ZnO and ZnS Nanoparticles in Ureasil-Polyether Films: Controlled Release and Antibacterial Activity Against S. aureus, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa

• Grant number: 25/13595-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: September 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Rosemeire Cristina Linhari Rodrigues Pietro
• Grantee: Felipe Sinto Novaes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The growing bacterial resistance to antibiotics has driven the search for more effective therapeutic alternatives. In the context of treating infected wounds, this project proposes the development of a controlled release system based on the combination of metal nanoparticles (ZnO, ZnS) with ureasil-polyether hybrid matrices, aiming to create topical films with antimicrobial activity. The nanoparticles, synthesized via the sol-gel method, will be incorporated into the polymer using different strategies to explore how the dispersion method affects the release and biological activity of the system. Antimicrobial efficacy will be evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using standardized microbiological tests, while the release profile will be monitored under simulated topical use conditions. The proposed approach is expected to result in a functional and safe material, capable of combining prolonged therapeutic action with effective microorganism control, contributing to new strategies in the fight against skin infections.