pH-Responsive Microcapsules Loaded with Copper Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Infected Burn Wounds

abstract

English

Infected burns and chronic wounds can escalate into huge complications, including the potentially life-threatening condition of sepsis. In numerous cases, traditionally used antibiotics have been ineffective, because of the resistance exhibited by multiple bacterial strains. Notably, there has been a growing focus on the development of new materials, enriched with inorganic nanoparticles, to be effective against bacterial strains that have acquired resistance to antibiotics. Over recent years, numerous drug and nanoparticle delivery systems have been developed, featuring pH triggered release tailored to the acidic pH environment for cancer treatment. Surprisingly, there have been only a few studies that aimed to form pH-responsive delivery systems for release in alkaline pH region of infectious wounds. In this project, our primary goal was to synthesize antibacterial copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) that are encapsulated in poly(lactic acid) capsules with faster release in alkaline pH region of the infectious wound. The faster release is based on the fundamental principle of electrostatic repulsion. The synthesis of copper nanoparticles starts with chemical reduction, followed by stabilization with chitosan of both, low (LMw) and medium molecular weight (MMw). Stabilized nanoparticles were encapsulated in pH-responsive capsules made of poly(lactic acid), a biodegradable polyacid widely used in medicine. Prepared samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and UV-VIS spectroscopy. Our preliminary results from CuNPs synthesis involved the comparison of LMw and MMw chitosan as stabilizing agents. CuNPs coated with MMw chitosan stabilized particles had an average radius of 203.9 nm, while those coated with LMw chitosan exhibited an average radius of 170.4 nm. It's noteworthy that LMw chitosan-coated particles exhibited a reduced tendency to form clusters, a characteristic that may be advantageous in subsequent encapsulation. In conclusion, many different materials, such as scaffolds, wound dressings, or hydrogels can be enriched with these antibacterial particles and used for wound infection treatment.

Copper, nanoparticles, microcapsules, chitosan, pH, infected wounds

POLÁKOVÁ, V.; FOHLEROVÁ, Z.; VOJTOVÁ, L.

26. 10. 2023

Brno

85

85

108

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TSTUdgBvfOhhfbUBjU5ceFjHqkLI3vyo/view?usp=sharing