Dual‐Functional Dextran‐PEG Hydrogel as an Antimicrobial Biomedical Material

Abstract

Microbial infections continually present a major worldwide public healthcare threat, particularly in instances of impaired wound healing and biomedical implant fouling. The development of new materials with the desired antimicrobial property to avoid and treat wound infection is urgently needed in wound care management. This study reports a novel dual-functional biodegradable dextran-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel covalently conjugated with antibacterial Polymyxin B and Vancomycin (Vanco). The hydrogel is designed as a specialized wound dressing that eradicates existing bacteria and inhibits further bacteria growth, while, ameliorating the side effects of antibiotics and accelerating tissue repair and regeneration. The hydrogel exhibits potent antibacterial activities against both gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) and gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) with no observable toxicity to mouse fibroblast cell line NIH 3T3. These results demonstrate the immense potential of dextran-PEG hydrogel as a wound dressing healthcare material in efficiently controlling bacteria growth in complex biological systems.

An injectable molecular hydrogel assembled by antimicrobial peptide PAF26 for antimicrobial application

“…However, its antimicrobial ability is not satised. To improve the antimicrobial ability, antimicrobial agents, including antimicrobial drugs, 9,10 metal ions (such as Ag + , Zn 2+ , and Cu 2+ ), [11][12][13] or antimicrobial peptides, 14,15 have been introduced.…”

Development and use of biomaterials as wound healing therapies

“…PVA hydrogels for wound healing often include other materials to stimulate the wound healing response such as curcumin [16] or zinc oxide nanoparticles [17] for antibacterial properties, and phlorotannins, derived from brown algae, which have been shown to promote fibroblast migration [18]. A polymer similar to PVA, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), is also commonly used for the fabrication of hydrogels, where Polymyxin B conjugated to PEG [19] has been shown to be antibacterial, and when combined as a hybrid with alginate can promote wound regeneration [20]. Advances in hydrogel polymerization methods also enable the use of injectable hydrogels (Fig.…”

Synthesis and characterization of a polymeric network made of polyethylene glycol and chitosan as a treatment with antibacterial properties for skin wounds

“…[8][9][10] One of the most studied polymers for wound dressing is polyethylene glycol (PEG), which is a synthetic polymer approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for intravenous, oral and dermal applications in humans. 11,12 In addition, PEG has unique properties such as high hydration capacity, inert in biological environment with poor protein adsorption, low cell activation and adhesion, nontoxic and good biocompatibility. 11 Thanks to all these properties, PEG is a good candidate for the treatment of wounds.…”