Silver(i) coordination polymer meets chia seed mucilage based film – antimicrobial performance and evaluation of permeability trends through human skin in vitro

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the critical threats, resulting in nearly 3500 deaths every day, jeopardizing the health system globally. This alarming issue demands urgent attention and action in the form of designing and generating new, effective disinfecting and therapeutic materials. Herein, we present a new chia seed-based film (CSM) and CSM-doped with therapeutic 1D coordination polymer [Ag(μ-PTA)(Df)(H₂O)]_n·3nH₂O (1) (composite 1@CSM). Both compound 1 and its composite 1@CSM revealed a broad spectrum of antimicrobial action, with complete halting of the growth of clinically significant pathogenic microorganisms E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans. Simultaneously, in vitro drug permeation analysis of 1 using human cadaver skin as a membrane revealed the potential for topical delivery of antimicrobial compound 1 for localized action in the upper layers of the epidermis, specifically the stratum corneum, and the transdermal delivery of diclofenac sodium (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, NSAID). This development not only opens the door to the exploration of Ag(I)-based coordination polymers as promising transdermal drug delivery systems, but it also significantly enhances the narrow field of therapeutic coordination polymers that exhibit synergistic effects of antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and demulcent action.