Antibacterial and cytotoxic assessment of poly (methyl methacrylate) based hybrid nanocomposites

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is a widely used material in biomedical implants.
• Biofilm formation and drug-resistant pathogens complicate PMMA-based implants.
• Developing antibacterial surfaces is crucial for preventing implant-associated infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and assess the antibacterial efficacy of PMMA-based nanocomposites (NCs) incorporating CuO and ZnO nanoparticles.
• To evaluate the species-specific antibacterial activity of these NCs against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.
• To determine the in vitro cytotoxicity of the developed NCs.

Main Methods:

• Chemically synthesized CuO, CTAB-capped CuO, and ZnO nanoparticles were incorporated into PMMA to form NCs.
• Antibacterial efficacy was tested against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.
• In vitro cytotoxicity was assessed using L6 myoblast cell lines.

Main Results:

• Nanocomposites exhibited species-specific antibacterial activity.
• CuO NC (0.1% w/v) was more effective against E. coli.
• CTAB-capped CuO NC and ZnO NC were highly effective against S. aureus.
• Combined nanoparticles in NCs enhanced efficacy against both bacterial species.
• All tested NCs at 0.1% (w/v) demonstrated good biocompatibility (>85% cell viability).

Conclusions:

• PMMA-based nanocomposites incorporating CuO and ZnO nanoparticles offer a promising strategy to combat implant-associated infections.
• Combinations of nanoparticles show enhanced efficacy against multiple bacterial species.
• The developed NCs are biocompatible, suggesting their potential for biomedical applications.