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Antibiotics
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Antimicrobial Action of Biomaterials
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Antimicrobial Action of Biomaterials

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Novel Antimicrobial Agents".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 July 2020) | Viewed by 45378

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Helena P. Felgueiras

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for Textile Science and Technology, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: antimicrobial agents; regenerative cues; drug delivery; biomaterials; wound healing; medical textiles; polymer processing; nano- and microfiber scaffolding systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colelagues,

The introduction of biomaterials as implantable devices has resulted in significant improvements in the patients’ quality of life. However, long-term use of biomaterials has been threatened by the adhesion and proliferation of microorganisms, which can interact and form biofilms. Formation of biofilms causes local infections and even implant failure, resulting, in some cases, in patient’s death. Many alternatives have been proposed over the years to prevent such events, including the use of antiseptics and antibiotics or the physical modification of the biomaterial surface, with the incorporation of biomolecules of interest. From specialized polymers and functional groups to silver, and more recently, antimicrobial peptides and essential oils (to name a few), different functionalization techniques and bulk biomaterials have been employed in this fight against microorganisms. With the increasing-resistance of pathogens, the search for more effective strategies has been the focus of biomaterials specialists.

This Special Issue seeks manuscript submissions that further our understanding about the antimicrobial action of specialized biomaterials, the alterations that can be made to the biomaterials’ surface and to which extent infection control can be attained. Submissions on the response of microorganisms to these implantable devices and new alternatives to reduce infection transmission and biofilm formation are especially encouraged.

Dr. Helena Felgueiras
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Antibiotics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Biomaterials (processing and modification)
  • Surface functionalization
  • Biomedical devices (implantation)
  • Antimicrobial agents
  • Biomolecules
  • Antimicrobial activity
  • Biofilm prevention and infection control

