Zwitterionic Molecularly Imprinted Hairy Cellulose Nanocrystals Enable Selective Vancomycin Removal

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Antimicrobial Resistance Research

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health threat.
• Off-target antibiotic doses, like vancomycin (VAN), in the gastrointestinal tract contribute to AMR.
• Selective removal of VAN from intestinal fluids is challenging due to competing molecules.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer a novel material for selective vancomycin removal from the gastrointestinal tract.
• To address the challenge of competitive adsorption in selective antibiotic capture.
• To develop a biobased solution for mitigating AMR evolution.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of VAN-imprinted polymerized zwitterionic hairy cellulose nanocrystals (ViPZ-HCNC).
• Evaluation of VAN capture capacity and selectivity against other biomolecules (lysine, lysozyme, albumin).
• Testing of ViPZ-HCNC in simulated intestinal fluids and assessment of cytotoxicity.

Main Results:

• ViPZ-HCNC demonstrated a high VAN removal capacity (∼ 235 mg g^-1) with an imprinting factor of ∼ 7.5.
• Achieved excellent selectivity for VAN over lysine, lysozyme, and bovine serum albumin.
• Efficiently removed VAN from calcium ion-containing solutions and simulated intestinal fluids without toxicity.

Conclusions:

• ViPZ-HCNC represent the first nanocellulose-based material with high selectivity for VAN capture.
• This material effectively removes VAN from complex biological media, offering a potential strategy against AMR.
• ViPZ-HCNC provide a promising biobased platform for developing soft materials to combat AMR evolution.