Supramolecular biomaterials as drug nanocontainers with iron depletion properties for antimicrobial applications

This work reports the design of a new bacteria-killer based on maltol derivatives and β-cyclodextrin cryogels. The maltol covalently linked to the 3D polymer network chelates the iron ions efficiently, subtracting them from the bacterial environment, thus impeding microbial survival. At the same time, the hydrophobic cavities of β-cyclodextrin can work as nanocontainers to release pharmaceuticals on the infected tissue, reinforcing the bactericidal action. This non-conventional dual-acting system was successfully tested with and without the complexation of lomefloxacin by β-cyclodextrin. The material's remarkable activity was proven on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. As it turns out, such material is bactericidal owing to maltol chelating features; moreover, the material is able to improve the bactericidal activity when it releases lomefloxacin after its complexation inside β-cyclodextrin. Indeed, the presence of β-cyclodextrin nanocontainers holds the promise of compliance with various drugs, opening up exciting possibilities for diverse therapeutic applications. These innovations could potentially bring a new vista to wound dressing.