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1755 KiB  
Article
Selective Eradication of Staphylococcus aureus by the Designer Genetically Programmed Yeast Biocontrol Agent
by Sofiya O. Pipiya, Yuliana A. Mokrushina, Alexander G. Gabibov, Ivan V. Smirnov and Stanislav S. Terekhov
Antibiotics 2020, 9(9), 527; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9090527 - 19 Aug 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3181
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a common human pathogen that is particularly often associated with antibiotic resistance. The eradication of this ubiquitous infectious agent from its ecological niches and contaminated surfaces is especially complicated by excessive biofilm formation and persisting cells, which evade the antibacterial [...] Read more.
Staphylococcus aureus is a common human pathogen that is particularly often associated with antibiotic resistance. The eradication of this ubiquitous infectious agent from its ecological niches and contaminated surfaces is especially complicated by excessive biofilm formation and persisting cells, which evade the antibacterial activity of conventional antibiotics. Here, we present an alternative view of the problem of specific S. aureus eradication. The constitutive heterologous production of highly specific bacteriolytic protease lysostaphin in yeast Pichia pastoris provides an efficient biocontrol agent, specifically killing S. aureus in coculture. A yeast-based anti-S. aureus probiotic was efficient in a high range of temperatures and target-to-effector ratios, indicating its robustness and versatility in eliminating S. aureus cells. The efficient eradication of S. aureus by live lysostaphin-producing P. pastoris was achieved at high scales, providing a simple, biocompatible and cost-effective strategy for S. aureus lysis in bioproduction and surface decontamination. Future biomedical applications based on designer yeast biocontrol agents require evaluation in in vivo models. However, we believe that this strategy is very promising since it provides highly safe, efficient and selective genetically programmed probiotics and targeted biocontrol agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Action of Biomaterials)
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19 pages, 1077 KiB  
Article
Olive Leaf Extract Modulates Quorum Sensing Genes and Biofilm Formation in Multi-Drug Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa
by Nazly R. El-sayed, Reham Samir, Lina Jamil M. Abdel-Hafez and Mohammed A. Ramadan
Antibiotics 2020, 9(9), 526; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9090526 - 19 Aug 2020
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 7490
Abstract
Biofilm acts as a complex barrier against antibiotics. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory activities of Olea europaea (olive) leaves Camellia sinensis (green tea), Styrax benzoin, Ocimum basilicum, Humulus lupulus, Ruta graveolens, and Propolis extracts on the biofilm [...] Read more.
Biofilm acts as a complex barrier against antibiotics. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory activities of Olea europaea (olive) leaves Camellia sinensis (green tea), Styrax benzoin, Ocimum basilicum, Humulus lupulus, Ruta graveolens, and Propolis extracts on the biofilm formation, pyocyanin production, and twitching motility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. Moreover, we investigated the effect of olive leaf extract on the transcription of some biofilm related genes. A total of 204 isolates of Pseudomonas were collected from different Egyptian hospitals. A susceptibility test, carried out using the disc diffusion method, revealed that 49% of the isolates were multidrug-resistant. More than 90% of the isolates were biofilm-forming, of which 26% were strong biofilm producers. At subinhibitory concentrations, green tea and olive leaf extracts had the highest biofilm inhibitory effects with 84.8% and 82.2%, respectively. The expression levels of lasI, lasR, rhlI, and rhlR treated with these extracts were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) by around 97–99% compared to untreated isolates. This study suggests the ability of olive leaf extract to reduce the biofilm formation and virulence factor production of P. aeruginosa through the down regulation of quorum sensing (QS) genes. This may help in reducing our dependence on antibiotics and to handle biofilm-related infections of opportunistic pathogens more efficiently. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Action of Biomaterials)
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13 pages, 2254 KiB  
Article
Antiviral Action of Native and Methylated Lactoferrin and β-Lactoglobulin against Potato Virus Y (PVY) Infected into Potato Plants Grown in an Open Field
by Mahmoud Sitohy, Soad Taha, Ali Osman, Mahmoud Abdel-Hamid, Ali Hamed and Ashraf Abdelbacki
Antibiotics 2020, 9(7), 430; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9070430 - 21 Jul 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3194
Abstract
Potato plants are liable to PVY infection without efficient control. Therefore, they were cultivated under greenhouse and open field conditions, artificially infected with PVY and then treated after 15 days of infection with native lactoferrin (LF) and native β-lactoglobulin (BL) and their esterified [...] Read more.
Potato plants are liable to PVY infection without efficient control. Therefore, they were cultivated under greenhouse and open field conditions, artificially infected with PVY and then treated after 15 days of infection with native lactoferrin (LF) and native β-lactoglobulin (BL) and their esterified forms, MLF (methylated lactoferrin) and BLM (methylated β-lactoglobulin) to test the efficiency of this approach. Viral replication was inhibited by the applied substances, particularly the methylated forms, in a concentration-dependent manner, where the concentration of 500 μg·mL−1 was sufficient for plant protection against the PVY infection. An open field experiment showed that one single application of the antiviral substance was enough for maximum inhibitory action against PVY. The modified milk proteins induced higher inhibitory action on PVY virus replication in the plants, compared to their native forms, which was reflected by potato growth and yield. Using the dot blot hybridization and RT-PCR techniques to detect PVY in the experimental plants showed the supremacy of native and esterified LF in inhibiting the targeted virus. The generally observed scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) structural deformations and irregular appearance in PVY particles when treated with MLF and BLM revealed their direct action. BLM, MLF and LF are efficient antiviral agents against PVY. They can not only abolish the observed PVY-induced reduction in potato growth and tuber yield, but also further increase them to higher levels than negative control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Action of Biomaterials)
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10 pages, 1102 KiB  
Article
Impact of Case Definitions on Efficacy Estimation in Clinical Trials—A Proof-of-Principle Based on Historical Examples
by Andreas Hahn, Hagen Frickmann and Andreas E. Zautner
Antibiotics 2020, 9(7), 379; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9070379 - 4 Jul 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2392
Abstract
Efficacy estimations in clinical trials are based on case definitions. Commonly, they are a more or less complex set of conditions that have to be fulfilled in order to define a clinical case. In the simplest variant, such a case is identical with [...] Read more.
Efficacy estimations in clinical trials are based on case definitions. Commonly, they are a more or less complex set of conditions that have to be fulfilled in order to define a clinical case. In the simplest variant, such a case is identical with a single positive diagnostic test result. Frequently, however, case definitions are more complex. Further, their conditions often ignore the inherent logical structure of symptoms and disease: A symptom or a set of symptoms may be necessary but not sufficient for the unambiguous identification of a case. After describing the structure of case definitions and its impact on efficacy estimations, we exemplify this impact using data from two clinical trials dealing with the effectiveness of the vaginal application of tenofovir gel for the prevention of HIV infections and with the therapeutic effects of fecal transplantation on recurrent Clostridium difficile infections. We demonstrate that the diagnostic performance of case definitions affects efficacy estimations for interventions in clinical trials. The potential risk of bias and uncertainty is high, irrespective of the complexity of the case definition. Accordingly, case definitions in clinical trials should focus on specificity in order to avoid the risk of bias. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Action of Biomaterials)
