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Functional nanomaterials as antimicrobial agents

Hyperbranched dendritic polymers were modified with suitable functional groups having antimicrobial properties (e.g. quaternary ammonium groups, guanidinium moieties, triphenylphosphonium groups, etc.). Their bioactivity and mechanism of action was evaluated on various types of bacteria,1,2  and also on fungi.2-4 Additionally, chitin nanofiber/ZnO hybrid materials were also developed and their antibacterial properties were evaluated against bacteria.5

Moreover, research is focused on the development of antibacterial agents based on the aqueous dispersed carbon-based materials (carbon nanotubes, carbon nanodisks and graphene oxide) functionalized with positively charged dendritic polymers exhibiting antibacterial properties.6-12 The synthesis of hybrid nanomaterials was realized by either covalent or physical (electrostatic) interactions following eco-friendly and facile routes that can be easily adopted by the industry. The antibacterial properties of the developed nanomaterials were assessed against selected bacterial strains according to approved standards.

SEM images of Escherichia coli bacteria: untreated cells (A) and cells after incubation time with multi-walled carbon nanotubes decorated with partially quaternized hyperbranched poly(ethyleneimine) derivatives with 30% (B), 50% (C), and 80% (D) substitution degree of primary amino groups at 50% inhibitory concentrations.

Effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes decorated with guanidinylated hyperbranched polyethyleneimine derivatives of 5000 and 25000 Da molecular weight (oxCNTs@GPEI5K and oxCNTs@GPEI25K) on Escherichia coli bacterial growth.

Applications

Implants for dental and orthopedics applications.

Functionalized hyperbranched polymers incorporating selected antibiotics or exhibiting antibacterial properties by their own, were developed and integrated into novel biomimetic peptide-enriched silk fibroin matrices in order to prepare implants that inhibit the biofilm formation and restore the damaged bone and periodontal tissues in the case of implant-related infections.13-14 This work was performed in the framework of project ANNAFIB.

Development of antibiotic Nano-Functionalized Peptide-enriched Silk Fibroin sponges (ANF-PSF).

Dendritic polymer-functionalized nanostructured composites

Dendritic polymer-functionalized carbon-based materials were used as nanofillers into polymeric matrixes affording nanostructured composites that exhibit various properties such as optical transparency, improved mechanical, flame retardancy and UV-resistant properties, extremely high antibacterial behavior, etc., depending on the coating applications.6-12 Additionally, advanced polymeric nanocomposite membranes were developed to meet specific water treatment applications by tuning their structure and physicochemical properties (e.g. hydrophilicity, porosity, thermal and mechanical stability) and introducing unique functionalities (e.g. antibacterial, anti-fouling, adsorptive capabilities). Specifically, carbon-based materials modified with functional dendritic polymers were used as nanofillers into polymeric matrices, i.e. poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(vinylidene fluoride), affording nanostructured composites suitable for water treatment that demonstrated high permeability and rejection as well as excellent mechanical, anti-fouling and anti-bacterial properties.7

SEM images of E. coli bacteria incubated on the surface of: (A) PVA membrane and (B) PVA membrane containing 0.5 % w/w oxidized carbon nanodisks decorated with guanidinylated hyperbranched polyethyleneimine derivative of 25000 Da molecular weight (oxCNDs@GPEI25K).



