Functional Polymers as Innovative Tools in the Delivery of Antimicrobial Agents

• Format: eBook
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2022
• Subjects: accumulative release; agro-food-wastes; aliphatic dicarboxylic acids; anti-biofilm; antibiotics; antimicrobial activity of nanoparticles; antimicrobial agent; antimicrobial agents; antimicrobial amphiphiles; antimicrobial peptide; bioactivity; biocompatible polymer; biomedicine; bromelain; Candida albicans; carrier; cell viability from counting of colony-forming unities; chitosan; colistin; drug delivery; dynamic light scattering; equilibrium swelling ratio; Escherichia coli; essential oil; film nanocomposite; gram-negative bacteria; hybrid nanoparticles; hydrogel; linezolid; long-term package; MDR-Bacteria; mixed polymeric micelles; multidrug resistance; n/a; nanoliposomes; nanotechnologies; nisin; plant extracts; Pluronic F127; polymer therapeutics; polymeric nanocarriers; polymeric nanomaterial; polymyxin B; polyvinyl alcohol; Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary subjects; Research and information: general; scanning electron microscopy; self-assembly; silver nanoparticle; Staphylococcus aureus; supercritical CO2; sustained release; thermogravimetric analysis; wound healing
• DOI: 10.3390/books978-3-0365-3622-4
• ISBN: 3036536221; 9783036536217; 3036536213; 9783036536224

This Special Issue explored different topics concerning recent progress in the synthesis and characterization of suitable innovative macromolecular systems, proposed as carriers of specific antimicrobial molecules, to be employed in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. Many infectious diseases are induced by omnipresent micro-organisms, including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi, and algae, and, consequently, are very common, accounting for a significant share of the global disease burden. Unfortunately, antimicrobial resistance, adverse effects, and the high cost of antimicrobials are crucial health challenges worldwide. One of the common efforts in addressing this issue lies in improving the existing antimicrobial delivery systems. In this regard, nanoparticles as well as three-dimensional hydrophilic systems represent valuable tools able to ensure excellent performances. Biocompatible polymeric particles, entrapping these bioactive molecules, are capable of releasing them over a desired period of time, thereby decreasing the frequency of their administration. At the same time, these systems are able to protect antimicrobial drugs from degradation, enhancing their bioavailability. This Special Issue serves to highlight and capture the contemporary progress recorded in this field.