Nanoparticles possess unique physicochemical properties, important for the efficient transport through the cell membranes. The small and controllable size, large surface area to mass ratio, and high reactivity facilitate the intracellular delivery, thereby overcoming some of the limitations in traditional antimicrobial therapeutics. Chemically modified biopolymers (thiolated chitosan and aminocellulose) were processed into nanoparticles via a one-step sonochemical process and evaluated for their antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphyloccocus aureus. Thiolated chitosan and aminocellulose were shown to possess improved antimicrobial properties compared to the starting biopolymers and even higher bactericide effect was observed after processed into nanoparticles. The mechanistic insights were obtained by Langmuir monolayer technique using Escherichia coli phospholipids as membrane models. The high cationic character of the modified biopolymers and the obtained spherical structure were found to allow efficient interaction with the phospholipid heads and tails, crucial for their antibacterial activity and transport through cell membranes.

Nanobiopolymers: Efficient antimicrobials with membrane disturbant capacity

245th National Meeting (2013)

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