Antibacterial, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties of Biomaterials Derived from Peptides and Peptoids

A special issue of Journal of Functional Biomaterials (ISSN 2079-4983). This special issue belongs to the section "Antibacterial Biomaterials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 March 2024) | Viewed by 10534

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Iasi, Romania
Interests: peptides; proteins; enzymes; antimicrobial; antioxidant; biomaterials

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Guest Editor
Department of Technical and Natural Sciences, Faculty of Food Engineering, Tourism and Environmental Protection, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 310330 Arad, Romania
Interests: phytochemicals; health, analytical, and natural product chemistry; peptides and proteins; drug discovery; drug delivery systems; synthesis/green synthesis of biologically active molecules and nanoparticles
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Peptides and peptoids have drawn enormous interest due to their facile synthesis, biocompatibility, and versatility. Owing to the diversity of primary structures and their vast possibilities to form conjugates, these compounds are easily programmable and able to generate a plethora of tunable structures with an extended potential in biomedical applications. Amphiphilic, capped, and cyclic peptides, lipopeptides, aromatic peptides and peptoids display interesting features and are used in many applications. Besides their antibacterial effect on Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and multidrug-resistant bacteria, antibacterial peptides and peptoids are notorious for their anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory responses. Several antimicrobial compounds are distinguished by immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties. The primary structure, molecular weight, hydrophobicity and amphipathicity, composition, and location of certain moieties in peptides and peptoids can be critical for their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.

Peptides/peptoids alone; in combination with macromolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, and other polymers; or conjugated with nanoparticles and stimuli-responsive moieties can provide interesting functional hybrid materials with enhanced biocompatibility, biodegradability, and targeting capacity. These affordable biomaterials with antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antioxidant features can be employed in tissue engineering or culture; antibacterial coatings; wound healing; food and cosmetic preservation; in the textile industry; in drug delivery matrices and biosensors; and in therapy against cancer, bioimaging or gene therapy.

Dr. Robert Vasile Gradinaru
Prof. Dr. Dana Maria Copolovici
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • peptides
  • peptoids
  • antibacterial
  • antimicrobial
  • antioxidant
  • biomaterials

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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34 pages, 48276 KiB  
Article
New Perspective for Using Antimicrobial and Cell-Penetrating Peptides to Increase Efficacy of Antineoplastic 5-FU in Cancer Cells
by Nuno Vale, Eduarda Ribeiro, Inês Cruz, Valentina Stulberg, Beate Koksch and Bárbara Costa
J. Funct. Biomater. 2023, 14(12), 565; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb14120565 - 12 Dec 2023
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Abstract
This study explores the effectiveness of the antineoplastic agent 5-FU in cancer cells by leveraging the unique properties of cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) and cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs). Traditional anticancer therapies face substantial limitations, including unfavorable pharmacokinetic profiles and inadequate specificity for tumor sites. [...] Read more.
This study explores the effectiveness of the antineoplastic agent 5-FU in cancer cells by leveraging the unique properties of cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) and cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs). Traditional anticancer therapies face substantial limitations, including unfavorable pharmacokinetic profiles and inadequate specificity for tumor sites. These drawbacks often necessitate higher therapeutic agent doses, leading to severe toxicity in normal cells and adverse side effects. Peptides have emerged as promising carriers for targeted drug delivery, with their ability to selectively deliver therapeutics to cells expressing specific receptors. This enhances intracellular drug delivery, minimizes drug resistance, and reduces toxicity. In this research, we comprehensively evaluate the ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) properties of various AMPs and CPPs to gain insights into their potential as anticancer agents. The peptide synthesis involved a solid-phase synthesis using a Liberty Microwave Peptide Synthesizer. The peptide purity was confirmed via LC-MS and HPLC methods. For the ADMET screening, computational tools were employed, assessing parameters like absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity. The cell lines A549 and UM-UC-5 were cultured and treated with 5-FU, CAMPs, and CPPs. The cell viability was measured using the MTT assay. The physicochemical properties analysis revealed favorable drug-likeness attributes. The peptides exhibited potential inhibitory activity against CYP3A4. The ADMET predictions indicated variable absorption and distribution characteristics. Furthermore, we assessed the effectiveness of these peptides alone and in combination with 5-FU, a widely used antineoplastic agent, in two distinct cancer cell lines, UM-UC-5 and A549. Our findings indicate that CAMPs can significantly reduce the cell viability in A549 cells, while CPPs exhibit promising results in UM-UC-5 cells. Understanding these multifaceted effects could open new avenues for antiviral and anticancer research. Further, experimental validation is necessary to confirm the mechanism of action of these peptides, especially in combination with 5-FU. Full article
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24 pages, 15394 KiB  
Article
Metal–Peptide Complexes with Antimicrobial Potential for Cotton Fiber Protection
by Stela Georgieva, Petar Todorov, Desislava Staneva, Petar Grozdanov, Ivanka Nikolova and Ivo Grabchev
J. Funct. Biomater. 2023, 14(2), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb14020106 - 14 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1513
Abstract
A study of the formation of copper (II) complexes with hemorphin peptide motifs in alkalic water solutions is presented. The effect of the peptide ligand on the complexing properties of the Cu (II) ion was quantified by giving the stoichiometry and stability of [...] Read more.
A study of the formation of copper (II) complexes with hemorphin peptide motifs in alkalic water solutions is presented. The effect of the peptide ligand on the complexing properties of the Cu (II) ion was quantified by giving the stoichiometry and stability of the complex compounds in the medium in which they are formed using voltammetric (cyclic) and spectral (UV-Vis and fluorimetric) analytical techniques. The resulting complexes were examined via IR spectroscopy to detect M-N and M-O oscillations and using the EPR approach in solution and in the solid phase to view the coordination and ligand binding regime. The possibility of the synergistic action of copper ions in the antivirus protection processes of cotton fibers coated in the same solvent with the newly obtained complex compounds was also investigated. One of the advantages is the formation of the complexes in an environment where the immobilization takes place, which contributes to increasing the efficiency of the process. The obtained results may serve as an aid for future more detailed biological studies of structure–activity relationships (SARs). Full article
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Review