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16 pages, 27688 KiB  
Article
Activity of Specialized Biomolecules against Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria
by Tânia D. Tavares, Joana C. Antunes, Jorge Padrão, Ana I. Ribeiro, Andrea Zille, M. Teresa P. Amorim, Fernando Ferreira and Helena P. Felgueiras
Antibiotics 2020, 9(6), 314; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9060314 - 9 Jun 2020
Cited by 114 | Viewed by 9174
Abstract
The increased resistance of bacteria against conventional pharmaceutical solutions, the antibiotics, has raised serious health concerns. This has stimulated interest in the development of bio-based therapeutics with limited resistance, namely, essential oils (EOs) or antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). This study envisaged the evaluation of [...] Read more.
The increased resistance of bacteria against conventional pharmaceutical solutions, the antibiotics, has raised serious health concerns. This has stimulated interest in the development of bio-based therapeutics with limited resistance, namely, essential oils (EOs) or antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). This study envisaged the evaluation of the antimicrobial efficacy of selected biomolecules, namely LL37, pexiganan, tea tree oil (TTO), cinnamon leaf oil (CLO) and niaouli oil (NO), against four bacteria commonly associated to nosocomial infections: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antibiotic vancomycin and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were used as control compounds for comparison purposes. The biomolecules were initially screened for their antibacterial efficacy using the agar-diffusion test, followed by the determination of minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs), kill-time kinetics and the evaluation of the cell morphology upon 24 h exposure. All agents were effective against the selected bacteria. Interestingly, the AgNPs required a higher concentration (4000–1250 μg/mL) to induce the same effects as the AMPs (500–7.8 μg/mL) or EOs (365.2–19.7 μg/mL). Pexiganan and CLO were the most effective biomolecules, requiring lower concentrations to kill both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (62.5–7.8 μg/mL and 39.3–19.7 μg/mL, respectively), within a short period of time (averaging 2 h 15 min for all bacteria). Most biomolecules apparently disrupted the bacteria membrane stability due to the observed cell morphology deformation and by effecting on the intracellular space. AMPs were observed to induce morphological deformations and cellular content release, while EOs were seen to split and completely envelope bacteria. Data unraveled more of the potential of these new biomolecules as replacements for the conventional antibiotics and allowed us to take a step forward in the understanding of their mechanisms of action against infection-related bacteria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Action of Biomaterials)
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23 pages, 4552 KiB  
Article
Variations in the Morphology, Mechanics and Adhesion of Persister and Resister E. coli Cells in Response to Ampicillin: AFM Study
by Samuel C. Uzoechi and Nehal I. Abu-Lail
Antibiotics 2020, 9(5), 235; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9050235 - 7 May 2020
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 5857
Abstract
Persister bacterial cells are great at surviving antibiotics. The phenotypic means by which they do that are underexplored. As such, atomic force microscope (AFM) was used to quantify the contributions of the surface properties of the outer membrane of multidrug resistance (MDR)-Escherichia [...] Read more.
Persister bacterial cells are great at surviving antibiotics. The phenotypic means by which they do that are underexplored. As such, atomic force microscope (AFM) was used to quantify the contributions of the surface properties of the outer membrane of multidrug resistance (MDR)-Escherichia coli Strains (A5 and A9) in the presence of ampicillin at minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (resistant cells) and at 20× MIC (persistent cells). The properties quantified were morphology, root mean square (RMS) roughness, adhesion, elasticity, and bacterial surface biopolymers’ thickness and grafting density. Compared to untreated cells, persister cells of E. coli A5 increased their RMS, adhesion, apparent grafting density, and elasticity by 1.2, 3.4, 2.0, and 3.3 folds, respectively, and decreased their surface area and brush thickness by 1.3 and 1.2 folds, respectively. Similarly, compared to untreated cells, persister cells of E. coli A9 increased their RMS, adhesion and elasticity by 1.6, 4.4, and 4.5 folds, respectively; decreased their surface area and brush thickness by 1.4 and 1.6 folds, respectively; and did not change their grafting densities. Our results indicate that resistant and persistent E. coli A5 cells battled ampicillin by decreasing their size and going through dormancy. The resistant E. coli A9 cells resisted ampicillin through elongation, increased surface area, and adhesion. In contrast, the persistent E. coli A9 cells resisted ampicillin through increased roughness, increased surface biopolymers’ grafting densities, increased cellular elasticities, and decreased surface areas. Mechanistic insights into how the resistant and persistent E. coli cells respond to ampicillin’s treatment are instrumental to guide design efforts exploring the development of new antibiotics or renovating the existing antibiotics that may kill persistent bacteria by combining more than one mechanism of action. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Action of Biomaterials)
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16 pages, 18855 KiB  
Article
The Use of a Non-Absorbable Membrane as an Occlusive Barrier for Alveolar Ridge Preservation: A One Year Follow-Up Prospective Cohort Study
by Piero Papi, Bianca Di Murro, Marco Tromba, Pier Carmine Passarelli, Antonio D’Addona and Giorgio Pompa
Antibiotics 2020, 9(3), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9030110 - 3 Mar 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4321
Abstract
The aims of this study were to obtain preliminary data and test the clinical efficacy of a novel nonporous dense-polytetrafluoroethylene (d-PTFE) membrane (permamem®, botiss) in alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) procedures with a flapless approach. A traumatic extraction was performed in the [...] Read more.
The aims of this study were to obtain preliminary data and test the clinical efficacy of a novel nonporous dense-polytetrafluoroethylene (d-PTFE) membrane (permamem®, botiss) in alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) procedures with a flapless approach. A traumatic extraction was performed in the premolar maxillary area, and a d-PTFE membrane was used to seal the alveolar cavity: no biomaterial was used to graft the socket and the membrane was left intentionally exposed and stabilized with sutures. The membrane was removed after four weeks and dental implants were placed four months after the procedure. The primary outcome variables were defined as the dimensional changes in the ridge width and height after four months. A total of 15 patients were enrolled in this study. The mean width of the alveolar cavity was 8.9 ± 1.1 mm immediately after tooth extraction, while four months later a mean reduction of 1.75 mm was experienced. A mean vertical reduction of 0.9 ± 0.42 mm on the buccal aspect and 0.6 ± 0.23 mm on the palatal aspect were recorded at implant placement. Within the limitations of this study, the d-PTFE membrane proved to be effective in alveolar ridge preservation, with the outcomes of the regeneration not affected by the complete exposure of this biomaterial. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Action of Biomaterials)
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Review

