MAPLE fabricated magnetite@eugenol and (3-hidroxybutyric acid-co-3-hidroxyvaleric acid)-polyvinyl alcohol microspheres coated surfaces with anti-microbial properties

This study reports the biological applications of a newly fabricated water dispersible nanostructure, based on magnetite (Fe3O4) and eugenol (E), prepared in a well-shaped spherical form by precipitation method. The presence of Fe3O4@E nanoparticles has been confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Nanoparticles have been embedded into poly(3-hidroxybutyric acid-co-3-hidroxyvaleric acid)-polyvinylalcohol (P(3HB-3HV)-PVA) microspheres by oil-in-water emulsion technique. Functionalized P(3HB-3HV)- PVA-Fe3O4@ E microspheres coatings have been fabricated by matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE). The coatings have been characterized by infrared microscopy (IRM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In vitro biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was assessed by the viable cell counts technique. Nanomaterial biocompatibility has been investigated by analyzing the phenotypic changes of cultured eukaryotic cells. Besides their excellent anti-adherence and anti-biofilm properties, the MAPLE coatings have the advantages of using bioactive natural compounds, which are less toxic and easily biodegradable than current antibiotics. This approach could be used as a successful alternative or adjuvant method to control and prevent microbial biofilms associated infections. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.