In a present paper, we demonstrate novel approach to form ceramic coatings with incorporated ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) on low modulus TiZrNb alloy with enhanced biocompatibility and antibacterial parameters. Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) was used to integrate ZnO nanoparticles (average size 12–27 nm), mixed with Ca(H2PO2)2 aqueous solution into low modulus TiZrNb alloy surface. The TiZrNb alloys with integrated ZnO NPs successfully showed higher surface porosity and contact angle. XPS investigations showed presence of Ca ions and absence of phosphate ions in the PEO modified layer, what explains higher values of contact angle. Cell culture experiment (U2OS type) confirmed that the surface of as formed oxide-ZnO NPs demonstrated hydrophobic properties, what can affect primary cell attachment. Further investigations showed that Ca ions in the PEO coating stimulated proliferative activity of attached cells, resulting in competitive adhesion between cells and bacteria in clinical situation. Thus, high contact angle and integrated ZnO NPs prevent bacterial adhesion and considerably enhance the antibacterial property of TiZrNb alloys. A new anodic oxide coating with ZnO NPs could be successfully used for modification of low modulus alloys to decrease post-implantation complications.

Chitosan electrospun nanofibres were synthesised in two different trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)/dichloromethane (DCM) solvent ratios and then neutralised in aqueous and ethanol sodium-based solutions (NaOH and Na2CO3) to produce insoluble materials with enhanced biological properties for regenerative and tissue engineering applications. Structural, electronic, and optical properties and the swelling capacity of the prepared nanofibre membrane were studied by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and photoluminescence. Cell viability (with the U2OS cell line) and antibacterial properties (against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) assays were used to assess the biomedical potential of the neutralised chitosan nanofibrous membranes. A 7:3 TFA/DCM ratio allows for an elaborate nanofibrous membrane with a more uniform fibre size distribution. Neutralisation in aqueous NaOH only maintains a partial fibrous structure. At the same time, neutralisation in NaOH ethanol-water maintains the structure during 1 month of degradation in phosphate-buffered saline and distilled water. All membranes demonstrate high biocompatibility, but neutralisation in ethanol solutions affects cell proliferation on materials made with 9:1 TFA/DCM. The prepared nanofibrous mats could constrain the growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms, but 7:3 TFA/DCM membranes inhibited bacterial growth more efficiently. Based on structural, degradation, and biological properties, 7:3 TFA/DCM chitosan nanofibrous membranes neutralised by 70% ethanol/30% aqueous NaOH exhibit potential for biomedical and tissue engineering applications.

The present study demonstrates a strategy for preparing porous composite fibrous materials with superior biocompatibility and antibacterial performance. The findings reveal that the incorporation of PEG into the spinning solutions significantly influences the fiber diameters, morphology, and porous area fraction. The addition of a hydrophilic homopolymer, PEG, into the Ch/PLA spinning solution enhances the hydrophilicity of the resulting materials. The hybrid fibrous materials, comprising Ch modified with PLA and PEG as a co-solvent, along with post-treatment to improve water stability, exhibit a slower rate of degradation (stable, moderate weight loss over 16 weeks) and reduced hydrophobicity (lower contact angle, reaching 21.95 ± 2.17°), rendering them promising for biomedical applications. The antibacterial activity of the membranes is evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, with PEG-containing samples showing a twofold increase in bacterial reduction rate. In vitro cell culture studies demonstrated that PEG-containing materials promote uniform cell attachment, comparable to PEG-free nanofibers. The comprehensive evaluation of these novel materials, which exhibit improved physical, chemical, and biological properties, highlights their potential for biomedical applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Introduction. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics in humans, animals, and agriculture has led to the widespread rise of antibiotic resistance and strengthened nosocomial pathogenes' impact. Klebsiella pneumoniae became an increasing threat to public health. Nanomaterials are promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics in the fight against multi-resistant germs. Silver nanoparticles are well-known metallic nanoparticles with antimicrobial activity. Our research aimed to evaluate the spreading of K. pneumonia resistant to antibiotics at hospital and assess the effectiveness of Ag NPs against multi-resistant clinical strains of K. pneumoniae. Material and methods. K. pneumoniae strains were isolated and identified with the use of conventional bacteriological techniques. Susceptibility of the microorganisms was assessed to inhibitors of β-lactamases, carbapenems, macrolides, oxazolidinones, and other groups of antibiotics with use Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. The capability of AgNPs to inhibit attachment and multiplication of the K. pneumoniae multi-resistant strains was tested with the use of serial microdilution method, resazurin assay, and SEM. Results. K. pneumoniae was isolated from 13.7% of samples predominantly at the microbial association (97.5%). The microorganisms were resistant to five or more antibiotics in 73.2% of cases. AgNPs possess antimicrobial activity against tested strains at concentrations varied from 1.25 µg/ml to 2.5 µg/ml and kill all germs in 3 hours of incubation. AgNPs inhibited biofilm formation at initial stages and destroyed the mature (2 days) biofilm with Ag NPs treatment at concentrations 20-40 µg/ml. The effectiveness of mature K. pneumoniae biofilm treatment with AgNPs depended on biofilm age. The SEM images of the two-days biofilm reveal lysis of the bacterial cells after the cocultivation with Ag NPs but SEM analysis detected the maintaining of the three-dimensional structure in the case of a five-day biofilm after cocultivation with AgNPs. Conclusions. The distribution of K. pneumonia among patients with laryngeal pathology and its sensitivity to eleven antibiotics were examined. There was revealed the high rate of K. pneumonia multi-resistant strains. Ag NPs have strong antibacterial and anti-biofilm potential against multi-resistant K. pneumoniae. Therefore, our results highlight that the Ag NPs have promising antimicrobial and anti-biofilm abilities against multi-resistant clinical strains of K. pneumoniae.