Main-chain flexibility and hydrophobicity of ionenes strongly impact their antimicrobial activity: an extended study on drug resistance strains and .

The spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens and the resurgence of tuberculosis disease are major motivations to search for novel antimicrobial agents. Some promising candidates in this respect are cationic polymers, also known as synthetic mimics of antimicrobial peptides (SMAMPs), which act through the membrane-lytic mechanism. Development of resistance toward SMAMPs is less likely than toward currently employed antibiotics; however, further studies are needed to better understand their structure-activity relationship.

The effect of surface morphology on endothelial and smooth muscle cells growth on blow-spun fibrous scaffolds.

This study aimed to analyze the growth of two types of blood vessel building cells: endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) on surfaces with different morphology. Two types of materials, differing in morphology, were produced by the solution blow spinning technique. One-layer materials consisted of one fibrous layer with two fibrous surfaces.

Vascular Polyurethane Prostheses Modified with a Bioactive Coating-Physicochemical, Mechanical and Biological Properties.

This study describes a method for the modification of polyurethane small-diameter (5 mm) vascular prostheses obtained with the phase inversion method. The modification process involves two steps: the introduction of a linker (acrylic acid) and a peptide (REDV and YIGSR). FTIR and XPS analysis confirmed the process of chemical modification.

Influence of lipid bilayer composition on the activity of antimicrobial quaternary ammonium ionenes, the interplay of intrinsic lipid curvature and polymer hydrophobicity, the role of cardiolipin.

Incorporation of hydrophobic component into amphiphilic polycations structure is frequently accompanied by an increase of antimicrobial activity. There is, however, a group of relatively hydrophilic polycations containing quaternary ammonium moieties along mainchain, ionenes, which also display strong antimicrobial and limited hemolytic properties. In this work, an influence of a hydrophobic side group length on antimicrobial mechanism of action is investigated in a series of novel amphiphilic ionenes.

Cylindrical Polyurethane Scaffold Fabricated Using the Phase Inversion Method: Influence of Process Parameters on Scaffolds' Morphology and Mechanical Properties.

This work presents a method of obtaining cylindrical polymer structures with a given diameter (approx. 5 mm) using the phase inversion technique. As part of the work, the influence of process parameters (polymer hardness, polymer solution concentration, the composition of the non-solvent solution, process time) on the scaffolds' morphology was investigated.

In vitro haemocompatibility assessment of acrylic acid deposited on solid, polyurethane substrate.

The main purpose of the work was to assess the haemocompatible properties of polyurethane discs with a modified surface dedicated to cardiovascular system regeneration. They were coated with acrylic acid-based material to inhibit the activation of the blood coagulation cascade. This coating improved the wettability of the material, leading to the prevention of protein adsorption on the surface.

Fenton-type reaction grafting of polyvinylpyrrolidone onto polypropylene membrane for improving hemo- and biocompatibility.

Known techniques for modification of polypropylene membranes (PPm) often require modification of the membrane in its entire volume (i.e. at the manufacturing stage), which may affect its properties.

Hydrophilic Quaternary Ammonium Ionenes-Is There an Influence of Backbone Flexibility and Topology on Antibacterial Properties?

The antimicrobial properties of polycations are strongly affected by the structural features such as the backbone flexibility and topology (isomerism) through the polymer ability to attain proper conformation in interaction with the cell membrane. In this paper, a synthesis and biocidal properties evaluation of ionenes characterized by different backbone topology (isomerism) and flexibility are presented. The findings reveal influence of variation in topology on activity against different microorganisms, and general positive effect of improved flexibility.

Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) hydrogel coating for cylindrical polyurethane scaffolds.

The presented study describes a method for the preparation and modification of cylindrical polyurethane structures with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) hydrogel coating. The modified polyurethane scaffolds were fabricated using the phase-inversion technique and intended to be used as a vascular prosthesis. The proposed modification method involves a two-step Fenton-type reaction.

Amphiphilic Polymethyloxazoline-Polyethyleneimine Copolymers: Interaction with Lipid Bilayer and Antibacterial Properties.

Polycations, mimicking activity of antibacterial peptides, belong to an important class of molecules investigated as a support or as an alternative to antibiotics. In this work, studies of modified linear amphiphilic statistical polymethyloxazoline (PMOX) and polyethyleneimine copolymers (PMOX_PEI) series are presented. Variation of PEI content in the structure results in controllable changes of polymeric aggregates zeta potential.

Determination of polyurethane-grafted peptide (GSGREDVGSG) using bicinchoninic acid assay.

The goal in the presented study was to develop a simple, fast and accurate method for measuring the surface density of a short peptide sequence bound to a polymeric substrate. We analyzed polyurethane samples chemically modified with acrylic acid and polyurethane-grafted peptide (GSGREDVGSG) and investigated the possibility of using the bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay to determine surface density of the solid-supported peptide. We set the conditions (temperature, time) under which the test should be conducted.

Electropolymerized hydrophilic coating on stainless steel for biomedical applications.

Current metal implants (e.g. stents) covered with drug-eluting coatings are not robust for long-term usage.

Endothelialization of polyurethanes: Surface silanization and immobilization of REDV peptide.

The paper presents method for chemical immobilization of arginine-glutamic acid-aspartic acid-valine (REDV) peptide on polyurethane surface. The peptide has been covalently bonded using silanes as a spacer molecules. The aim of this work was to investigate the proposed modification process and assess its biological effectiveness, especially in contact with blood and endothelial cells.