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Antimicrobial Properties of Polymers
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Antimicrobial Properties of Polymers

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Analysis and Characterization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 14163

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Loredana E. Nita

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
"Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Iasi, Romania
Interests: materials characterization using methods such as dimensional analysis and spatial distribution in polymeric structures using Mastersizer, Nanosizer ZS and NIR-CI equipment; multidisciplinary approaches using a fundamental as well as applied standpoint; obtaining pH and thermo-sensitive hydrogels by adjusting the chemical functionality of the gel structure by inclusion of a second interpenetrating network and/or specific entrapped structures; obtaining hydrogels with a multi-membrane organization through a multi-stage gelation process; obtaining and testing systems that have encapsulated drugs, starting from advanced functional macromolecular structures made via a self-assembling process; testing possibilities for the use of hydrogels as a controlled drug delivery system
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Alina Gabriela Rusu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
"Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Iasi, Romania
Interests: hydrogels; modified polysaccharides; nanogels; drug delivery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Microbial infections have become a major concern worldwide today, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality, especially in the healthcare and industrial fields, where people are generally more vulnerable and exposed to a large spectrum of bacteria. Moreover, the widespread use of antibiotics along with the possibility of recontamination of materials and surfaces sterilized through physical and chemical methods have determined the bacteria to adapt, leading to so-called multidrug resistance (MDR).

Therefore, there is a strong need to design and synthesize antimicrobial polymers as an alternative strategy to combat resistance development in bacteria. Polymers with inherent antimicrobial activity such as chitosan, poly‐ε‐lysine or quaternary ammonium compounds or that have the capacity to be conjugated with other antimicrobial compounds can also be used either for the direct elimination of microorganisms or for food packaging of perishable products, antimicrobial coatings of medical instruments or as components of implantable biomedical devices to prevent infection.

Through their unique structure and functional groups, antimicrobial polymers or their grafted derivatives often generate antimicrobial activity with greater resistance to microbial adhesion and biofilm formation rendering various substrates or materials antimicrobial.

Related topics in this Special Issue include:

  • Mechanism of interaction of bacteria with polymers with antimicrobial properties;
  • Characterization of the antimicrobial activity of polymers;
  • Adhesion of microbial agents to polymeric materials.

Other topics include:

  • Synthesis, characterization and processing of novel antimicrobial polymers;
  • Polymers with antimicrobial properties for food packaging;
  • Coatings of medical instruments with polymers with antimicrobial properties;
  • Polymers with antimicrobial character as components of implantable biomedical devices;
  • Antimicrobial polymers for anti-biofilm medical devices;
  • Polymeric systems as antimicrobial or antifouling agents.

Dr. Loredana E. Nita
Dr. Alina Gabriela Rusu
Guest Editors

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. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2700 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

  • antimicrobial polymers
  • antimicrobial activity
  • antimicrobial coatings
  • biofilm formation

