Fusions of a carbohydrate binding module with the small cationic hexapeptide RWRWRW confer antimicrobial properties...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Antimicrobial Peptides
• Cellulose Engineering

Background:

• Antibiotic resistance is a major global health threat, necessitating new antimicrobial strategies.
• Current wound care solutions are insufficient against resistant bacterial infections.
• Cellulose-based materials offer potential for antimicrobial applications but require functionalization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a biomolecular strategy for modifying cellulose-based materials with antimicrobial peptides.
• To enhance the antimicrobial efficacy of cellulose materials for wound care applications.
• To investigate the role of carbohydrate binding modules (CBMs) in peptide immobilization and activity.

Main Methods:

• Fusion of CBM3 from Clostridium thermocellum with derivatives of the antimicrobial hexapeptide MP196.
• Immobilization of CBM3-MP196 fusions onto cellulose hydrogels, paper, and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) via disulfide bond formation.
• Assessment of antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus.

Main Results:

• CBM3-MP196 modified cellulose materials exhibited significantly enhanced antibacterial activity compared to physically adsorbed peptide.
• The biomolecular approach resulted in optimal peptide orientation, exposure, and distancing from the cellulose matrix.
• Effective functionalization was achieved under mild biological conditions, simplifying the process.

Conclusions:

• A versatile biomolecular strategy using CBMs enables effective antimicrobial functionalization of diverse cellulose materials.
• This method provides a robust platform for developing advanced wound care biomaterials and drug delivery systems.
• The approach facilitates translational research by avoiding complex purification steps.