Anti-Biofilm Coatings Based on Chitosan and Lysozyme Functionalized Magnetite Nanoparticles

Abstract

Biofilms represent a common and increasingly challenging problem in healthcare practices worldwide, producing persistent and difficult to manage infections. Researchers have started developing antibiotic-free treatment alternatives in order to decrease the risk of resistant microbial strain selection and for the efficient management of antibiotic tolerant biofilm infections. The present study reports the fabrication and characterization of magnetite-based nanostructured coatings for producing biofilm-resistant surfaces. Specifically, magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4) were functionalized with chitosan (CS) and were blended with lysozyme (LyZ) and were deposited using the matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) technique. A variety of characterization techniques were employed to investigate the physicochemical properties of both nanoparticles and nanocoatings. The biological characterization of the coatings assessed through cell viability and antimicrobial tests showed biocompatibility on osteoblasts as well as antiadhesive and antibiofilm activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains and no cytotoxic effect against human-cultured diploid cells.

Dextran-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Loaded with Curcumin for Antimicrobial Therapies

“…This process is attributed to the water molecules weakly bonded to the surface of the nanoparticles, which are the first to be eliminated. Subsequently, the temperature interval of 135–400 °C leads to the oxidation of magnetite to maghemite (Fe 2+ to Fe 3+ ), together with the degradation of the organic molecules and the elimination of strongly bonded –OH moieties from the nanoparticle surface [ 34 , 35 ]. The predominant effect is exothermic, which appears as a broad, combined effect, with the maximum at ~200 °C.…”

PEG-Functionalized Magnetite Nanoparticles for Modulation of Microbial Biofilms on Voice Prosthesis

“…The process can be attributed to the water elimination from the sample, as an endothermic effect accompanies it. The exothermic effect from 169.3 °C can be attributed to the transformation of magnetite to maghemite (oxidation of Fe 2+ to Fe 3+ ) [ 52 ]. The second mass loss process, between 200–420 °C, accounts for 1.95% and is the main process of degrading the organic part by oxidation.…”

Antimicrobial Resistance and Inorganic Nanoparticles

“…These applications include the use of NPs as antimicrobial components on advanced materials for medical devices as catheters walls, valves, stents, and a surface that could be found inside or outside the body or could be designed for in vivo therapies. The development of advanced materials includes the use of Fe 3 O 4 functionalized with chitosan and lysozyme to produce a coating for producing biofilm-resistance surfaces [ 123 ]. The NPs designed for in vitro applications include their use as a drug administration; in these applications, the NPs can load with different molecules as an essential oil, such as the ZnONPs have been loaded with Citronella essential oil [ 124 ] or Oxide-Silica Core-Shell with essential oil [ 125 ], both with antimicrobial activity.…”