CNR ExploRA

Articolo in rivista, 2023, ENG, 10.3390/polym15051259

Imidazolium Salts for Candida spp. Antibiofilm High-Density Polyethylene-Based Biomaterials

Martins Leal Schrekker C.; Sokolovicz Y.C.A.; Raucci M.G.; Leal C.A.M.; Ambrosio L.; Lettieri Teixeira M.; Meneghello Fuentefria A.; Schrekker H.S.

Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Sarmento Leite 500, RS, Porto Alegre, 90050-170, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Sarmento Leite 500, RS, Porto Alegre, 90050-170, Brazil, , Brazil; Laboratory of Technological Processes and Catalysis, Institute of Chemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9500, RS, Porto Alegre, 91501-970, Laboratory of Technological Processes and Catalysis, Institute of Chemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9500, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil, , Brazil; Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council of Italy (IPCB-CNR), Viale John Fitzgerald Kennedy 54, Mostra d'Oltremare Padiglione 20, Naples, 80125, Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council of Italy (IPCB-CNR), Viale John Fitzgerald Kennedy 54, Mostra d'Oltremare Padiglione 20, Naples, 80125, Italy, , Italy; Laboratory of Biochemistry and Toxicology, Instituto Federal Catarinense (IFC), Rodovia SC 283--km 17, SC, Concórdia, 89703-720, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Toxicology, Instituto Federal Catarinense (IFC), Rodovia SC 283--km 17, SC, Concórdia, 89703-720, Brazil, , Brazil; Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Avenida Ipiranga 2752, RS, Porto Alegre, 90610-000, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Avenida Ipiranga 2752, Porto Alegre, RS, 90610-000, Brazil, , Brazil

The species of Candida present good capability to form fungal biofilms on polymeric surfaces and are related to several human diseases since many of the employed medical devices are designed using polymers, especially high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Herein, HDPE films containing 0; 0.125; 0.250 or 0.500 wt% of 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (CMImCl) or its analog 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate (CMImMeS) were obtained by melt blending and posteriorly mechanically pressurized into films. This approach resulted in more flexible and less brittle films, which impeded the Candida albicans, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis biofilm formation on their surfaces. The employed imidazolium salt (IS) concentrations did not present any significant cytotoxic effect, and the good cell adhesion/proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells on the HDPE-IS films indicated good biocompatibility. These outcomes combined with the absence of microscopic lesions in pig skin after contact with HDPE-IS films demonstrated their potential as biomaterials for the development of effective medical device tools that reduce the risk of fungal infections.

Polymers (Basel) 15