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22 pages, 3925 KiB  
Review
Shaping the Future of Antimicrobial Therapy: Harnessing the Power of Antimicrobial Peptides in Biomedical Applications
by Amit Kumar Tripathi, Jyotsana Singh, Rucha Trivedi and Payal Ranade
J. Funct. Biomater. 2023, 14(11), 539; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb14110539 - 2 Nov 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2668
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as a promising class of bioactive molecules with the potential to combat infections associated with medical implants and biomaterials. This review article aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the role of antimicrobial peptides in medical implants and [...] Read more.
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as a promising class of bioactive molecules with the potential to combat infections associated with medical implants and biomaterials. This review article aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the role of antimicrobial peptides in medical implants and biomaterials, along with their diverse clinical applications. The incorporation of AMPs into various medical implants and biomaterials has shown immense potential in mitigating biofilm formation and preventing implant-related infections. We review the latest advancements in biomedical sciences and discuss the AMPs that were immobilized successfully to enhance their efficacy and stability within the implant environment. We also highlight successful examples of AMP coatings for the treatment of surgical site infections (SSIs), contact lenses, dental applications, AMP-incorporated bone grafts, urinary tract infections (UTIs), medical implants, etc. Additionally, we discuss the potential challenges and prospects of AMPs in medical implants, such as effectiveness, instability and implant-related complications. We also discuss strategies that can be employed to overcome the limitations of AMP-coated biomaterials for prolonged longevity in clinical settings. Full article
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25 pages, 2882 KiB  
Review
Important Roles and Potential Uses of Natural and Synthetic Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) in Oral Diseases: Cavity, Periodontal Disease, and Thrush
by Albert Donald Luong, Alyah Buzid and John H. T. Luong
J. Funct. Biomater. 2022, 13(4), 175; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb13040175 - 3 Oct 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3892
Abstract
Numerous epithelial cells and sometimes leukocytes release AMPs as their first line of defense. AMPs encompass cationic histatins, defensins, and cathelicidin to encounter oral pathogens with minimal resistance. However, their concentrations are significantly below the effective levels and AMPs are unstable under physiological [...] Read more.
Numerous epithelial cells and sometimes leukocytes release AMPs as their first line of defense. AMPs encompass cationic histatins, defensins, and cathelicidin to encounter oral pathogens with minimal resistance. However, their concentrations are significantly below the effective levels and AMPs are unstable under physiological conditions due to proteolysis, acid hydrolysis, and salt effects. In parallel to a search for more effective AMPs from natural sources, considerable efforts have focused on synthetic stable and low-cytotoxicy AMPs with significant activities against microorganisms. Using natural AMP templates, various attempts have been used to synthesize sAMPs with different charges, hydrophobicity, chain length, amino acid sequence, and amphipathicity. Thus far, sAMPs have been designed to target Streptococcus mutans and other common oral pathogens. Apart from sAMPs with antifungal activities against Candida albicans, future endeavors should focus on sAMPs with capabilities to promote remineralization and antibacterial adhesion. Delivery systems using nanomaterials and biomolecules are promising to stabilize, reduce cytotoxicity, and improve the antimicrobial activities of AMPs against oral pathogens. Nanostructured AMPs will soon become a viable alternative to antibiotics due to their antimicrobial mechanisms, broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, low drug residue, and ease of synthesis and modification. Full article
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