title: Dual crosslinked iminoboronate-chitosan hydrogels with strong antifungal activity against Candida planktonic yeasts and biofilms.
abstract: Chitosan based hydrogels are a class of cross-linked materials intensely studied for their biomedical, industrial and environmental application, but their biomedical use is limited because of the toxicity of different organic crosslinkers. To overcome this disadvantage, a new strategy to produce supramolecular chitosan hydrogels using low molecular weight compounds able to form covalent linkages and H-bonds to give a dual crosslinking is proposed. For this purpose we used 2-formylphenylboronic acid, which brings the advantage of imine stabilization via iminoboronate formation and potential antifungal activity due to the presence of boric acid residue. FTIR and NMR spectroscopy indicated that the gelling process took place by chemo-physical crosslinking forming a dual iminoboronate-chitosan network. Further, X-ray diffraction demonstrated a three-dimensional nanostructuring of the iminoboronate network with consequences on the micrometer-scale morphology and on the improvement of mechanical properties, as demonstrated by SEM and rheological investigation. The hydrogels proved strong antifungal activity against Candida planktonic yeasts and biofilms, promising to be a friendly treatment of the recurrent vulvovaginitis infections.
authors: "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of Romanian Academy, 41A, Aleea Gr. Ghica Voda, Iasi, Romania.
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Ailincai
authors: "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of Romanian Academy, 41A, Aleea Gr. Ghica Voda, Iasi, Romania. Electronic address: lmarin@icmpp.ro.
authors: Luminita
authors: L
authors: Marin
authors: "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of Romanian Academy, 41A, Aleea Gr. Ghica Voda, Iasi, Romania.
authors: Simona
authors: S
authors: Morariu
authors: "Ion Ionescu de la Brad" University, Laboratory of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 8, Aleea Sadoveanu, Iasi, Romania.
authors: Mihai
authors: M
authors: Mares
authors: "Ion Ionescu de la Brad" University, Laboratory of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 8, Aleea Sadoveanu, Iasi, Romania.
authors: Andra-Cristina
authors: AC
authors: Bostanaru
authors: "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of Romanian Academy, 41A, Aleea Gr. Ghica Voda, Iasi, Romania.
authors: Mariana
authors: M
authors: Pinteala
authors: "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of Romanian Academy, 41A, Aleea Gr. Ghica Voda, Iasi, Romania; "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi, 73, Bd. Dimitrie Mangeron, Iasi, Romania.
authors: Bogdan C
authors: BC
authors: Simionescu
authors: "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of Romanian Academy, 41A, Aleea Gr. Ghica Voda, Iasi, Romania; Institut Européen des Membranes, F-34095, Place Eugène Bataillon, Montpellier, France.
authors: Mihai
authors: M
authors: Barboiu
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D007097:Imines / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010933:Plankton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D020100:Hydrogels; D007097:Imines; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Antifungal; Chitosan; Hydrogels; Iminoboronate; Rheology; Supramolecular