scholarly journals Determination of Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activity of Combined LVX and AMP Impregnated in p(HEMA) Hydrogel

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (18) ◽  
pp. 8345
Author(s):  
Ola Tarawneh ◽  
Wasan Alwahsh ◽  
Hassan Abul-Futouh ◽  
Luma A. Al-Samad ◽  
Lama Hamadneh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Young’S Modulus ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Young's Modulus ◽  
Drug Combinations ◽  
Antibiofilm Activity ◽  
Hek 293 ◽  
Elongation Percentage ◽  
Tract Infections

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are nosocomial infections, causing more than one million cases per year. CAUTIs cause serious health issues; in addition, the cost of replacement of the device constrains the employment of urological devices. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel biomaterials for use in catheters. In this study, poly hydroxyethyl-methacrylate p(HEMA) and drugs-loaded p(HEMA) with ampicillin trihydrate (AMP), levofloxacin (LVX), and drug combinations were prepared using free radical polymerization. The characterization of the dried films included the determination of glass transition temperature (Tg), ultimate tensile strength, elongation percentage, and Young’s modulus. Formulation toxicity, antimicrobial activity, and biofilm-formation ability were tested. Decreases in Tg value, U.T.S., and Young’s modulus, and an increase in elongation percentage were observed in AMP-loaded p(HEMA). Different ratios of drug combinations increased the Tg values. The films exhibited a cell viability higher than 80% on HEK 293 cells. Antimicrobial activity increased when p(HEMA) was loaded with LVX or a combination of LVX and AMP. Biofilm-forming ability reduced after the addition of antimicrobial agents to the films. p(HEMA) impregnated with AMP, LVX, and drug combinations showed significantly increased antimicrobial activity and decreased biofilm-forming ability compared with p(HEMA), in addition to the effects on (HEMA) mechanical properties.

Is it necessary to calculate Young’s modulus in AFM nanoindentation experiments regarding biological samples?

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.V. Kontomaris ◽  
A. Malamou ◽  
A. Stylianou
Keyword(s):  
Young’S Modulus ◽  
Biological Samples ◽  
Young's Modulus ◽  
Reference Sample ◽  
Nonlinear Behavior ◽  
Accurate Method ◽  
Accurate Solution ◽  
Hertz Model ◽  
Work Done

Background: The determination of the mechanical properties of biological samples using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) at the nanoscale is usually performed using basic models arising from the contact mechanics theory. In particular, the Hertz model is the most frequently used theoretical tool for data processing. However, the Hertz model requires several assumptions such as homogeneous and isotropic samples and indenters with perfectly spherical or conical shapes. As it is widely known, none of these requirements are 100 % fulfilled for the case of indentation experiments at the nanoscale. As a result, significant errors arise in the Young’s modulus calculation. At the same time, an analytical model that could account complexities of soft biomaterials, such as nonlinear behavior, anisotropy, and heterogeneity, may be far-reaching. In addition, this hypothetical model would be ‘too difficult’ to be applied in real clinical activities since it would require very heavy workload and highly specialized personnel. Objective: In this paper a simple solution is provided to the aforementioned dead-end. A new approach is introduced in order to provide a simple and accurate method for the mechanical characterization at the nanoscale. Method: The ratio of the work done by the indenter on the sample of interest to the work done by the indenter on a reference sample is introduced as a new physical quantity that does not require homogeneous, isotropic samples or perfect indenters. Results: The proposed approach, not only provides an accurate solution from a physical perspective but also a simpler solution which does not require activities such as the determination of the cantilever’s spring constant and the dimensions of the AFM tip. Conclusion: The proposed, by this opinion paper, solution aims to provide a significant opportunity to overcome the existing limitations provided by Hertzian mechanics and apply AFM techniques in real clinical activities.

scholarly journals Apparent Young’s Modulus of the Adhesive in Numerical Modeling of Adhesive Joints

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 328
Author(s):  
Kamil Anasiewicz ◽  
Józef Kuczmaszewski
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Model ◽  
Young’S Modulus ◽  
Adhesive Joint ◽  
Young's Modulus ◽  
Precise Determination ◽  
Adhesive Joints ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Element Simulation ◽  
Joint Material

