Browsing by Author "Dube, A."
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Item Investigating the effect of particle size on the antibacterial activity of gold nanoparticles(University of the Western Cape, 2017) Maphasa, Retsepile Ephraim; Dube, A.; Meyer, M.The increase of antibiotic- and/or multidrug-resistant bacteria has become a major global challenge. Killing of antibiotic-resistant bacteria requires a high dose of multiple, expensive drugs, which possess unfavourable side effects to the infected individuals. As a result, treatment of antibiotic resistant-bacteria is costly and more time is required to complete treatment. Therefore, novel substitutes are required to combat drug resistant infections while preventing further microbial resistance. Spherical gold Nanoparticles (sAuNPs) prepared using the citrate reduction method have been found to exert antibacterial activity against a number of gram positive and gram negative bacteria. However, there is still uncertainty regarding the role of size on the antibacterial activity of sAuNPs. The effect of exposure time on the antibacterial activity of sAuNPs is also still not well understood. In this study, it was hypothesized that AuNPs will show a size- and concentration-dependentantibacterial activity against selected gram positive (+) and gram negative (-) bacteria.Item Investigating the effect of particle size on the antibacterial activity of gold nanoparticles(University of the Western Cape, 2017) Maphasa, Retsepile Ephraim; Dube, A.; Meyer, M.The increase of antibiotic- and/or multidrug-resistant bacteria has become a major global challenge. Killing of antibiotic-resistant bacteria requires a high dose of multiple, expensive drugs, which possess unfavourable side effects to the infected individuals. As a result, treatment of antibiotic resistant-bacteria is costly and more time is required to complete treatment. Therefore, novel substitutes are required to combat drug resistant infections while preventing further microbial resistance. Spherical gold Nanoparticles (sAuNPs) prepared using the citrate reduction method have been found to exert antibacterial activity against a number of gram positive and gram negative bacteria. However, there is still uncertainty regarding the role of size on the antibacterial activity of sAuNPs. The effect of exposure time on the antibacterial activity of sAuNPs is also still not well understood. In this study, it was hypothesized that AuNPs will show a size- and concentration-dependentantibacterial activity against selected gram positive (+) and gram negative (-) bacteria.Item Polymer Coating of an Optimized Nano Lipid Carrier System of Harpagophytum Procumbens Extract for Oral Delivery(University of the Western Cape, 2017) Almajdoub, Somaya Saleh; Dube, A.; Ebrahim, N.Harpagophytum procumbens is a traditional medicinal plant widely used in South African traditional healthcare to treat a range of ailments like degenerative rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, tendonitis, kidney inflammation, heart disease, dyspepsia and loss of appetite. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of Harpagophytum procumbens has been reported to decrease due to stomach acidity. In addition, dried plant extract is water soluble and has poor lipid solubility severely limiting its ability to pass across lipid-rich biological membranes. To overcome this, plant extract was incorporated into a nano lipid alginate coated bead. Harpagophytum procumbens freeze dried aqueous extract was prepared and the active principle harpagoside was identified by mass spectrometry (MS). A simple, linear, accurate and precise UHPLC method was developed for quantitative determination of the bioactive harpagoside. Harpagophytum procumbens was encapsulated in lipid vesicles (liposomes and phytosomes) by using a dry film hydration technique and characterized for particle size, polydispersity index and encapsulation efficiency.Item Polymer-based protein delivery systems for loco-regional administration(Taylor and Francis Group, 2021) Aucamp, M.E.; Dube, A.; Mansor, M.HWith the advent of recombinant technology, a wide variety of biocompatible therapeutic proteins can be produced with relative ease. These proteins are formulated and subsequently administered in patients to treat various of diseases in a more effective and targeted manner. At the level of formulation development, protein molecules can be physically and/or chemically-conjugated to a wide array of naturally-occurring, semi-synthetic and synthetic biomaterials to form different types of protein delivery systems. Depending on their architecture and the extent of protein-scaffold interactions, these delivery systems can modify the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the proteins. The versatility of polymer-based protein delivery systems such as micro/nanoparticles, hydrogels, porous scaffolds and fibrous scaffolds means it is possible to alter the spatial distribution of the protein load within the system as well as the protein release kinetics. These can then influence the ability of the protein molecules to exert their effects in their immediate microenvironments, be it to kill cancer cells or to recruit stem/progenitor cells. In this Chapter we discuss the production of protein therapeutics and the application of polymer-based biodegradable delivery systems for these proteins which include nanoparticles and scaffolds. We also include discussion of ‘green synthesis’ methods for production of these delivery systems.Item Recent Advances in the Development of Antimicrobial and Antifouling Biocompatible Materials for Dental Applications(MDPI, 2021) Ramburrun, P.; Pringle, N.A.; Dube, A.; Adam, R.Z.The risk of secondary bacterial infections resulting from dental procedures has driven the design of antimicrobial and antifouling dental materials to curb pathogenic microbial growth, biofilm formation and subsequent oral and dental diseases. Studies have investigated approaches based primarily on contact-killing or release-killing materials. These materials are designed for addition into dental resins, adhesives and fillings or as immobilized coatings on tooth surfaces, titanium implants and dental prosthetics. This review discusses the recent developments in the different classes of biomaterials for antimicrobial and antifouling dental applications: polymeric drug-releasing materials, polymeric and metallic nanoparticles, polymeric biocides and antimicrobial peptides. With modifications to improve cytotoxicity and mechanical properties, contact-killing and anti-adhesion materials show potential for incorporation into dental materials for long-term clinical use as opposed to short-lived antimicrobial release-based coatings. However, extended durations of biocompatibility testing, and adjustment of essential biomaterial features to enhance material longevity in the oral cavity require further investigations to confirm suitability and safety of these materials in the clinical setting. The continuous exposure of dental restorative and regenerative materials to pathogenic microbes necessitates the implementation of antimicrobial and antifouling materials to either replace antibiotics or improve its rational use, especially in the day and age of the ever-increasing problem of antimicrobial resistance.