High surface area magnesium oxide based porous, micron-scale particles are effective in managing biofilm infection: in vitro characterisation of antimicrobial activity and mammalian cell viability
- 1aAdelaide University, Future Industries Institute, Building X, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia.bSolving Antimicrobial Resistance in Agribusiness, Food and Environments Cooperative Research Centre, PO Box 66, Pooraka, SA 5095, Australia.
- 2cCalix Pty Ltd, GPO Box 3993, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia.
- 3aAdelaide University, Future Industries Institute, Building X, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia.
Abstract
Magnesium oxide, primarily in nanoparticle form, has been shown to have utility as an antibacterial agent against a wide range of pathogens. There are, however, limited studies that assess the fabrication of magnesium oxide in the nano-structured microparticle form, which may have added benefits in reduced cell toxicity and intracellular damage compared to nanoparticle comparators. This study reports 2 novel high surface area magnesium oxide based porous, micron-scale particles (MgO PMPs) produced under reducing (BS12) or ambient (BS20) environmental conditions with superior antibacterial properties compared to commercially available, low surface area EMAG45 MgO microparticles (E45). MgO PMPs were found to have higher antibacterial activity against Gram-positive (S. epidermidis and S. aureus) compared to Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli and P. aeruginosa), with up to 4 times the dose required to inhibit P. aeruginosa compared to S. aureus. Time killing studies showed a greater than 3 log-reduction in the S. aureus colony count within 4 h after inoculation with BS12 and BS20, which was achieved faster than with low surface area MgO E45, without any increase in cytotoxicity against skin cells in vitro. Importantly, 2D biofilm model testing using S. aureus revealed the superior ability of the MgO PMPs to both inhibit biofilm production and eradicate bacteria within established biofilms, with BS12 showing the greatest anti-biofilm potential. This study has successfully fabricated and characterised two novel MgO PMPs, with MgO PMPs produced under reducing conditions having the highest antimicrobial efficacy. MgO PMPs are therefore a potential alternative to antibiotics and may be useful in helping to address the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance.
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BibTeX
@article{derrickroberts2026high,
title = {{High surface area magnesium oxide based porous, micron-scale particles are effective in managing biofilm infection: in vitro characterisation of antimicrobial activity and mammalian cell viability}},
author = {Ainslie L. K. Derrick-Roberts and Duy H. K. Nguyen and Robert van Merkestein and Matthew E. Boot-Handford and Mark Sceats and Philip Hodgson and Allison J. Cowin and Xanthe L. Venn},
journal = {Materials Advances},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1039/d6ma00026f},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1039/d6ma00026f},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - High surface area magnesium oxide based porous, micron-scale particles are effective in managing biofilm infection: in vitro characterisation of antimicrobial activity and mammalian cell viability
AU - Ainslie L. K. Derrick-Roberts
AU - Duy H. K. Nguyen
AU - Robert van Merkestein
AU - Matthew E. Boot-Handford
AU - Mark Sceats
AU - Philip Hodgson
AU - Allison J. Cowin
AU - Xanthe L. Venn
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - Materials Advances
DO - 10.1039/d6ma00026f
UR - https://doi.org/10.1039/d6ma00026f
AB - Magnesium oxide, primarily in nanoparticle form, has been shown to have utility as an antibacterial agent against a wide range of pathogens. There are, however, limited studies that assess the fabrication of magnesium oxide in the nano-structured microparticle form, which may have added benefits in reduced cell toxicity and intracellular damage compared to nanoparticle comparators. This study reports 2 novel high surface area magnesium oxide based porous, micron-scale particles (MgO PMPs) produced under reducing (BS12) or ambient (BS20) environmental conditions with superior antibacterial properties compared to commercially available, low surface area EMAG45 MgO microparticles (E45). MgO PMPs were found to have higher antibacterial activity against Gram-positive (S. epidermidis and S. aureus) compared to Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli and P. aeruginosa), with up to 4 times the dose required to inhibit P. aeruginosa compared to S. aureus. Time killing studies showed a greater than 3 log-reduction in the S. aureus colony count within 4 h after inoculation with BS12 and BS20, which was achieved faster than with low surface area MgO E45, without any increase in cytotoxicity against skin cells in vitro. Importantly, 2D biofilm model testing using S. aureus revealed the superior ability of the MgO PMPs to both inhibit biofilm production and eradicate bacteria within established biofilms, with BS12 showing the greatest anti-biofilm potential. This study has successfully fabricated and characterised two novel MgO PMPs, with MgO PMPs produced under reducing conditions having the highest antimicrobial efficacy. MgO PMPs are therefore a potential alternative to antibiotics and may be useful in helping to address the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance.
SN - 2633-5409
ER -