This article is an evaluation of the phenomena occurring in adhesive joints during curing and their consequences. Considering changes in the values of Young’s modulus distributed along the joint thickness, and potential changes in adhesive strength in the cured state, the use of a numerical model may make it possible to improve finite element simulation effects and bring their results closer to experimental data. The results of a tensile test of a double overlap adhesive joint sample, performed using an extensometer, are presented. This test allowed for the precise determination of the shear modulus G of the cured adhesive under experimental conditions. Then, on the basis of the research carried out so far, a numerical model was built, taking the differences observed in the properties of the joint material into account. The stress distribution in a three-zone adhesive joint was analyzed in comparison to the standard numerical model in which the adhesive in the joint was treated as isotropic. It is proposed that a joint model with three-zones, differing in the Young’s modulus values, is more accurate for mapping the experimental results.

scholarly journals A parametric prediction of the Young’s modulus of polymers enhanced with ΜWCNTs

2018 ◽  
Vol 233 ◽  
pp. 00025
Author(s):  
P.V. Polydoropoulou ◽  
K.I. Tserpes ◽  
Sp.G. Pantelakis ◽  
Ch.V. Katsiropoulos
Keyword(s):  
Young’S Modulus ◽  
Elastic Properties ◽  
Young's Modulus ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Fe Model ◽  
Multi Scale ◽  
Unit Cells ◽  
Random Dispersion

In this work a multi-scale model simulating the effect of the dispersion, the waviness as well as the agglomerations of MWCNTs on the Young’s modulus of a polymer enhanced with 0.4% MWCNTs (v/v) has been developed. Representative Unit Cells (RUCs) have been employed for the determination of the homogenized elastic properties of the MWCNT/polymer. The elastic properties computed by the RUCs were assigned to the Finite Element (FE) model of a tension specimen which was used to predict the Young’s modulus of the enhanced material. Furthermore, a comparison with experimental results obtained by tensile testing according to ASTM 638 has been made. The results show a remarkable decrease of the Young’s modulus for the polymer enhanced with aligned MWCNTs due to the increase of the CNT agglomerations. On the other hand, slight differences on the Young’s modulus have been observed for the material enhanced with randomly-oriented MWCNTs by the increase of the MWCNTs agglomerations, which might be attributed to the low concentration of the MWCNTs into the polymer. Moreover, the increase of the MWCNTs waviness led to a significant decrease of the Young’s modulus of the polymer enhanced with aligned MWCNTs. The experimental results in terms of the Young’s modulus are predicted well by assuming a random dispersion of MWCNTs into the polymer.

A dynamical method for the determination of Young's modulus by stretching

1928 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 276-279
Author(s):  
C. F. Sharman
Keyword(s):  
Young’S Modulus ◽  
Elastic Constants ◽  
Young's Modulus ◽  
The Other ◽  
Static Deformation ◽  
Elastic Forces ◽  
Dynamical Method ◽  
Period Of Oscillation

There are two general methods of measuring the elastic constants of bodies; one involves a study of the static deformation produced by the appropriate kind of stress, and the other a measurement of the period of oscillation of a system of known inertia under the elastic forces.

scholarly journals The Design of Alapropoginine, a Novel Conjugated Ultrashort Antimicrobial Peptide with Potent Synergistic Antimicrobial Activity in Combination with Conventional Antibiotics

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 712
Author(s):  
Ali Salama ◽  
Ammar Almaaytah ◽  
Rula M. Darwish
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Hemolytic Activity ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Antimicrobial Activities ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Human Red Blood Cells ◽  
Drug Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Different Strains ◽  
Conventional Antibiotics

(1) Background: Antimicrobial resistance represents an urgent health dilemma facing the global human population. The development of novel antimicrobial agents is needed to face the rising number of resistant bacteria. Ultrashort antimicrobial peptides (USAMPs) are considered promising antimicrobial agents that meet the required criteria of novel antimicrobial drug development. (2) Methods: Alapropoginine was rationally designed by incorporating arginine (R), biphenylalanine (B), and naproxen to create an ultrashort hexapeptide. The antimicrobial activity of alapropoginine was evaluated against different strains of bacteria. The hemolytic activity of alapropoginine was also investigated against human erythrocytes. Finally, synergistic studies with antibiotics were performed using the checkerboard technique and the determination of the fractional inhibitory index. (3) Results: Alapropoginine displayed potent antimicrobial activities against reference and multi-drug-resistant bacteria with MIC values of as low as 28.6 µg/mL against methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Alapropoginine caused negligible toxicity toward human red blood cells. Moreover, the synergistic studies showed improved activities for the combined conventional antibiotics with a huge reduction in their antimicrobial concentrations. (4) Conclusions: The present study indicates that alapropoginine exhibits promising antimicrobial activity against reference and resistant strains of bacteria with negligible hemolytic activity. Additionally, the peptide displays synergistic or additive effects when combined with several antibiotics.

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