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 4601 KiB  
Article
Temperature Induced Gelation and Antimicrobial Properties of Pluronic F127 Based Systems
by Alexandra Lupu, Irina Rosca, Vasile Robert Gradinaru and Maria Bercea
Polymers 2023, 15(2), 355; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15020355 - 10 Jan 2023
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3862
Abstract
Different formulations containing Pluronic F127 and polysaccharides (chitosan, sodium alginate, gellan gum, and κ-carrageenan) were investigated as potential injectable gels that behave as free-flowing liquid with reduced viscosity at low temperatures and displayed solid-like properties at 37 °C. In addition, ZnO nanoparticles, lysozyme, [...] Read more.
Different formulations containing Pluronic F127 and polysaccharides (chitosan, sodium alginate, gellan gum, and κ-carrageenan) were investigated as potential injectable gels that behave as free-flowing liquid with reduced viscosity at low temperatures and displayed solid-like properties at 37 °C. In addition, ZnO nanoparticles, lysozyme, or curcumin were added for testing the antimicrobial properties of the thermal-sensitive gels. Rheological investigations evidenced small changes in transition temperature and kinetics of gelation at 37 °C in presence of polysaccharides. However, the gel formation is very delayed in the presence of curcumin. The antimicrobial properties of Pluronic F127 gels are very modest even by adding chitosan, lysozyme, or ZnO nanoparticles. A remarkable enhancement of antimicrobial activity was observed in the presence of curcumin. Chitosan addition to Pluronic/curcumin systems improves their viscoelasticity, antimicrobial activity, and stability in time. The balance between viscoelastic and antimicrobial characteristics needs to be considered in the formulation of Pluronic F127 gels suitable for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Properties of Polymers)
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18 pages, 4253 KiB  
Article
Porphyrin Polymers Bearing N,N′-Ethylene Crosslinkers as Photosensitizers against Bacteria
by Sofía C. Santamarina, Daniel A. Heredia, Andrés M. Durantini and Edgardo N. Durantini
Polymers 2022, 14(22), 4936; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14224936 - 15 Nov 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1720
Abstract
The appearance of microbes resistant to antibiotics requires the development of alternative therapies for the treatment of infectious diseases. In this work two polymers, PTPPF16-EDA and PZnTPPF16-EDA, were synthesized by the nucleophilic aromatic substitution of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin and its Zn(II) [...] Read more.
The appearance of microbes resistant to antibiotics requires the development of alternative therapies for the treatment of infectious diseases. In this work two polymers, PTPPF16-EDA and PZnTPPF16-EDA, were synthesized by the nucleophilic aromatic substitution of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin and its Zn(II) complex with ethylenediamine, respectively. In these structures, the tetrapyrrolic macrocycles were N,N′-ethylene crosslinked, which gives them greater mobility. The absorption spectra of the polymers showed a bathochromic shift of the Soret band of ~10 nm with respect to the monomers. This effect was also found in the red fluorescence emission peaks. Furthermore, both polymeric materials produced singlet molecular oxygen with high quantum yields. In addition, they were capable of generating superoxide anion radicals. Photodynamic inactivation sensitized by these polymers was tested in Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria. A decrease in cell viability greater than 7 log (99.9999%) was observed in S. aureus incubated with 0.5 μM photosensitizer upon 30 min of irradiation. Under these conditions, a low inactivation of E. coli (0.5 log) was found. However, when the cells were treated with KI, the elimination of the Gram-negative bacteria was achieved. Therefore, these polymeric structures are interesting antimicrobial photosensitizing materials for the inactivation of pathogens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Properties of Polymers)
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16 pages, 2019 KiB  
Article
Functional Chitosan-Based Composite Film Incorporated with 3-(Methylthio) Propyl Isothiocyanate/α-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex for Chicken Meat Preservation
by Hongyan Wu, Xinying Ao, Jianan Liu, Junya Zhu, Jingran Bi, Hongman Hou, Hongshun Hao and Gongliang Zhang
Polymers 2022, 14(21), 4655; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14214655 - 1 Nov 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1668
Abstract
The 3-(Methylthio) propyl isothiocyanate (MTPITC)-loaded inclusion complex prepared by α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) was incorporated into chitosan (CS) film to fabricate a packaging material for fresh chicken meat preservation. Scanning electron microscope images indicated homogenous dispersion of the MTPITC-α-CD in CS polymer. Fourier-transform infrared and [...] Read more.
The 3-(Methylthio) propyl isothiocyanate (MTPITC)-loaded inclusion complex prepared by α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) was incorporated into chitosan (CS) film to fabricate a packaging material for fresh chicken meat preservation. Scanning electron microscope images indicated homogenous dispersion of the MTPITC-α-CD in CS polymer. Fourier-transform infrared and X-ray diffraction techniques revealed that MTPITC-α-CD was incorporated into the CS film matrix by the physical interactions. The introduction of MTPITC-α-CD improved the UV-vis light-blocking ability, with a slight loss of transparency. Although the water solubility and water vapor barrier capacity were not significantly influenced by the addition of MTPITC-α-CD, the antioxidant attribute was significantly enhanced. The CS-MTPITC-α-CD film displayed obvious and sustained suppressive effects against Salmonella typhimurium, with the inhibition zone diameters of 14.7 mm at 12 h and 7.3 mm at 24 h, respectively. Moreover, the quality index analysis indicated that the CS-MTPITC-α-CD film-wrapped fresh chicken, during refrigerated storage, exhibited better preservative efficacy than the control groups, with the total viable counts of 6.5 Log CFU/g, total volatile base nitrogen of 8.4 mg/100 g, pH of 6.6, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances of 0.2 mg/kg, and the sensory score of 5 at day 16. Collectively, these results suggest that CS-MTPITC-α-CD film is a prospective packaging candidate for delaying the quality deterioration of chicken meat. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Properties of Polymers)
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14 pages, 4441 KiB  
Article
New Fmoc-Amino Acids/Peptides-Based Supramolecular Gels Obtained through Co-Assembly Process: Preparation and Characterization
by Alexandra Croitoriu, Loredana Elena Nita, Alina Gabriela Rusu, Alina Ghilan, Maria Bercea and Aurica P. Chiriac
Polymers 2022, 14(16), 3354; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14163354 - 17 Aug 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2431
Abstract
One of the methods of obtaining supramolecular gels consists of the possibility of self-assembly of low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs). However, LMWG-based gels are often difficult to handle, easy to destroy and have poor rheological performance. In order to improve the gels’ properties, [...] Read more.
One of the methods of obtaining supramolecular gels consists of the possibility of self-assembly of low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs). However, LMWG-based gels are often difficult to handle, easy to destroy and have poor rheological performance. In order to improve the gels’ properties, the LMWGs molecules are co-assembled, which induces more cross-links with more stable structures. Starting from these aspects, the present study refers to the preparation of a bionic hydrogel stabilized with a physiologically occurring, bifunctional biomolecule, L-lysine, co-assembled with other amino acids or peptides (such as a modified amino acid (Fmoc-serine or Fmoc-glutamic acid) or a tripeptide (Fmoc-Gly-Gly-Gly)) with the potential to support the repair of injuries or the age-related impaired structures or functions of living tissues. The introduction of a copartner aims to improve hydrogel characteristics from a morphological, rheological and structural point of view. On the other hand, the process will allow the understanding of the phenomenon of specific self-association and molecular recognition. Various characterization techniques were used to assess the ability to co-assemble: DLS, FT-IR, SEM and fluorescence microscopy, rheology and thermal analysis. Studies have confirmed that the supramolecular structure occurs through the formation of inter- and intramolecular physical bonds that ensure the formation of fibrils organized into 3D networks. The rheological data, namely the G′ > G″ and tan δ approximately 0.1–0.2 gel-like behavior observed for all studied samples, demonstrate and sustain the appearance of the co-assembly processes and the ability of the samples to act as LMWG. From the studied systems, the Fmoc–Lys–Fmoc_ Fmoc–Glu sample presented the best rheological characteristics that are consistent with the observations that resulted from the dichroism, fluorescence and SEM investigations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Properties of Polymers)
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Review

