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Fabrication and Characterization of Antimicrobial Biomaterials and Coatings

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomaterials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2024 | Viewed by 7037

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria
Interests: biomaterials; surface engineering; nanocomposites; marine, medical and technical devices antimicrobial protection

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Microbial adhesion and biofilm formation is a common undesirable phenomenon at any living or nonliving material surface in contact with microbial species. It impacts on human health and has a very high cost. Every year, millions of patients in Europe and all over the world are affected by infections acquired in health care settings, most of them caused by the use of medical devices. Infections associated with medical devices result in prolonged hospital stay, long term disability, a high financial cost for healthcare systems and patients, as well as increased mortality. Due to the increasing microbial pathogens resistant to one or multiple antibiotics, conventional antibiotic therapies are becoming less and less effective, and thousands of people are dying as a result. Despite the enormous efforts made so far, a total prevention of biofilm formation has not been achieved. The protection of medical devices and material surfaces against microbial adhesion and biofilm formation remains a significant challenge. The synthesis of new antimicrobial agents, the development of new biomaterials and coatings incorporating these agents, and new technological solutions are current trends to improve the protection of medical devices against biofilm formation and thus prevent consequent infections. This thematic Special Issue is devoted to the progress in the fabrication and characterization of antimicrobial biomaterials and coatings.

Given your experience in the development of new antimicrobial agents, biomaterials, and anti-biofouling coatings, we invite you to submit your next manuscript to this Special Issue of Materials (Section Advanced Composites) titled Fabrication and Characterization of Antimicrobial Biomaterials and Coatings.

Dr. Todorka Gancheva Vladkova
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • antimicrobial biomaterials
  • antimicrobial agents
  • nanocomposites
  • surface engineering
  • antifouling and antimicrobial protection

