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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Biomolecules

Dual Antimicrobial and Immunomodulatory Activities of a Bioengineered Reactive Oxygen Species Releasing Gel Against Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

  • Rebecca E. Holding1
  • Olivia K. Lee1
  • Timothy C. Biggs1,2
  • Raymond N. Allan3,4,5
  • Ali A. Salamat1,3
  • Rami J. Salib1,2,3
  • Sylvia L. F. Pender1,3
5 affiliations
  1. 1School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
  2. 2Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
  3. 3NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility and Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
  4. 4School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental & Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
  5. 5School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK
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Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties of a novel bioengineered reactive oxygen species (ROS) gel that releases sustained, low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) upon hydration. The efficacy of the ROS gel was assessed against a multidrug-resistant clinical isolate of Staphylococcus aureus, and its effects on host defence were evaluated using human nasal epithelial cells and mast cells. The ROS gel significantly reduced Staphylococcus aureus biofilm viability while simultaneously upregulating genes involved in innate and adaptive host defence. Sustained H2O2 release enhanced the expression of antimicrobial peptides, toll-like receptor 4, and transcription factors associated with Th17 (RORC) and Th2 (GATA3) immune responses. In addition, the ROS gel modulated the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP7 and MMP9) and IL10, suggesting a role in tissue remodelling and resolution of inflammation. These findings demonstrate that the ROS gel exerts dual therapeutic effects by directly inhibiting bacterial growth while modulating host transcriptional immune-associated gene responses. Harnessing ROS-based therapies may reduce reliance on conventional antibiotics and help limit the progression of antimicrobial resistance.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{holding2026dual,
  title = {{Dual Antimicrobial and Immunomodulatory Activities of a Bioengineered Reactive Oxygen Species Releasing Gel Against Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus}},
  author = {Rebecca E. Holding and Olivia K. Lee and Timothy C. Biggs and Raymond N. Allan and Ali A. Salamat and Rami J. Salib and Sylvia L. F. Pender},
  journal = {Biomolecules},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/biom16111564},
  url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/16/11/1564},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Dual Antimicrobial and Immunomodulatory Activities of a Bioengineered Reactive Oxygen Species Releasing Gel Against Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
AU  - Rebecca E. Holding
AU  - Olivia K. Lee
AU  - Timothy C. Biggs
AU  - Raymond N. Allan
AU  - Ali A. Salamat
AU  - Rami J. Salib
AU  - Sylvia L. F. Pender
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/27
JO  - Biomolecules
DO  - 10.3390/biom16111564
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/16/11/1564
AB  - In this study, we evaluated the antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties of a novel bioengineered reactive oxygen species (ROS) gel that releases sustained, low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) upon hydration. The efficacy of the ROS gel was assessed against a multidrug-resistant clinical isolate of Staphylococcus aureus, and its effects on host defence were evaluated using human nasal epithelial cells and mast cells. The ROS gel significantly reduced Staphylococcus aureus biofilm viability while simultaneously upregulating genes involved in innate and adaptive host defence. Sustained H2O2 release enhanced the expression of antimicrobial peptides, toll-like receptor 4, and transcription factors associated with Th17 (RORC) and Th2 (GATA3) immune responses. In addition, the ROS gel modulated the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP7 and MMP9) and IL10, suggesting a role in tissue remodelling and resolution of inflammation. These findings demonstrate that the ROS gel exerts dual therapeutic effects by directly inhibiting bacterial growth while modulating host transcriptional immune-associated gene responses. Harnessing ROS-based therapies may reduce reliance on conventional antibiotics and help limit the progression of antimicrobial resistance.
SN  - 2218-273X
ER  -