Bifunctional Nanomaterials for Enhanced Cell Proliferation and for the Reduction of Bacterial Bioluminescence/Fitness

Abstract

This study describes the synthesis of bifunctional nanomaterials that can both inhibit bacterial bioluminescence, an indicator for the bacterial fitness, and, simultaneously, improve the proliferation of eukaryotic cells, a property that is desired for biomedical devices such as implants. To prepare this functional nanomaterial, the pores of the periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) nanocontainers are first functionalized with dexamethasone (Dex), which has anti-inflammatory and cell proliferation properties. Then, the external surface of the PMO is functionalized with the antibacterial and cell adhesive bipolymer poly-d-lysine (PDL). The results show that cofunctionalization of the PMO surfaces with both Dex and PDL have beneficial additive and/or synergistic effects on cell proliferation and bacterial bioluminescence inhibition.