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 4631 KiB  
Article
Advancing Antimicrobial Textiles: A Comprehensive Study on Combating ESKAPE Pathogens and Ensuring User Safety
by Kinga Vojnits, Majid Mohseni, Mazeyar Parvinzadeh Gashti, Anupama Vijaya Nadaraja, Ramin Karimianghadim, Ben Crowther, Brad Field, Kevin Golovin and Sepideh Pakpour
Materials 2024, 17(2), 383; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17020383 - 12 Jan 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2350
Abstract
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, ESKAPE pathogens, present a significant and alarming threat to public health and healthcare systems. This study addresses the urgent need to combat antimicrobial resistance by exploring alternative ways to reduce the health and cost implications of infections caused by these pathogens. [...] Read more.
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, ESKAPE pathogens, present a significant and alarming threat to public health and healthcare systems. This study addresses the urgent need to combat antimicrobial resistance by exploring alternative ways to reduce the health and cost implications of infections caused by these pathogens. To disrupt their transmission, integrating antimicrobial textiles into personal protective equipment (PPE) is an encouraging avenue. Nevertheless, ensuring the effectiveness and safety of these textiles remains a persistent challenge. To achieve this, we conduct a comprehensive study that systematically compares the effectiveness and potential toxicity of five commonly used antimicrobial agents. To guide decision making, a MULTIMOORA method is employed to select and rank the optimal antimicrobial textile finishes. Through this approach, we determine that silver nitrate is the most suitable choice, while a methoxy-terminated quaternary ammonium compound is deemed less favorable in meeting the desired criteria. The findings of this study offer valuable insights and guidelines for the development of antimicrobial textiles that effectively address the requirements of effectiveness, safety, and durability. Implementing these research outcomes within the textile industry can significantly enhance protection against microbial infections, contribute to the improvement of public health, and mitigate the spread of infectious diseases. Full article
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11 pages, 861 KiB  
Article
Comparative Study of the Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus Biofilm Formation on Antioxidants Containing Siloxane Composite Coatings
by Todorka G. Vladkova, Deyan M. Monov, Danail T. Akuzov, Iliana A. Ivanova and Dilyana Gospodinova
Materials 2022, 15(13), 4530; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15134530 - 27 Jun 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1501
Abstract
No systematic study of antioxidant containing coatings and their anti-biofilm action has been reported so far. The utilization of antioxidants in protective coatings to inhibit marine biofilm formation is a current challenge. The aim of this preliminary study was to prepare, characterize and [...] Read more.
No systematic study of antioxidant containing coatings and their anti-biofilm action has been reported so far. The utilization of antioxidants in protective coatings to inhibit marine biofilm formation is a current challenge. The aim of this preliminary study was to prepare, characterize and compare the efficiency of low adhesive siloxane composite coatings equally loaded with different antioxidants against mono-species biofilms formation. Most often participating in the marine biofilms formation, Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus was the test bacterium. Both the biofilm covered surface area (BCSA) and corrected total cell fluorescence (CTCF) (by fluorescent microscopy) were selected as the parameters for quantification of the biofilm after 1 h and 4 h incubation. Differing extents of altered surface characteristics (physical-chemical; physical-mechanical) and the specific affection of M. hydrocarbonoclasticus biofilm formation in both reduction and stimulation, were found in the studied antioxidant containing coatings, depending on the chemical nature of the used antioxidant. It was concluded that not all antioxidants reduce mono-species biofilm formation; antioxidant chemical reactivity stipulates the formation of an altered vulcanization network of the siloxane composites and thus microbial adhesion which influences the surface characteristics of the vulcanized coatings; and low surface energy combined with a low indentation elastic modulus are probably pre-requisites of low microbial adhesion. Full article
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16 pages, 2922 KiB  
Article
Self-Cleaning Biomimetic Surfaces—The Effect of Microstructure and Hydrophobicity on Conidia Repellence
by Haguy Alon, Helena Vitoshkin, Carmit Ziv, Lavanya Gunamalai, Sergey Sinitsa and Maya Kleiman
Materials 2022, 15(7), 2526; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15072526 - 30 Mar 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2572
Abstract
Modification of surface structure for the promotion of food safety and health protection is a technology of interest among many industries. With this study, we aimed specifically to develop a tenable solution for the fabrication of self-cleaning biomimetic surface structures for agricultural applications [...] Read more.
Modification of surface structure for the promotion of food safety and health protection is a technology of interest among many industries. With this study, we aimed specifically to develop a tenable solution for the fabrication of self-cleaning biomimetic surface structures for agricultural applications such as post-harvest packing materials and greenhouse cover screens. Phytopathogenic fungi such as Botrytiscinerea are a major concern for agricultural systems. These molds are spread by airborne conidia that contaminate surfaces and infect plants and fresh produce, causing significant losses. The research examined the adhesive role of microstructures of natural and synthetic surfaces and assessed the feasibility of structured biomimetic surfaces to easily wash off fungal conidia. Soft lithography was used to create polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) replications of Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) and Colocasia esculenta (elephant ear) leaves. Conidia of B. cinerea were applied to natural surfaces for a washing procedure and the ratios between applied and remaining conidia were compared using microscopy imaging. The obtained results confirmed the hypothesis that the dust-repellent C. esculenta leaves have a higher conidia-repellency compared to tomato leaves which are known for their high sensitivities to phytopathogenic molds. This study found that microstructure replication does not mimic conidia repellency found in nature and that conidia repellency is affected by a mix of parameters, including microstructure and hydrophobicity. To examine the effect of hydrophobicity, the study included measurements and analyses of apparent contact angles of natural and synthetic surfaces including activated (hydrophilic) surfaces. No correlation was found between the surface apparent contact angle and conidia repellency ability, demonstrating variation in washing capability correlated to microstructure and hydrophobicity. It was also found that a microscale sub-surface (tomato trichromes) had a high conidia-repelling capability, demonstrating an important role of non-superhydrophobic microstructures. Full article
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