Two-Sided Antibacterial Cellulose Combining Probiotics and Silver Nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Rising antibiotic resistance necessitates innovative, antibiotic-free therapeutic materials.
• Combining multiple antimicrobial agents within a biocompatible scaffold offers a promising strategy against diverse resistant pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a novel, two-sided antibiotic-free biomaterial combining silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and Lactobacillus fermentum (Lf) on a bacterial cellulose (BC) scaffold.
• To evaluate the efficacy of the developed AgNP-BC-Lf biomaterial against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA).

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a two-sided bacterial cellulose (BC) scaffold loaded with AgNPs on one side and Lf on the opposing side (AgNP-BC-Lf).
• Characterization using Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM).
• Assessment of antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) via agar diffusion tests.

Main Results:

• The AgNP-BC-Lf biomaterial successfully preserved live, metabolically active Lf on one surface, separated from the AgNPs on the opposite surface.
• Characterization confirmed the distinct spatial arrangement of AgNPs and Lf on the BC scaffold.
• The combined AgNP-BC-Lf material demonstrated enhanced antibacterial activity against PA compared to materials with only AgNPs or Lf.

Conclusions:

• The developed AgNP-BC-Lf biomaterial represents a promising antibiotic-free approach for treating topical bacterial infections.
• This two-sided strategy effectively combines the benefits of AgNPs and probiotics while mitigating potential antagonistic effects.
• The AgNP-BC-Lf biomaterial shows potential for clinical applications against resistant pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa.