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Investigation of bioprintable modified agar-based hydrogels with antimicrobial properties
Edyta Piłat1, Przemysław Gnatowski2, Agnieszka Kurdyn3
1Department of Polymer Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, Narutowicza St. 11/12, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|December 18, 2024
Summary
Researchers explored antimicrobial hydrogels as natural antibiotic alternatives. Geraniol-loaded hydrogels showed strong antimicrobial activity but were cytotoxic, limiting their use as bioinks without further modification.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Microbiology
- Drug Delivery
Background:
- Excessive antibiotic use poses significant health risks.
- Natural antimicrobial agents are sought as alternatives to conventional antibiotics.
- Plant extracts and essential oils show promise but have limited novel therapeutic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess antimicrobial hydrogels as potential bioinks for infection treatments.
- To investigate the antimicrobial activity of selected natural agents and geraniol.
- To evaluate the physicochemical properties and bioprintability of geraniol-loaded hydrogels.
Main Methods:
- Antimicrobial activity testing against S. epidermidis, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and E. coli.
- Incorporation of geraniol into agar-based hydrogels.
- Analysis of swelling kinetics, polymer network parameters, contact angles, and FTIR spectra.
- Biocompatibility and bioprintability assessments.
Main Results:
- Geraniol demonstrated superior antimicrobial activity in both pure form and within hydrogels.
- Hydrogels exhibited high swelling capacity, good processability, shape fidelity, and biocompatibility in their unmodified state.
- Geraniol incorporation significantly decreased cell viability, indicating cytotoxicity.
Conclusions:
- Antimicrobial hydrogels containing geraniol show potential for infection treatment due to their antimicrobial efficacy.
- The cytotoxic effect of geraniol limits the current use of these hydrogels as bioinks.
- Future research should focus on modifying these materials to improve cell interactions and mitigate cytotoxicity.
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