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New Insights into the Antibacterial Effect of Nano- and Micro-Materials

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 April 2025 | Viewed by 1031

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
Interests: antimicrobial resistance; liquid metal; implant; nanomedicine; superhydrophobic
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The healthcare sector is confronting an escalating crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a phenomenon responsible for around 700,000 deaths globally each year. Forecasts suggest a grim escalation, with deaths potentially rising to 10 million annually by 2050, alongside a projected economic impact of USD 100 trillion. The transmission of resistant genes among bacteria—through direct human contact, across species, or via environmental channels—signals an urgent call for innovative medical solutions. The widespread employment of antimicrobials in healthcare settings is a key driver of AMR persistence, sparking a global scientific effort to counteract this trend. Over the last three decades, significant developments in technology and methodologies, especially within the nano- and micro-materials domain, have emerged in the fight against AMR.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the forefront of research and technological breakthroughs in nano- and micro-materials, with a specialized focus on their application within the medical sector to combat AMR.

We are seeking contributions that explore the following themes:

  • The design and application of antimicrobial nano-particles and nano-materials, demonstrating their transformative potential in combating pathogenic resistance.
  • The innovation of nano-scale delivery systems for antimicrobial agents, tailored to improve therapeutic outcomes and precision.
  • The development of nano-scale coatings and surface modifications that confer antimicrobial capabilities to medical devices and surfaces, aiming to curb the proliferation of resistant bacteria.
  • The advancement of rapid detection technologies for the quick and accurate identification of resistant pathogens within clinical settings.
  • The fabrication of biosensors designed to detect antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, providing essential tools for real-time monitoring and management in healthcare environments.
  • The investigation of naturally sourced antimicrobial compounds, including their nano- and micro-formulated versions, offering sustainable alternatives in the antimicrobial arsenal.
  • The study of antimicrobial peptides and polymers at the nano- and micro-level which could lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies against resistant bacteria.

Titled "New Insights into the Antibacterial Effect of Nano- and Micro-Materials", this Special Issue aims to gather a wide range of research that not only enhances our comprehension of AMR but also underscores the innovative capacity of nano- and micro-materials to address this critical medical challenge.

Prof. Dr. Krasimir Vasilev
Dr. Vi Khanh Truong
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • antibacterial coatings
  • biomaterials
  • medical devices
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • nanomedicine

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 5085 KiB  
Article
Pentadecanoic Acid-Releasing PDMS: Towards a New Material to Prevent S. epidermidis Biofilm Formation
by Caterina D'Angelo, Serena Faggiano, Paola Imbimbo, Elisabetta Viale, Angela Casillo, Stefano Bettati, Diana Olimpo, Maria Luisa Tutino, Daria Maria Monti, Maria Michela Corsaro, Luca Ronda and Ermenegilda Parrilli
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(19), 10727; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms251910727 - 5 Oct 2024
Viewed by 767
Abstract
Microbial biofilm formation on medical devices paves the way for device-associated infections. Staphylococcus epidermidis is one of the most common strains involved in such infections as it is able to colonize numerous devices, such as intravenous catheters, prosthetic joints, and heart valves. We [...] Read more.
Microbial biofilm formation on medical devices paves the way for device-associated infections. Staphylococcus epidermidis is one of the most common strains involved in such infections as it is able to colonize numerous devices, such as intravenous catheters, prosthetic joints, and heart valves. We previously reported the antibiofilm activity against S. epidermidis of pentadecanoic acid (PDA) deposited by drop-casting on the silicon-based polymer poly(dimethyl)siloxane (PDMS). This material exerted an antibiofilm activity by releasing PDA; however, a toxic effect on bacterial cells was observed, which could potentially favor the emergence of resistant strains. To develop a PDA-functionalized material for medical use and overcome the problem of toxicity, we produced PDA-doped PDMS by either spray-coating or PDA incorporation during PDMS polymerization. Furthermore, we created a strategy to assess the kinetics of PDA release using ADIFAB, a very sensitive free fatty acids fluorescent probe. Spray-coating resulted in the most promising strategy as the concentration of released PDA was in the range 0.8–1.5 μM over 21 days, ensuring long-term effectiveness of the antibiofilm molecule. Moreover, the new coated material resulted biocompatible when tested on immortalized human keratinocytes. Our results indicate that PDA spray-coated PDMS is a promising material for the production of medical devices endowed with antibiofilm activity. Full article
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