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14 pages, 772 KiB  
Review
Lactoferrin Functionalized Biomaterials: Tools for Prevention of Implant-Associated Infections
by Emoke Pall and Alexandra Roman
Antibiotics 2020, 9(8), 522; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9080522 - 15 Aug 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3943
Abstract
Tissue engineering is one of the most important biotechnologies in the biomedical field. It requires the application of the principles of scientific engineering in order to design and build natural or synthetic biomaterials feasible for the maintenance of tissues and organs. Depending on [...] Read more.
Tissue engineering is one of the most important biotechnologies in the biomedical field. It requires the application of the principles of scientific engineering in order to design and build natural or synthetic biomaterials feasible for the maintenance of tissues and organs. Depending on the specific applications, the selection of the proper material remains a significant clinical concern. Implant-associated infection is one of the most severe complications in orthopedic implant surgeries. The treatment of these infections is difficult because the surface of the implant serves not only as a substrate for the formation of the biofilm, but also for the selection of multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. Therefore, a promising new approach for prevention of implant-related infection involves development of new implantable, non-antibiotic-based biomaterials. This review provides a brief overview of antimicrobial peptide-based biomaterials—especially those coated with lactoferrin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Action of Biomaterials)
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41 pages, 2737 KiB  
Review
Spun Biotextiles in Tissue Engineering and Biomolecules Delivery Systems
by Catarina S. Miranda, Ana R. M. Ribeiro, Natália C. Homem and Helena P. Felgueiras
Antibiotics 2020, 9(4), 174; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9040174 - 12 Apr 2020
Cited by 34 | Viewed by 4849
Abstract
Nowadays, tissue engineering is described as an interdisciplinary field that combines engineering principles and life sciences to generate implantable devices to repair, restore and/or improve functions of injured tissues. Such devices are designed to induce the interaction and integration of tissue and cells [...] Read more.
Nowadays, tissue engineering is described as an interdisciplinary field that combines engineering principles and life sciences to generate implantable devices to repair, restore and/or improve functions of injured tissues. Such devices are designed to induce the interaction and integration of tissue and cells within the implantable matrices and are manufactured to meet the appropriate physical, mechanical and physiological local demands. Biodegradable constructs based on polymeric fibers are desirable for tissue engineering due to their large surface area, interconnectivity, open pore structure, and controlled mechanical strength. Additionally, biodegradable constructs are also very sought-out for biomolecule delivery systems with a target-directed action. In the present review, we explore the properties of some of the most common biodegradable polymers used in tissue engineering applications and biomolecule delivery systems and highlight their most important uses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Action of Biomaterials)
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