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Author Spotlight: Advancing Therapeutics with Biocompatible Sodium Alginate Hydrogel Microspheres
Published on: June 7, 2024
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Nitric oxide releasing alginate microspheres for antimicrobial application
Hao Zhuang1, Jinyu Shao1, Peixuan Wu1
1Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials of Tropical Island Resources of Ministry of Education and School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|October 28, 2022
Summary
Controlled nitric oxide (NO) release from alginate microspheres was achieved using S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP). These NO-releasing microspheres demonstrate significant antibacterial effects against E. coli and S. aureus.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Drug Delivery
Background:
- Controlled nitric oxide (NO) release is vital for biomedical applications.
- Alginate microspheres offer a promising platform for drug delivery systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize alginate microspheres for controlled nitric oxide (NO) release.
- To evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of NO-releasing alginate microspheres.
Main Methods:
- Direct impregnation of S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP) into sodium alginate during gelation with calcium ions.
- Characterization of microsphere structure, thermal properties, and morphology.
- Antibacterial assays against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).
Main Results:
- SNAP loading rates ranged from 0.69% to 27.5%.
- Sustained NO release was observed for up to approximately 93 hours.
- Alginate microspheres demonstrated significant bactericidal effects, reducing bacterial counts by up to 7 orders of magnitude with 100% inhibition.
Conclusions:
- Developed NO-releasing alginate microspheres show potential for biomedical applications due to their controlled release capabilities and potent antibacterial activity.
- The findings suggest these microspheres could be valuable in treating bacterial infections.
