Cysteine-Capped Hydrogels Incorporating Copper as Effective Antimicrobial Materials against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Antibacterial Activity of Copper Particles Embedded in Knitted Fabrics

The composition and antibacterial properties of copper particles synthesized by a very simple reduction method were studied. For the preparation of particles in knitted fabrics, copper(II) sulfate was used as a precursor and ascorbic acid as a reducing natural agent. X-ray diffraction analysis showed the crystalline nature of the obtained particles. The round or oval particles and their agglomerates in knitted fabrics consisted of copper with traces of copper(I) oxide-cuprite. The element maps and energy dispersive X-ray spectra showed a high content of copper in the samples. The samples of wool and cotton knitted fabrics with copper particles had excellent antibacterial activity against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacterial strains. The maximum zones of inhibition were 19.3 mm for S. aureus and 18.3 mm for E. coli using wool knitted fabric and 14.7 mm and 15.3 mm using cotton knitted fabric, respectively. The obtained results showed that the modified wool and cotton fabrics are suitable for use as inserts in reusable masks due to their noticeable and long-term activity against pathogenic bacteria.

Porous Curdlan-Based Hydrogels Modified with Copper Ions as Potential Dressings for Prevention and Management of Bacterial Wound Infection-An In Vitro Assessment

Bacterial infections at the wound site still remain a huge problem for current medicine, as they may lead to development of chronic wounds. In order to prevent such infections, there is a need to use wound dressings that possess ability to inhibit bacterial colonization. In this study, three new curdlan-based biomaterials modified with copper ions were fabricated via simple and inexpensive procedure, and their structural, physicochemical, and biological properties in vitro were evaluated. Received biomaterials possessed porous structure, had ability to absorb high amount of simulated wound fluid, and importantly, they exhibited satisfactory antibacterial properties. Nevertheless, taking into account all evaluated properties of new curdlan-based biomaterials, it seems that Cur_Cu_8% is the most promising biomaterial for management of wounds accompanied with bacterial infections. This biomaterial exhibited the best ability to reduce Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus growth and moreover, it absorbed the highest amount of simulated wound fluid as well as enabled optimal water vapor transmission. Furthermore, Cur_Cu_8% biomaterial possessed the best values of selective indexes, which determine its potential safety in vitro. Thus, Cur_Cu_8% hydrogel may be considered as a promising candidate for management of infected wounds as well as it may constitute a good platform for further modifications.