Page 96 - IJB-10-4

International Journal of Bioprinting Biomaterials with antibacterial agents

biopolymers have been conducted, addressing the complex also aid in accelerating the healing process. Antibacterial
requirements of wound care and offering a multifaceted surface coatings, incorporating organic and inorganic
approach to chronic wound healing. 32,33 There has been antimicrobial agents, can decrease bacterial adhesion
a growing interest in the manufacturing specificity of on biomaterial surfaces. Self-defensive biomaterial
synthetic polymers since they can be adjusted to meet surfaces release antimicrobials only in the presence of a
the real-world needs. Some synthetic biomaterials are microbial challenge, thus reducing the risk of resistance
biodegradable, and the byproducts of the degradation development. Nanostructured biomaterials with chemical
process are commonly employed as temporary implants or physical surface modifications, nano-pattern surfaces,
as well as delivery systems. These synthetic materials are and nanoparticles can prevent microbial colonization and
potentially affordable and readily available on the market. biofilm formation. These strategies aim to enhance wound
Furthermore, easy preparation that leads to controlled healing, prevent infections, and improve the success of
physicochemical qualities and stability, good mechanical tissue engineering applications. 38
stability with intriguing mechanical properties, and Antibacterial substances can either suppress or
controlled degradation are characteristics of synthetic eradicate bacteria (and fungus as well). Based on their
polymers. However, they are not biologically inert and carry composition and chemical structure, the antibacterial
a potential toxicity risk. 34,35 They have limited applications materials are categorized into four groups: antibiotics,
due to the use of hazardous solvents during production, antiseptics, natural extracts, and antimicrobial peptides.
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melting points being higher than body temperature, and The treatment of bacterial infections is further
lack of qualities that foster biological functions such as compounded by the bacteria developing resistance to
cellular recognition, proliferation, or differentiation. antimicrobial agents. Each class of antibacterial drugs has
Additionally, encasing cells in artificial polymers are more a unique mode of action and mechanism (the way in which
challenging than in natural ones.
a drug affects microbes at the cellular level), as presented
Synthetic biopolymers have been extensively researched in Figure 3. Generally, there are six major modes of action:
in the realm of skin tissue engineering. By virtue of their (1) interference with cell wall synthesis, (2) inhibition
close structural resemblance to the natural ECM in the of protein synthesis, (3) interference with nucleic acid
skin, synthetic biopolymers hold importance for skin synthesis, (4) inhibition of a metabolic pathway, (5)
tissue engineering. These polymers can be engineered inhibition of membrane function, and (6) inhibition of
to have certain mechanical, chemical, and biological ATP synthase. Hence, the antibacterial drugs can target
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characteristics that aid in tissue regeneration, cell adhesion, cell wall, cell membrane, nucleic acid synthesis, protein
and proliferation. Several artificial biopolymers that are synthesis, and biological metabolic compound synthesis.
frequently employed in skin tissue engineering via 3D Thousands of wound dressing types have been invented in
bioprinting approach are polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), poly- the last several decades not only to afford simple barrier
lactic acid (PLA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), poly (lactide- functions but also to treat wounds, and some of these
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co-glycolide) (PLGA), and polycaprolactone (PCL), as wound dressings possess antimicrobial and antibacterial
described in Table 2. properties, which are exerted by carriers and drugs, as
listed in Table 3. The unique physicochemical properties of
3. Incorporation of antibacterial functional biomaterials can induce the rupture of bacterial
compounds into biomaterials cell membrane through direct contact between materials
and bacteria.
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Accelerating wound healing while minimizing bacterial
infection is one of the most important requirements for The integration of various antibacterial agents into
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wound dressings. Incorporating antimicrobial compounds biomaterials is crucial for various applications. Some
into biomaterials or the use of wound dressings loaded examples of the integration methods include surface
with antimicrobial compounds are crucial strategies for modification, encapsulation, and covalent bonding. Surface
preventing the entry and colonization of microorganisms modification involves altering the surface properties
at injury sites. 36,37 This is particularly important in of biomaterials to incorporate antibacterial agents.
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medical and healthcare applications to reduce the risk Through the physical adsorption technique, antibacterial
of infections and promote healing. Hence, biomaterials compounds are physically adsorbed onto the surface of
with inherent antimicrobial properties can be used to biomaterials through non-covalent interactions such as
fabricate wound healing composites that reduce or inhibit van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, or electrostatic
bacterial growth. Designing wound dressing materials interactions. A review from Nouri et al. provides insights
with antibacterial activity and pH monitoring ability can into the formation of pathogens on the surfaces of

Volume 10 Issue 4 (2024) 88 doi: 10.36922/ijb.3372