PEG-Functionalized Magnetite Nanoparticles for Modulation of Microbial Biofilms on Voice Prosthesis
Mara Caciandone, Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu, Aurelian Radu Roșu, Valentina Grumezescu, Irina Neguț, Alina Maria Holban, Ovidiu Oprea, Bogdan Ştefan Vasile, Alexandra Cătălina Bîrcă, Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu, Miruna S. Stan, Alina Georgiana Anghel, Ion Anghel
Abstract
This study reports the fabrication of nanostructured coatings based on magnetite, polyethyleneglycol, and biologically active molecule (polymyxin B-PM) for producing biofilm-resistant surfaces (voice prosthesis). Magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) have been synthesized and functionalized using a co-precipitation method and were further deposited into thin coatings using the matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) technique. The obtained nanoparticles and coatings were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis with differential scanning calorimetry (TGA-DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy with selected area electron diffraction (TEM-SAED), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and infrared microscopy (IRM). Their antibiofilm activity was tested against relevant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial strains. The Fe3O4@PEG/PM surface of modified voice prosthesis sections reduced the number of CFU/mL up to four orders of magnitude in the case of S. aureus biofilm. A more significant inhibitory effect is noticed in the case of P. aeruginosa up to five folds. These results highlight the importance of new Fe3O4@PEG/PM in the biomedical field.