ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Nanosponge-based strategies against antimicrobial resistance: investigating the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of drug-free nanosponges

Ece Cobanoglu, Cigdem Gur, Zehra Oksuz, Bahar Uluca Han, Nefise Ozlen Sahin, and Mehmet Sami Serin

Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey

E-mail: ekarabulut@mersin.edu.tr

Received: 27 February 2025  Accepted: 21 August 2025

Abstract:

Antimicrobial resistance is a critical global health concern, necessitating innovative therapeutic strategies. Nanosponges, porous and biocompatible nanostructures, are widely used to enhance antimicrobial agent efficacy, yet their direct antimicrobial potential in drug-free formulations remains largely unexplored. This study investigates the antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of drug-free nanosponges synthesized via emulsion solvent evaporation and solvent methods. Nanosponges were tested against ten clinically relevant pathogens as well as their ability to inhibit biofilm formation and eradicate preformed biofilms in Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The drug-free nanosponges exhibited low-to-moderate antimicrobial activity against the common pathogens assessed in this study, while also demonstrating significant antibiofilm efficacy. Despite their negative zeta potential, nanosponges effectively disrupted biofilms, likely through electrostatic interactions and matrix penetration. Nanosponges with higher ethyl cellulose content and optimized β-cyclodextrin-to-diphenyl carbonate (β-CD:DPC) ratios exhibited enhanced biofilm inhibition. This study is the first to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of drug-free nanosponges synthesized via these methods, highlighting their potential as standalone antimicrobial agents. By reducing reliance on conventional antibiotics, drug-free nanosponges offer a promising approach for infection control and biofilm-related infections. These findings provide new insights into nanosponge-based antimicrobial strategies beyond drug delivery.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords: Drug-free-Nanosponges; Solvent method; Emulsion solvent evaporation method; Antimicrobial; Antibiofilm activity

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04344-6

Chemical Papers 79 (12) 8701–8717 (2025)