2 research outputs found
Versatile and User-Friendly Anti-infective Hydrogel for Effective Wound Healing
Wound dressings play a crucial role
in facilitating optimal
wound
healing and protecting against microbial infections. However, existing
commercial options often fall short in addressing chronic infections
due to antibiotic resistance and the limited spectrum of activity
against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria frequently encountered
at wound sites. Additionally, complex fabrication processes and cumbersome
administration strategies pose challenges for cost-effective wound
dressing development. Consequently, there is a pressing need to explore
easily engineered biocompatible biomaterials as alternative solutions
to combat these challenging wound infections. In this study, we present
the development of an anti-infective hydrogel, P-BAC (polymeric bactericidal
hydrogel), which exhibits simple administration and promotes efficient
wound healing. P-BAC is synthesized via a one-step fabrication method
that involves the noncovalent cross-linking of poly(vinyl alcohol), N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-3-trimethylammonium chitosan chloride-AgCl
nanocomposite, and proline. Remarkably, P-BAC demonstrates broad-spectrum
antibacterial activity against both planktonic and stationary cells
of clinically isolated Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, resulting
in a significant reduction of bacterial load (5–7 log reduction).
Moreover, P-BAC exhibits excellent efficacy in eradicating bacterial
cells within biofilm matrices (>95% reduction). In vivo experiments
reveal that P-BAC accelerates wound healing by stimulating rapid collagen
deposition at the wound site and effectively inactivates ∼95%
of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells. Importantly,
the shear-thinning property of P-BAC simplifies the administration
process, enhancing its practicality and usability. Taken together,
our findings demonstrate the potential of this easily administrable
hydrogel as a versatile solution for effective wound healing with
potent anti-infective properties. The developed hydrogel holds promise
for applications in diverse healthcare settings, addressing the critical
need for improved wound dressing materials
Permanent, Antimicrobial Coating to Rapidly Kill and Prevent Transmission of Bacteria, Fungi, Influenza, and SARS-CoV‑2
Microbial adhesion and contamination on shared surfaces
can lead
to life-threatening infections with serious impacts on public health,
economy, and clinical practices. The traditional use of chemical disinfectants
for sanitization of surfaces, however, comes with its share of health
risks, such as hazardous effects on the eyes, skin, and respiratory
tract, carcinogenicity, as well as environmental toxicity. To address
this, we have developed a nonleaching quaternary small molecule (QSM)-based
sprayable coating which can be fabricated on a wide range of surfaces
such as nylon, polyethylene, surgical mask, paper, acrylate, and rubber
in a one-step, photocuring technique. This contact-active coating
killed pathogenic bacteria and fungi including drug-resistant strains
of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans within 15–30 min of contact.
QSM coatings withstood multiple washes, highlighting their durability.
Interestingly, the coated surfaces exhibited rapid killing of pathogens,
leading to the prevention of their transmission upon contact. The
coating showed membrane disruption of bacterial cells in fluorescence
and electron microscopic investigations. Along with bacteria and fungi,
QSM-coated surfaces also showed the complete killing of high loads
of influenza (H1N1) and SARS-CoV-2 viruses within 30 min of exposure.
To our knowledge, this is the first report of a coating for multipurpose
materials applied in high-touch public places, hospital equipment,
and clinical consumables, rapidly killing drug-resistant bacteria,
fungi, influenza virus, and SARS-CoV-2