Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant challenge in modern medicine, reducing the effectiveness of many therapeutic agents against various pathogens. Exacerbating this problem is the alarming fact that no new class of antibiotics has been discovered in nearly four decades. Experts warn that if the current trend of AMR continues unchecked, the world could face a bleak future where infectious diseases have no effective cure, where even minor injuries will become deadly. With the projections indicating that by 2050, up to 10 million people could die annually from drug-resistant infections, immediate and decisive action is urgently needed. Unfortunately, low-middle-income countries (LMICs) will carry the greatest burden of this impending crisis. LMICs are more vulnerable as counterfeit antibiotics are prevalent and over-the-counter antibiotic supply is widespread, with limited prevention measures. Factors aggravating the situation even further include limited access to quality healthcare. Therefore, to help reduce the burden on antimicrobial drugs and combat AMR, this study aims to develop various antimicrobial materials utilizing biopolymers such as chitosan.
In this study, chitosan, which is a biopolymer derived from chitin, was used as a base material to develop various materials with antimicrobial properties. Chitosan's unique properties make it well-suited for developing such materials. Additionally, chitosan is biodegradable, biocompatible, and non-toxic, and has strong antimicrobial activity, making it appropriate for biomedical applications. The research produced a range of chitosan-based materials, including nanoparticles (NPs), nanofibers, films, and hydrogels. At the core of the studies conducted, molecular docking was carried out first to design more targeted and efficient laboratory experiments, saving resources and time by preventing ineffective trials.
The first part of the study examined the dual-antimicrobial activity of N-(2-hydroxyl) propyl-3-trimethyl ammonium chitosan chloride (HTCC) and its nanoparticles (NPs) against Staphylococcus aureus and human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1). HTCC and its NPs showed strong antibacterial activity against S. aureus. The antiviral activity of HTCC against HIV-1 was minimal; however, nanosizing significantly enhanced its antiviral effectiveness. In the second part of the study, an antiviral filter was developed to target enveloped viruses. The filters were made using ethyl cellulose nanofibers incorporated with NSC/HTCC NPs. These filters could block 70% of HIV-1 within 40 seconds and could be reused up to 3 times while maintaining over 90% inhibition. Most importantly, these filters were not toxic to TZM-bl cells. The third part of the study focused on the development of films and hydrogels as potential wound dressings for chronic wounds. The developed wound dressings demonstrated strong antibacterial and antioxidant properties and
promoted fibroblast cell growth and migration, indicating their potential as effective antimicrobial dressings that can accelerate wound healing.
The antimicrobial materials developed in this study, including nanoparticles, nanofibers, films, and hydrogels showed promising potential for biomedical uses. These materials exhibited strong antiviral, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties and were non-toxic to the tested cell lines. Additionally, some computational studies further validated the experimental findings. These promising antimicrobial materials could be applied in real-world settings as cost-effective solutions for managing infectious diseases.