AK&M 13 January 2025 12:59
Scientists at Tomsk Polytechnic University have synthesized new antibacterial eutectogels based on deep eutectic solvents (DES). Preliminary studies have shown that they effectively inhibit bacterial growth, prevent the formation of bacterial biofilms, and are capable of destroying already formed biofilms.
The research was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation (No. 24-23-00471). The results of the scientists’ work are published in the journal Materials Letters (Q2, IF: 2.7).
The research is aimed at solving the global problem of combating bacterial infections in the surgical treatment of various diseases.
“Antibacterial eutectogels can be used as independent materials as tissue-engineered scaffolds, gel fillers and drainage sorbents for wounds, as well as as controllably soluble antibacterial coatings for implantable medical devices. Such coatings prevent the formation of bacterial biofilms on the surface of implants and reduce the risk of infections in the implantation area in the early postoperative period. This approach to suppressing bacterial infections can potentially reduce or eliminate the need for postoperative systemic antibiotic therapy using antibiotics, as well as prevent the development of such dangerous chronic infectious diseases as osteomyelitis,” says Gleb Dubinenko, project leader, associate researcher at the Laboratory of Plasma Hybrid Systems at TPU.
The scientists used lactic, glycolic and tartaric acids to synthesize deep eutectic solvents (DES). They serve as donors of hydrogen bonds, contributing to the formation of DES in combination with ammonium salts. The polytechnics analyzed the chemical structure, thermal and rheological properties of the synthesized DES. The results showed that they do indeed form a stable eutectic mixture.
Further, the polytechnics investigated the functional and biological properties of the material, for example, the ability to inhibit bacterial growth and destroy bacterial biofilms. TPU scientists also evaluated the cytotoxicity of the developed DES on connective tissue cells – fibroblasts.
Preliminary studies have shown that DES based on oxycarboxylic acids effectively inhibit bacterial growth, prevent the formation of bacterial biofilms and are able to destroy already formed biofilms and have less cytotoxicity compared to pure acids,” adds Gleb Dubinenko.
Based on the developed DES and using water-soluble polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinylpyrrolidone, the polytechnics synthesized a gel. Combinations of these polymers in various ratios make it possible to obtain eutectogels with controlled solubility and degree of swelling, which is important for regulating the duration of the material’s antibacterial activity and the rate of its dissolution in the body.
TPU scientists also analyzed the physico-chemical and biological properties of eutectogel, including swelling, dissolution and release of components, and its behavior in buffer solutions that mimic human body fluids.
“In the future, we plan to conduct a series of experiments to prevent the formation of bacterial biofilms on the surface of model implants – porous scaffolds – based on polycaprolactone and hydroxyapatite. They are planned to be made using 3D printing. The task of this stage of work is to confirm the absence of fixed bacteria and formed biofilms on the surface of the implant,” says the scientist.
Scientists from the Laboratory of Plasma Hybrid Systems of the B.P. Weinberg Scientific and Educational Center and the N.M. Kizhner Scientific and Educational Center of TPU are working on the study.
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