Functionalized nanoparticles as potential antibiofilm agents

OP053: FUNCTIONALIZED NANOPARTICLES AS POTENTIAL ANTIBIOFILM AGENTS 1Gelain, A., 1Mori, M., 1Meneghetti, F., 2,3Molino, P., 2,3Hayes, P., 1Villa, S. 1 University of Milan, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, Milan, Italy, arianna.gelain@unimi.it, matteo.mori@unimi.it, fiorella.meneghetti@unimi.it, stefania.villa@unimi.it 2 University of Wollongong, AIIM Faculty, Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, Wollongong, Australia 3 Australian National Fabrication Facility (Materials Node), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, pmolino@uow.edu.au, phayes@uow.edu.au Introduction: Although some bacterial biofilms could be beneficial to human health (e.g. human microbiome), it is known that they are also recognized as one of the main pathogenesis factors in the development of chronic infectious processes. Their growth can be prevented through surface modification by hindering bacterial adhesion or by inhibiting the development of bacterial microcolonies, using antibiofilm agents (passive or active coating). The aim of our research was the covalent functionalization of nanoparticles with natural derivatives that, previously used to obtain new materials (1), have shown interesting antibiofilm properties (2), limiting the problems related to existing coatings. Materials and Methods: Ludox HS-40 colloidal silica was selected for the functionalization, considering its potential to be used as coating on different types of surfaces. The compounds used to functionalize Ludox HS-40, through suitable linkers (differing for nature and length), were salicylic and cinnamic acids derivatives (Figure 1). The obtained nanoparticles were characterized by means of qualitative analyses (FT-IR and Raman) to verify the functionalization of the new nanoparticles and quantitative analyses (TGA, XPS) to assess the degree of nanoparticles functionalization. Figure 1. Schematic representation of novel functionalized Ludox HS-40 nanoparticles Results: The analytical data confirmed that the functionalization procedures occurred correctly both in the final derivatives and in the various intermediates. Conclusions: These novel nanoparticles could provide long-term protection from biofilm growth and reduce the risk of developing resistant strains. References: 1.Cattò et al., (2015), Plos One, 10:1-24. 2.Cattò et al., (2017), Biofouling, 33:235-251.