Deep eutectic solvent-assisted synthesis of biodegradable polyesters with antibacterial properties

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Infectious Disease Research

Background:

• Medical device-associated bacterial infections pose significant clinical challenges.
• Previous strategies involved incorporating antibiotics or antiseptics into materials.
• Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) offer a novel approach for material synthesis and active ingredient delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop biodegradable polyesters with inherent antibacterial properties.
• To utilize DES-assisted synthesis for incorporating antimicrobial agents into polymer networks.
• To evaluate the potential of these materials for biomedical applications, such as wound dressings.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of biodegradable poly(octanediol-co-citrate) polyesters.
• Incorporation of quaternary ammonium or phosphonium salts using DES-assisted methods.
• In vitro testing of antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli.
• Preliminary in vitro cytocompatibility studies with L929 fibroblasts.

Main Results:

• Successfully prepared biodegradable polyesters with acquired antibacterial properties.
• Demonstrated inhibition of bacterial growth by incorporated quaternary ammonium or phosphonium salts.
• Polymers exhibited promising cytocompatibility and elastic properties suitable for soft tissues.
• DES-assisted synthesis enabled efficient incorporation of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).

Conclusions:

• Biodegradable polyesters synthesized via DES-assisted methods exhibit potent antibacterial activity.
• These materials are potential candidates for antimicrobial wound dressings due to their antibacterial, biocompatible, and elastic properties.
• DES-assisted synthesis is a versatile platform for creating advanced polymeric biomaterials.