Developing Advanced Antibacterial Alginic Acid Biomaterials through Dual Functionalization
Vincenzo Patamia, Erika Saccullo, Virginia Fuochi, Federica Magaletti, Luca Trecarichi, Salvatore Furnari, Pio Maria Furneri, Vincenzina Barbera, Giuseppe Floresta, Antonio Rescifina
Abstract
This paper delves into the intersection of biomaterials and antibacterial agents, highlighting the importance of alginic acid-based biomaterials. We investigate enhancing antibacterial properties by functionalizing alginic acid with an ionic liquid and a potent chelating agent, tris(hydroxypyridinone) (THP). Initial functionalization with the ionic liquid markedly improves the material's antibacterial efficacy. Subsequent functionalization with THP further enhances this activity, reducing the minimum inhibitory concentration from 6 to 3 mg/mL. Notably, the newly developed dual-functionalized materials exhibit no cytotoxic effects at the concentrations tested, underscoring their potential for safe and effective antibacterial applications. These findings highlight the promising role of dual-functionalized alginic acid biomaterials in developing advanced antibacterial treatments.