Recent Progress and Trends in the Development of Electrospun and 3D Printed Polymeric-Based Materials to Overcome Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) developed by microorganisms is considered one of the most critical public health issues worldwide. This problem is affecting the lives of millions of people and needs to be addressed promptly. Mainly, antibiotics are the substances that contribute to AMR in various strains of bacteria and other microorganisms, leading to infectious diseases that cannot be effectively treated. To avoid the use of antibiotics and similar drugs, several approaches have gained attention in the fields of materials science and engineering as well as pharmaceutics over the past five years. Our focus lies on the design and manufacture of polymeric-based materials capable of incorporating antimicrobial agents excluding the aforementioned substances. In this sense, two of the emerging techniques for materials fabrication, namely, electrospinning and 3D printing, have gained significant attraction. In this article, we provide a summary of the most important findings that contribute to the development of antimicrobial systems using these technologies to incorporate various types of nanomaterials, organic molecules, or natural compounds with the required property. Furthermore, we discuss and consider the challenges that lie ahead in this research field for the coming years.

Recent Progress in Stimuli-Responsive Antimicrobial Electrospun Nanofibers

“…Furthermore, there is also a tendency for the development of wearable, intelligent, responsive, multifunctional, and antimicrobial materials, capable of monitoring human health [49,[169][170][171][172]. Moreover, the combined use of electrospinning and 3D printing is expected to increase in the next years, enabling the construction of responsive, intelligent, multifunctional, and antimicrobial nanostructured materials with more complex, personalized, and customized designs [99][100][101]173,174].…”

An Overview of Stimuli-Responsive Intelligent Antibacterial Nanomaterials

“…Similarly, gold nanorods decorated with phospholipid-polyethylene glycol and loaded into poloxamer 407 hydrogel (DSPE-AuNR) exhibited photothermal-induced antibacterial activity against both Pseudomonas aeruginosa planktonic and biofilm cultures [ 92 ]. Overcoming antimicrobial resistance using electrospinning and 3D printing of polymeric-based nanomaterials is also a current research hotspot [ 93 ].…”

Light-Activated Antibacterial Ethylcellulose Electrospun Nanofibrous Mats Containing Fluorinated Zn(II) Porphyrin

“…Consequently, the primary focus of current research endeavors revolves around the exploration and development of novel substances, compounds, and materials that can serve as alternatives to drugs that engender resistance, such as antibiotics. 4 Aiming to fight against the AMR, photodynamic inactivation (PDI) of microorganisms has gained attention as a powerful and innovative approach to combat various microbial threats, including resistant bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This alternative therapy relies on the combination of a photosensitizer (PS), which, in the presence of molecular oxygen and after being irradiated with light, produces reactive oxygen species (ROS).…”

“…23 Due to the balance of the different forces in the polymeric drop, a thin jet is formed and ejected, allowing the collection of the fibrous materials in a ground collector by the evaporation of the solvents in the pathway. 4 The versatility of this technology is manifested in the wide variety of configurations that can be used for fiber mats production. Among others, the use of multiple-fluid (e.g., coaxial or triaxial) electrospinning, dual spinneret, coelectrospinning, Janus structures, or several combinations allows the production of really advanced macromolecular structures.…”

“…These collective initiatives, coupled with collaborative programs involving other organizations, aim to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Consequently, the primary focus of current research endeavors revolves around the exploration and development of novel substances, compounds, and materials that can serve as alternatives to drugs that engender resistance, such as antibiotics …”