Selected publications

  1. K. N. Panagiotaki, K. M. Lyra, A. Papavasiliou, D. Tsiourvas, Z. Sideratou. Alkyltriphenylphosphonium-functionalized hyperbranched polyethyleneimine nanoparticles for safe and efficient bacterial eradication: A structure–property relationship study. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 26(11), 5153 (2025).
  2. K.N. Panagiotaki, K.-M. Lyra, A. Papavasiliou, K. Stamatakis, Z. Sideratou, Synthesis of N-Sulfopropylated Hyperbranched Polyethyleneimine with Enhanced Biocompatibility and Antimicrobial Activity. ChemPlusChem 90(1), art. no. e202400454 (2025). DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202400454
  3. M. Lykogianni, E.-A. Papadopoulou, A. Sapalidis, D. Tsiourvas, Z. Sideratou, K. A. Aliferis, Metabolomics reveals differential mechanisms of toxicity of hyperbranched poly(ethyleneimine)-derived nanoparticles to the soil-borne fungus Verticillium dahliae Kleb, Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, 165, 104535 (2020).
  4. Gerostathis, S., Athanasopoulos, A., Panagiotaki, K. N., Sideratou, Z., Tsiourvas, D. Sophianopoulou, V., 2024. Antifungal activity of functionalized hyperbranched polyethyleneimine derivatives against quiescent conidia and germlings of the opportunistic fungal pathogen aspergillus nidulans. J. Biol. Regul. Homeost. Agents. 2024; 38(4): 2781–2794 (2024).
  5. D. Tsiourvas, Z. Sideratou, E. Mavrogonatou, D. Kletsas, V. Sophianopoulou, S. Gerostathis, Copper-Chelated Hyperbranched Polyethyleneimines with Antifungal Activity against quiescent conidia and germlings of the opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus nidulans. Scientific Reports 15, 25711 (2025).
  6. C. Piffet, J. M. Thomassin, E. Stierlin, J. Tchoumtchoua, C. Fernández, M. Mateo, L. Hernández, K. M. Lyra, A. Papavasiliou, E. Sakellis, F. K. Katsaros, Z. Sideratou, D. Tsiourvas, Sustainable antibacterial chitin nanofiber/ZnO nanohybrid materials: Ex situ and in situ synthesis, characterization and evaluation. Nanomaterials, 15(11), 809 (2025).
  7. A. Sapalidis, Z. Sideratou, K.N. Panagiotaki, E. Sakellis, E.P. Kouvelos, S. Papageorgiou, F. Katsaros, Fabrication of antibacterial PVA nanocomposite films containing dendritic polymer functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes, Frontiers in Materials, 5, Article number 11 (2018). DOI: 10.3389/fmats.2018.00011.
  8. M. Antoniou, A. Sapalidis, Z. Sideratou, Functionalization of Carbon-Based Additives. In: Membrane Desalination: From Nanoscale to Real World Applications. A. Sapalidis (Ed.). Boca Raton: CRC Press (2021). DOI: 10.1201/9780429020254-3.
  9. N. S. Heliopoulos, G. Kythreoti, K.M. Lyra, K.N. Panagiotaki, A. Papavasiliou, E. Sakellis, S. Papageorgiou, A. Kouloumpis, D. Gournis, F.K. Katsaros, K. Stamatakis, Z. Sideratou, Cytotoxicity effects of water-soluble multi-walled carbon nanotubes decorated with quaternized hyperbranched poly(ethyleneimine) derivatives on autotrophic and heterotrophic gram-negative bacteria. Pharmaceuticals 13, 293 (2020). DOI:10.3390/ph13100293.
  10. N. S. Heliopoulos, Z. Sideratou, F. Katsaros, K. Stamatakis, S. Papageorgiou, Th. Tsoufis, “Novel Dendritic polymer-functionalized nanostructured carbon-based materials with antibacterial properties and their effect in the photosynthetic process”, Filed in Greek Patent Office, Application Number 20140100263/2-5-2014. Patent number 1008659/18-01-2016, as well as in European Patent Office, Application Number EP15001320/4-5-2015, EU Unitary patent number 3170872/07-06-2023 (published in European Patent Bulletin 23/2023).
  11. K. M. Lyra, I. Tournis, M. Subrati, K. Spyrou, A. Papavasiliou, C. Athanasekou, S. Papageorgiou, E. Sakellis, M.A. Karakassides, Sideratou, Z. Carbon Nanodisks Decorated with Guanidinylated Hyperbranched Polyethyleneimine Derivatives as Efficient Antibacterial Agents. Nanomaterials, 14(8), 677 (2024). DOI: 10.3390/nano14080677.
  12. M. Subrati, K.-M. Lyra, K. Spyrou, I.M. Toliou, G. Petrou, P. Manganiaris, A. Papavasiliou, E. Sakellis, C.P. Athanasekou, A. Glisenti, Z. Sideratou, F. Katsaros, Valorization of Industrial Waste Graphite Fines into Graphene Oxide-Based Nanohybrids. ChemPlusChem 90(3), art. no. e202400692 (2025). DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202400692
  13. N. S. Heliopoulos, K. M. Lyra, A. Papavasiliou, F. K. Katsaros, K. Stamatakis, S. K. Papageorgiou, Z. Sideratou, Fabrication of Antibacterial and Ultraviolet Protective Wool Fabric Using Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Functionalized with Guanidinylated Hyperbranched Polyethyleneimine Derivative. Materials 18(9), 1993 (2025). DOI:10.3390/ma18091993
  14. Z. Sideratou, M. Biagiotti, D. Tsiourvas, K. N. Panagiotaki, M. V. Zucca, G. Freddi, A. B. Lovati, M. Bottagisio, Antibiotic-Loaded Hyperbranched Polyester Embedded into Peptide-Enriched Silk Fibroin for the Treatment of Orthopedic or Dental Infections. Nanomaterials 12, 3182 (2022). DOI: 10.3390/nano12183182.
  15. M. Bottagisio, S. Palombella, S. Lopa, F. Sangalli, P. Savadori, M. Biagiotti, Z. Sideratou, D. Tsiourvas, A. B. Lovati, Vancomycin-nanofunctionalized peptide-enriched silk fibroin to prevent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis-induced femoral nonunions in rats. Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol. 12, 1056912 (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1056912
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