The alarming growth of multi-drug resistant bacteria has led to a quest for alternative\nantibacterial therapeutics. One strategy to circumvent the already existing resistance is the use of\nphotodynamic therapy. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) involves the use of non-toxic\nphotosensitizers in combination with light and in situ oxygen to generate toxic radical species within\nthe microbial environment which circumvents the resistance building mechanism of the bacteria.\nHydrogels are used ubiquitously in the biological and pharmaceutical fields, e.g., for wound dressing\nmaterial or as drug delivery systems. Hydrogels formed by water-insoluble low-molecular weight\ngelators may potentially provide the much-needed benefits for these applications. Bolalipids are\na superior example of such gelators. In the present work, two artificial bolalipids were used, namely\nPC-C32-PC and Me2PE-C32-Me2PE, which self-assemble in water into long and flexible nanofibers\nleading to a gelation of the surrounding solvent. The aim of the study was to create stable hydrogel\nformulations of both bolalipids and to investigate their applicability as a novel material for drug\ndelivery systems. Furthermore, methylene blue--a well-known photosensitizer--incorporated\ninto the hydrogels in order to investigate the aPDT for the treatment of skin and mucosal infections\nusing a custom designed LED device.
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