Issue 18, 2025

Enhanced antimicrobial protection through surface immobilization of antibiotic-loaded peptide multicompartment micelles

Abstract

The escalating global threat of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, driven by biofilm formation on medical device surfaces, prompts the need for innovative therapeutic strategies. To address this growing challenge, we develop rifampicin-loaded multicompartment micelles (RIF-MCMs) immobilized on surfaces, offering a dual-functional approach to enhance antimicrobial efficacy for localized therapeutic applications. We first optimize the physicochemical properties of RIF-MCMs, and subsequently coat the optimal formulation onto a glass substrate, as confirmed by quartz crystal microbalance and atomic force microscopy. Surface-immobilized RIF-MCMs facilitate sustained antibiotic release in response to biologically relevant temperatures (37 °C and 42 °C). In addition, their heterogeneous distribution enhances the surface's roughness, contributing to the antibacterial activity through passive mechanisms such as hindering bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation. In vitro antimicrobial testing demonstrates that RIF-MCM-modified surfaces achieve a 98% reduction in Staphylococcus aureus viability and a three-order-of-magnitude decrease in colony formation compared to unmodified surfaces. In contrast, RIF-MCMs exhibit minimal cytotoxicity to mammalian cells, making them suitable candidates for medical device coatings. Our dual-function antimicrobial strategy, combining sustained antibiotic release and enhanced surface roughness, presents a promising approach to locally prevent implant-associated infections and biofilm formation.

Graphical abstract: Enhanced antimicrobial protection through surface immobilization of antibiotic-loaded peptide multicompartment micelles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
04 Feb 2025
Accepted
07 Apr 2025
First published
09 Apr 2025
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2025,13, 5365-5379

Enhanced antimicrobial protection through surface immobilization of antibiotic-loaded peptide multicompartment micelles

S. Tarvirdipour, S. N. Abdollahi, J. Köser, M. Bina, C. Schoenenberger and C. G. Palivan, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2025, 13, 5365 DOI: 10.1039/D5TB00246J

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