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Updated: May 7, 2026

Alternating Magnetic Field-Responsive Hybrid Gelatin Microgels for Controlled Drug Release
Published on: February 13, 2016
Development of carboximidamide small molecule nanogels as potent antimicrobial functional drug delivery systems
Basmah Almohaywi1, Mohammed H Elkomy2,3, Mohamed A M Ali4
1Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University Abha 61421 Saudi Arabia.
Abstract:
The escalating threat of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections necessitates innovative antimicrobial strategies with enhanced potency, selectivity, and pharmacokinetic profiles. In this study, chitosan/polyvinyl pyrrolidone (Cs/PVP) nanogels were developed to encapsulate hydrophobic scaffolds (phenyltriazole, phenylthiazole, and phenylguanidine derivatives) to improve solubility, stability, and antimicrobial efficacy. The nanogels exhibited nanoscale dimensions (35-320 nm), uniform spherical morphology, and good colloidal stability. Antimicrobial evaluation revealed significant fold potentiation of activity, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values reduced up to 64-fold against Gram-positive bacteria, particularly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and S. epidermidis. DNA gyrase inhibition assays confirmed enhanced enzyme targeting, with TRZS-nanogels achieving an IC50 of 4.44 μg mL-1, representing a 5.7-fold improvement compared to the free compound. Furthermore, nanogels significantly inhibited biofilm formation, achieving up to 79% inhibition in MRSA and 69% in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Cytotoxicity studies on human fibroblast cells demonstrated high biocompatibility, with cell viability maintained above 85% at therapeutic concentrations. These findings highlight Cs/PVP nanogels as promising drug delivery systems with dual antibacterial mechanisms, offering improved potency, safety, and potential clinical application against MDR infections.
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