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22 pages, 6029 KiB  
Review
Natural Additives Improving Polyurethane Antimicrobial Activity
by Natalia Sienkiewicz and Sylwia Członka
Polymers 2022, 14(13), 2533; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14132533 - 21 Jun 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3301
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in using polymers with antibacterial and antifungal properties; therefore, the present review is focused on the effect of natural compounds on the antibacterial and antifungal properties of polyurethane (PUR). This topic is important because [...] Read more.
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in using polymers with antibacterial and antifungal properties; therefore, the present review is focused on the effect of natural compounds on the antibacterial and antifungal properties of polyurethane (PUR). This topic is important because materials and objects made with this polymer can be used as antibacterial and antifungal ones in places where hygiene and sterile conditions are particularly required (e.g., in healthcare, construction industries, cosmetology, pharmacology, or food industries) and thus can become another possibility in comparison to commonly used disinfectants, which mostly show high toxicity to the environment and the human health. The review presents the possibilities of using natural extracts as antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral additives, which, in contrast to the currently used antibiotics, have a much wider effect. Antibiotics fight bacterial infections by killing bacteria (bactericidal effect) or slowing and stopping their growth (bacteriostatic effect) and effect on different kinds of fungi, but they do not fight viruses; therefore, compounds of natural origin can find wide use as biocidal substances. Fungi grow in almost any environment, and they reproduce easily in dirt and wet spaces; thus, the development of antifungal PUR foams is focused on avoiding fungal infections and inhibiting growth. Polymers are susceptible to microorganism adhesion and, consequently, are treated and modified to inhibit fungal and bacterial growth. The ability of micro-organisms to grow on polyurethanes can cause human health problems during the use and storage of polymers, making it necessary to use additives that eliminate bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Properties of Polymers)
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