Honey-inspired antimicrobial hydrogels resist bacterial colonization through twin synergistic mechanisms

Abstract

Inspired by the interesting natural antimicrobial properties of honey, biohybrid composite materials containing a low-fouling polymer hydrogel network and an encapsulated antimicrobial peroxide-producing enzyme have been developed. These synergistically combine both passive and active mechanisms for reducing microbial bacterial colonization. The mechanical properties of these materials were assessed using compressive mechanical analysis, which revealed these hydrogels possessed tunable mechanical properties with Young’s moduli ranging from 5 to 500 kPa. The long-term enzymatic activities of these materials were also assessed over a 1-month period using colorimetric assays. Finally, the passive low-fouling properties and active antimicrobial activity against a leading opportunistic pathogen, Staphylococcus epidermidis, were confirmed using bacterial cell counting and bacterial adhesion assays. This study resulted in non-adhesive substrate-permeable antimicrobial materials, which could reduce the viability of planktonic bacteria by greater than 7 logs. It is envisaged these new biohybrid materials will be important for reducing bacterial adherence in a range of industrial applications.

Addressing a future pandemic: how can non-biological complex drugs prepare us for antimicrobial resistance threats?

“…Finally, these drug-loaded nanomaterials resulted in an immediate (0 h) and sustained (24 h) 7-log reduction in biofilm viability upon photoirradiation, in contrast to daptomycin alone, which showed negligible efficacy against such biofilms. 155 Outside of delivering small molecule antibiotics, NBCDs and other drug delivery platforms can also be used to deliver biologics like enzymes, [156][157][158][159] creating antimicrobial compounds locally on demand. Meier et al prepared polymeric nanoreactors containing penicillin acylase and a porin (outer membrane protein F) to allow diffusion of small molecule substrates into the internal lumen.…”

“…Outside of delivering small molecule antibiotics, NBCDs and other drug delivery platforms can also be used to deliver biologics like enzymes, 156–159 creating antimicrobial compounds locally on demand. Meier et al prepared polymeric nanoreactors containing penicillin acylase and a porin (outer membrane protein F) to allow diffusion of small molecule substrates into the internal lumen.…”

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“…In contrast to natural polymers, synthetic polymers possess high modification ability, excellent mechanical properties, and good reproducibility. , Commonly employed synthetic polymers against implant infections include polyethylene glycol (PEG) and its derivatives, poly­(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly­(acrylic acid) (PAA), poly­(lactic- co -caprolactone) (PLC), poly­(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA), poly­( N -isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAAm), polylactic acid (PLA), etc. ,− …”

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“…Initially intended for industrial application, a hydrogel of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) was developed introducing a honey-inspired peroxide-producing enzyme: glucose oxidase. Not only does the enzyme have long-lasting activity into the gel network, but the antimicrobial activity against S. epidermidis of the loaded hydrogel increased considerably [ 66 ].…”