts in the samples treated with oregano EO, stored at 8 and 20°C were not dramatically changed. Even though, in the case of treatment with oregano EO and E/S, stored at 3, 8 and 20°C AMC and psychrotrophic counts were significantly affected. Oregano EO was an active antibacterial component, used in combination with commercial E/S, compared to its single use. It can be suggested that using E/S and EO in combination is more likely able to emulsify antimicrobial EO substances and thus increase the efficacy of such substances.

Inhibition of biofilms by glucose oxidase, lactoperoxidase and guaiacol: the active antibacterial component in an enzyme alginogel

The association of biofilms with wound chronicity has prompted a search for antimicrobial interventions that are effective against biofilms. A patented preparation of glucose oxidase, lactoperoxidase and guaiacol (GLG), which is the antibacterial component of Flaminal, has been shown to inhibit a wide range of bacteria, but it has not yet been tested on biofilms. This study aims to determine the effect of GLG on biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Static biofilms were grown in microtitre plates and on coverslips and treated with a range of concentrations of GLG. Effects were monitored by estimating biofilm biomass by staining with crystal violet, biofilm activity by staining with either resazurin or fluorescein diacetate and biofilm viability by staining with LIVE/DEAD BacLight Bacterial Viability Kit. GLG was able to prevent the formation of biofilms at concentration ≤0.5% (w/v) and higher concentrations were required to inhibit established biofilms. GLG did not disrupt biofilm biomass. Staphylococci were more susceptible to GLG than P. aeruginosa. These in vitro findings must be verified by in vivo studies.

Polyacrylonitrile nanofibers coated with silver nanoparticles using a modified coaxial electrospinning process

BackgroundThe objective of this investigation was to develop a new class of antibacterial material in the form of nanofibers coated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using a modified coaxial electrospinning approach. Through manipulation of the distribution on the surface of nanofibers, the antibacterial effect of Ag can be improved substantially.MethodsUsing polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as the filament-forming polymer matrix, an electrospinnable PAN solution was prepared as the core fluid. A silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution was exploited as sheath fluid to carry out the modified coaxial electrospinning process under varied sheath-to-core flow rate ratios.ResultsScanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that the sheath AgNO3 solution can take a role in reducing the nanofibers’ diameters significantly, a sheath-to-core flow rate ratio of 0.1 and 0.2 resulting in PAN nanofibers with diameters of 380 ± 110 nm and 230 ± 70 nm respectively. AgNPs are well distributed on the surface of PAN nanofibers. The antibacterial experiments demonstrated that these nanofibers show strong antimicrobial activities against Bacillus subtilis Wb800, and Escherichia coli dh5α.ConclusionCoaxial electrospinning with AgNO3 solution as sheath fluid not only facilitates the electrospinning process, providing nanofibers with reduced diameters, but also allows functionalization of the nanofibers through coating with functional ingredients, effectively ensuring that the active antibacterial component is on the surface of the material, which leads to enhanced activity. We report an example of the systematic design, preparation, and application of a novel type of antibacterial material coated with AgNPs via a modified coaxial electrospinning methodology.