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One-pot synthesis of alginate-antimicrobial peptide nanogel

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Abstract

Nanosized alginate-based particles (NAPs) were obtained in a one-pot solvent-free synthesis procedure, achieving the design of a biocompatible nanocarrier for the encapsulation of IbM6 antimicrobial peptide (IbM6). IbM6 is integrated in the nascent nanosized hydrogel self-assembly guided by electrostatic interactions and by weak interactions, typical of soft matter. The formation of the nanogel is a dynamic and complex process, which presents an interesting temporal evolution. In this work, we optimized the synthesis conditions of IbM6-NAPs based on small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements and evaluated its time evolution over several weeks by sensing the IbM6 environment in IbM6-NAPs from photochemical experiments. Fluorescence deactivation experiments revealed that the accessibility of different quenchers to the IbM6 peptide embedded in NAPs is dependent on the aging time of the alginate network. Lifetimes measurements indicate that the deactivation paths of the excited state of the IbM6 in the nanoaggregates are reduced when compared with those exhibited by the peptide in aqueous solution, and are also dependent on the aging time of the nanosized alginate network. Finally, the entrapment of IbM6 in NAPs hinders the degradation of the peptide by trypsin, increasing its antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli K-12 in simulated operation conditions.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by funds from the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences of the University of Buenos Aires (FCEyN, UBA, +4i project), the National Scientific and Technological Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), PIP 11220170100991CO and the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS, Brazil, proposal SAXS1-20190143 and SAXS1-20190073). We acknowledge the technical assistance of Luciana Pavone in part of the experimental work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física (DQIAQF), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Brianne Salvati, Beatriz C. Barja & Mercedes Perullini

  2. Instituto de Química de Materiales medio Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Brianne Salvati, Beatriz C. Barja & Mercedes Perullini

  3. Universidad de Magdalena, Santa Marta, Colombia

    Johanna Marcela Flórez-Castillo

  4. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Patricio Román Santagapita

  5. Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono (CIHIDECAR), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Patricio Román Santagapita

  6. Universidad de Santander UDES, Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas para la Sostenibilidad-CIBAS, Santander, Colombia

    Johanna Marcela Flórez-Castillo

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  1. Brianne Salvati
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Correspondence to Beatriz C. Barja or Mercedes Perullini.

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Salvati, B., Flórez-Castillo, J.M., Santagapita, P.R. et al. One-pot synthesis of alginate-antimicrobial peptide nanogel. Photochem Photobiol Sci 23, 665–679 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43630-024-00542-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43630-024-00542-5

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