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Influence of the Hydrophobicity of Pluronic Micelles Encapsulating Curcumin on the Membrane Permeability and Enhancement of Photoinduced Antibacterial Activity. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14102137. [PMID: 36297572 PMCID: PMC9608470 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14102137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Apart from its well-known activity as an antimicrobial agent, Curcumin (CURC) has recently started to arouse interest as a photosensitizer in the photodynamic therapy of bacterial infections. The aim of the present study was to evidence the influence of the encapsulation of Curcumin into polymeric micelles on the efficiency of photoinduced microbial inhibition. The influence of the hydrophobicity of the selected Pluronics (P84, P123, and F127) on the encapsulation, stability, and antimicrobial efficiency of CURC-loaded micelles was investigated. In addition, the size, morphology, and drug-loading capacity of the micellar drug delivery systems have been characterized. The influence of the presence of micellar aggregates and unassociated molecules of various Pluronics on the membrane permeability was investigated on both normal and resistant microbial strains of E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans. The antimicrobial efficiency on the common pathogens was assessed for CURC-loaded polymeric micelles in dark conditions and activated by blue laser light (470 nm). Significant results in the reduction of the microorganism’s growth were found in cultures of C. albicans, even at very low concentrations of surfactants and Curcumin. Unlike the membrane permeabilization effect of the monomeric solution of Pluronics, reported in the case of tumoral cells, a limited permeabilization effect was found on the studied microorganisms. Encapsulation of the Curcumin in Pluronic P84 and P123 at very low, nontoxic concentrations for photosensitizer and drug-carrier, produced CURC-loaded micelles that prove to be effective in the light-activated inhibition of resistant species of Gram-positive bacteria and fungi.
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Bucuresteanu R, Ionita M, Chihaia V, Ficai A, Trusca RD, Ilie CI, Kuncser A, Holban AM, Mihaescu G, Petcu G, Nicolaev A, Costescu RM, Husch M, Parvulescu V, Ditu LM. Antimicrobial Properties of TiO2 Microparticles Coated with Ca- and Cu-Based Composite Layers. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23136888. [PMID: 35805899 PMCID: PMC9266884 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23136888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of TiO2 to generate reactive oxygen species under UV radiation makes it an efficient candidate in antimicrobial studies. In this context, the preparation of TiO2 microparticles coated with Ca- and Cu-based composite layers over which Cu(II), Cu(I), and Cu(0) species were identified is presented here. The obtained materials were characterized by a wide range of analytical methods, such as X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy (TEM, SEM), X-ray photoelectron (XPS), and UV-VIS spectroscopy. The antimicrobial efficiency was evaluated using qualitative and quantitative standard methods and standard clinical microbial strains. A significant aspect of this composite is that the antimicrobial properties were evidenced both in the presence and absence of the light, as result of competition between photo and electrical effects. However, the antibacterial effect was similar in darkness and light for all samples. Because no photocatalytic properties were found in the absence of copper, the results sustain the antibacterial effect of the electric field (generated by the electrostatic potential of the composite layer) both under the dark and in light conditions. In this way, the composite layers supported on the TiO2 microparticles’ surface can offer continuous antibacterial protection and do not require the presence of a permanent light source for activation. However, the antimicrobial effect in the dark is more significant and is considered to be the result of the electric field effect generated on the composite layer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razvan Bucuresteanu
- Microbiology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Intr. Portocalelor 1-3, 060101 Bucharest, Romania; (R.B.); (A.-M.H.); (G.M.)
- Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, Sos. Panduri 90, 050663 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Monica Ionita
- Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 1-7 Gh Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Viorel Chihaia
- Institute of Physical Chemistry “Ilie Murgulescu”, Romanian Academy, Splaiul Independentei 202, 060021 Bucharest, Romania; (V.C.); (G.P.)
| | - Anton Ficai
- Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 1-7 Gh Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania; (A.F.); (C.-I.I.)
- National Centre for Micro and Nanomaterials and National Centre for Food Safety, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Spl. Indendentei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania;
- Academy of Romanian Scientists, 3 Ilfov Street, 050045 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Roxana-Doina Trusca
- National Centre for Micro and Nanomaterials and National Centre for Food Safety, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Spl. Indendentei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Cornelia-Ioana Ilie
- Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 1-7 Gh Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania; (A.F.); (C.-I.I.)
- National Centre for Micro and Nanomaterials and National Centre for Food Safety, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Spl. Indendentei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Andrei Kuncser
- National Institute of Materials Physics, 405A Atomistilor Street, 077125 Magurele, Romania; (A.K.); (A.N.); (R.M.C.)
| | - Alina-Maria Holban
- Microbiology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Intr. Portocalelor 1-3, 060101 Bucharest, Romania; (R.B.); (A.-M.H.); (G.M.)
- Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, Sos. Panduri 90, 050663 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Grigore Mihaescu
- Microbiology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Intr. Portocalelor 1-3, 060101 Bucharest, Romania; (R.B.); (A.-M.H.); (G.M.)
- Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, Sos. Panduri 90, 050663 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Gabriela Petcu
- Institute of Physical Chemistry “Ilie Murgulescu”, Romanian Academy, Splaiul Independentei 202, 060021 Bucharest, Romania; (V.C.); (G.P.)
| | - Adela Nicolaev
- National Institute of Materials Physics, 405A Atomistilor Street, 077125 Magurele, Romania; (A.K.); (A.N.); (R.M.C.)
| | - Ruxandra M. Costescu
- National Institute of Materials Physics, 405A Atomistilor Street, 077125 Magurele, Romania; (A.K.); (A.N.); (R.M.C.)
| | - Mihai Husch
- Faculty of Building Services Engineering, Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest, 020396 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Viorica Parvulescu
- Institute of Physical Chemistry “Ilie Murgulescu”, Romanian Academy, Splaiul Independentei 202, 060021 Bucharest, Romania; (V.C.); (G.P.)
- Correspondence: (V.P.); (L.-M.D.); Tel.: +40-744-42-15-51 (V.P.); +40-745-67-38-22 (L.M.-D.)
| | - Lia-Mara Ditu
- Microbiology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Intr. Portocalelor 1-3, 060101 Bucharest, Romania; (R.B.); (A.-M.H.); (G.M.)
- Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, Sos. Panduri 90, 050663 Bucharest, Romania
- Correspondence: (V.P.); (L.-M.D.); Tel.: +40-744-42-15-51 (V.P.); +40-745-67-38-22 (L.M.-D.)
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