Nanobiotechnology for health-care

Effective thermo- and light-resistant nanobiocides for treating wounds, dressings, clothes and fish aquariums/ponds 
Zheltonozhskaya T.B.1, Permyakova N.M.1, Kondratiuk T.O.2, 
Beregova T.V.2, Kravchenko O.O.3, Maksin V.I.3, Klepko V.V.1
1 Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, NAS of Ukraine, 48 Kharkovskoye Shosse, 02160 Kyiv, Ukraine. 
E-mail: zheltonozhskaya@ukr.net
2 Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine, 64/13 Volodimirska St., 01601 Kyiv, Ukraine.
3 National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, 15 Heroyiv Oborony St., 03041 Kiev, Ukraine.

At present, the biocide properties of various metal nanoparticles are widely studied to replace traditional disinfectants or even antibiotics based on toxic organic substances. In the current work, we have produced and characterized new nanobiocide preparations comprised silica/polyacrylamide hybrids and small silver nanoparticles (d<10 nm). We then examined their ability to heal open wounds in rats and affect a series of bacterial and fungal cultures, which are traditional hospital infections. We also tested the biological activity of nanobiocides and some of the biological risks associated with their use instead organic antibiotics for disinfecting fish aquariums/ponds. 
The nanobiocides showed a high activity in the full skin cut wound healing in rats. Besides the high rate of wound healing, they fully prevented the inflammation of the wounds, which is characteristic in the first 3 days. These preparations demonstrated a high bactericide action against the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, fungicide effect on black yeast-like fungus Exophiala alcalophila and fungistatic effect on yeasts Candida albicans and filamentous fungi Aspergillus ustus, Cladosporium shpaerospermum and Fusarium oxysporum. Thus, these biocide preparations can widely be used for the treatment and prolonged disinfection of wounds, dressings, sanitary materials, and clothes.
The developed nanobiocides displayed significant antibacterial effect against fish pathogenic bacteria strains along with absence of their toxicity and any biological risks. Based on these results, the prospect of their practical application in fish farming was disclosed.