Exploring Nitrogen-Functionalized Graphene Composites for Urinary Catheter Applications
Graphene has been broadly studied, particularly for the fabrication of biomedical devices, owing to its physicochemical and antimicrobial properties. In this study, the antibiofilm efficacy of graphene nanoplatelet (GNP)-based composites as coatings for urinary catheters (UCs) was investigated. GNPs...
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/18/2604 |
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| author | Rita Teixeira-Santos Luciana C. Gomes Rita Vieira Francisca Sousa-Cardoso Olívia S. G. P. Soares Filipe J. Mergulhão |
| author_facet | Rita Teixeira-Santos Luciana C. Gomes Rita Vieira Francisca Sousa-Cardoso Olívia S. G. P. Soares Filipe J. Mergulhão |
| author_sort | Rita Teixeira-Santos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Graphene has been broadly studied, particularly for the fabrication of biomedical devices, owing to its physicochemical and antimicrobial properties. In this study, the antibiofilm efficacy of graphene nanoplatelet (GNP)-based composites as coatings for urinary catheters (UCs) was investigated. GNPs were functionalized with nitrogen (N-GNP) and incorporated into a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix. The resulting materials were characterized, and the N-GNP/PDMS composite was evaluated against single- and multi-species biofilms of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, and <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>. Both biofilm cell composition and structure were analyzed. Furthermore, the antibacterial mechanisms of action of N-GNP were explored. The N-GNP/PDMS composite showed increased hydrophobicity and roughness compared to PDMS. In single-species biofilms, this composite significantly reduced the number of <i>S. aureus</i>, <i>P. aeruginosa</i>, and <i>K. pneumoniae</i> cells (by 64, 41, and 29%, respectively), and decreased <i>S. aureus</i> biofilm culturability (by 50%). In tri-species biofilms, a 41% reduction in total cells was observed. These results are aligned with the outcomes of the biofilm structure analysis. Moreover, N-GNP caused changes in membrane permeability and triggered reactive oxygen species (ROS) synthesis in <i>S. aureus</i>, whereas in Gram-negative bacteria, it only induced changes in cell metabolism. Overall, the N-GNP/PDMS composite inhibited biofilm development, showing the potential of these carbon materials as coatings for UCs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:21:15Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:21:15Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-5d68e6406e0a43af8a47b2b4b0232ab22023-11-19T12:15:20ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912023-09-011318260410.3390/nano13182604Exploring Nitrogen-Functionalized Graphene Composites for Urinary Catheter ApplicationsRita Teixeira-Santos0Luciana C. Gomes1Rita Vieira2Francisca Sousa-Cardoso3Olívia S. G. P. Soares4Filipe J. Mergulhão5LEPABE—Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalLEPABE—Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalLEPABE—Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalLEPABE—Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalALiCE—Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalLEPABE—Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalGraphene has been broadly studied, particularly for the fabrication of biomedical devices, owing to its physicochemical and antimicrobial properties. In this study, the antibiofilm efficacy of graphene nanoplatelet (GNP)-based composites as coatings for urinary catheters (UCs) was investigated. GNPs were functionalized with nitrogen (N-GNP) and incorporated into a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix. The resulting materials were characterized, and the N-GNP/PDMS composite was evaluated against single- and multi-species biofilms of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, and <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>. Both biofilm cell composition and structure were analyzed. Furthermore, the antibacterial mechanisms of action of N-GNP were explored. The N-GNP/PDMS composite showed increased hydrophobicity and roughness compared to PDMS. In single-species biofilms, this composite significantly reduced the number of <i>S. aureus</i>, <i>P. aeruginosa</i>, and <i>K. pneumoniae</i> cells (by 64, 41, and 29%, respectively), and decreased <i>S. aureus</i> biofilm culturability (by 50%). In tri-species biofilms, a 41% reduction in total cells was observed. These results are aligned with the outcomes of the biofilm structure analysis. Moreover, N-GNP caused changes in membrane permeability and triggered reactive oxygen species (ROS) synthesis in <i>S. aureus</i>, whereas in Gram-negative bacteria, it only induced changes in cell metabolism. Overall, the N-GNP/PDMS composite inhibited biofilm development, showing the potential of these carbon materials as coatings for UCs.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/18/2604nitrogen-functionalized graphenecompositeantibiofilm activitymulti-species biofilmurinary catheters |
| spellingShingle | Rita Teixeira-Santos Luciana C. Gomes Rita Vieira Francisca Sousa-Cardoso Olívia S. G. P. Soares Filipe J. Mergulhão Exploring Nitrogen-Functionalized Graphene Composites for Urinary Catheter Applications Nanomaterials nitrogen-functionalized graphene composite antibiofilm activity multi-species biofilm urinary catheters |
| title | Exploring Nitrogen-Functionalized Graphene Composites for Urinary Catheter Applications |
| title_full | Exploring Nitrogen-Functionalized Graphene Composites for Urinary Catheter Applications |
| title_fullStr | Exploring Nitrogen-Functionalized Graphene Composites for Urinary Catheter Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring Nitrogen-Functionalized Graphene Composites for Urinary Catheter Applications |
| title_short | Exploring Nitrogen-Functionalized Graphene Composites for Urinary Catheter Applications |
| title_sort | exploring nitrogen functionalized graphene composites for urinary catheter applications |
| topic | nitrogen-functionalized graphene composite antibiofilm activity multi-species biofilm urinary catheters |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/18/2604 |
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