Novel comb-type hydrogels of net-[PP-g-AAc]-g-4VP synthesized by gamma radiation, with possible application on Cu2+ immobilization

Inhibition of Adherence and Biofilm Formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by Immobilized ZnO Nanoparticles on Silicone Urinary Catheter Grafted by Gamma Irradiation

Nosocomial infections caused by microbial biofilm formation on biomaterial surfaces such as urinary catheters are complicated by antibiotic resistance, representing a common problem in hospitalized patients. Therefore, we aimed to modify silicone catheters to resist microbial adherence and biofilm formation by the tested microorganisms. This study used a simple direct method to graft poly-acrylic acid onto silicone rubber films using gamma irradiation to endow the silicone surface with hydrophilic carboxylic acid functional groups. This modification allowed the silicone to immobilize ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) as an anti-biofilm. The modified silicone films were characterized by FT-IR, SEM, and TGA. The anti-adherence ability of the modified silicone films was evidenced by the inhibition of biofilm formation by otherwise strong biofilm-producing Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and yeast clinical isolates. The modified ZnO NPs grafted silicone showed good cytocompatibility with the human epithelial cell line. Moreover, studying the molecular basis of the inhibitory effect of the modified silicone surface on biofilm-associated genes in a selected Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolate showed that anti-adherence activity might be due to the significant downregulation of the expression of lasR, lasI, and lecB genes by 2, 2, and 3.3-fold, respectively. In conclusion, the modified silicone catheters were low-cost, offering broad-spectrum anti-biofilm activity with possible future applications in hospital settings.

Reversible immobilization of laccase to poly(4-vinylpyridine) grafted and Cu(II) chelated magnetic beads: biodegradation of reactive dyes

Poly(4-vinyl pyridine), poly(VP), as a novel metal-chelating fibrous polymer was grafted on the magnetic beads. Poly(4-VP) grafted and/or Cu(II) ions chelated magnetic beads were used for reversible immobilization of Trametes versicolor laccase, and the amounts of immobilized laccase on the beads were determined as 36.8 and 56.4 mg/g beads, respectively. The adsorption of laccase on both modified magnetic beads appeared to follow the Langmuir isotherm model. The degradation of textile dyes with immobilized laccase on the metal chelated magnetic beads was evaluated in a batch system. Three different reactive textile dyes (i.e., Reactive Green 19, Reactive Red 2 and Reactive Brown 10) were successfully degraded in the enzyme reactor. It was observed that the decolorization rate varied widely with chemical structure and types of the substitute group of the reactive dye molecules.