“Alginate/chitosan core-shell beads with bioactive functionalities”
ABOUT PROJECT
Since bacteria resistance depends on their aggregation in multicellular
community of polysaccharides, proteins, metabolites, DNA etc. (biofilm), an innovative
strategy is to develop therapies that can disrupt the complex structure
of the biofilm. The multicellularity of the biofilm defeat assures
infection overcoming by the host defence system and/or the restore of
the antibiotics efficacy.
Proposed potential therapy includes usage of the hydrolytic enzymes,
that can dissolve the polymeric matrix of the biofilm and subsequent
application of a well-known bacteria-sensitive antibiotic. In
the presented project polymeric core-shell beads constructed of alginate
core loaded with antibiotic and with chitosan shell with immobilized
enzyme increasing biofilm susceptibility to antimicrobial agents are
proposed as a new effective biomaterials to fight down resistant pathogenic microorganisms producing biofilm.
In future, prepared and studied in the presented project
alginate/chitosan beads can be applied in diabetic foot in form of
aerosols, the most appropriate drug form in case of these serious
chronic wounds.