Enhancing Antibiotic Efficacy: PCL-Magnetite Nanoparticle Composites

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), as a pioneering class of synthetic aliphatic polyesters, have garnered as highly promising materials in biomedicine, owing to their biocompatibility, degradability, and adaptability. Magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) integrated within PCL work as excellent candidates for biomedical applications as well as antimicrobial activity. The aim of this study is to presenting novel approach to augment antibiotic drug activity by stabilizing super-paramagnetic iron nanoparticles (SPIONs) within a synthesized tri-arm PCL matrix, achieved through the modification of SPION cores with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, confirmed the successful synthesis of PCL-APTMS-SPION nanocomposite. This composite demonstrated the stability, uniform dispersion of SPIONs, and the prevention of particle aggregation within the PCL matrix. In vitro studies revealed a substantial enhancement in antibiotic activity when antibiotics were co-administered with PCL-APTMS-SPION composite. The APTMS-modified SPIONs facilitated superior drug uptake and retention within bacterial cells, resulting in enhanced antibacterial efficacy against several bacterial strains as E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas sp. and Shigella sonnei. Cytotoxicity assessments established the biocompatibility of PCL-APTMS-SPION complexes, endorsing their suitability for potential clinical applications.