{
    "abstract": "This study introduces a novel approach to enhance the antibacterial properties of UIO-66 by incorporating both Thymol and ZnO nanoparticles within its framework which represents a significant advancement like exhibiting a synergistic antibacterial effect, providing a prolonged and controlled release, and mitigating cytotoxicity associated with the release of free ZnO nanoparticles by combining these two antimicrobial agents within a single, well-defined metal-organic framework. UIO-66 frameworks are investigated as carriers for the natural antimicrobial agent, Thymol, and ZnONPs offering a novel drug delivery system for antibacterial applications. Results demonstrated 132, 90, 184, and 223\u202fnm sizes for UIO-66, ZnONPs, UIO-66 encapsulated Thymol, and UIO-66 encapsulated both Thymol and ZnONPs, respectively. Successful encapsulation of the antibacterial drug with a high entrapment efficiency of 64\u202f% for Thymol was approved, and 49\u202f% in-vitro release of Thymol was achieved for 72\u202fhours. In-vitro antibacterial assays revealed promising results, with the drug-loaded nanoparticles exhibiting significantly lower MIC values and enhanced bactericidal activity against S. Aureus bacterial strains compared to the free drug, as demonstrated by agar disk diffusion and time-kill assays. MIC values reduced from a range of 31.25-250\u202f\u00b5g/ml for free Thymol and 12.5-100\u202f\u00b5g/ml for free ZnONPs to 3.9-62.5\u202f\u00b5g/ml for Thymol@UIO-66 and 1.95-15.63\u202f\u00b5g/ml for Thymol/ZnONPs@UIO-66. According to the results, the mixture of both Thymol and ZnONPs had 41\u202f% and 16\u202f% more antibiofilm activities in comparison with free Thymol and free ZnONPs, respectively. Furthermore, Thymol@UIO-66 had 25\u202f% higher antibiofilm activities relative to not-encapsulated Thymol and ZnONPs, and this improvement was even 46\u202f% more in Thymol/ZnONPs@UIO-66 in comparison with Thymol@UIO-66. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of Thymol/ZnONPs@UIO-66 frameworks as a promising drug delivery platform for effective antibacterial therapy. This approach to overcome antibiotic resistance and improve treatment efficacy potentially.",
    "authors": [
        {
            "affiliation": "CTERC, NRITLD, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.",
            "firstname": "Alireza",
            "initials": "A",
            "lastname": "Eskandari"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Qom University of Technology, Qom, Iran.",
            "firstname": "Seyedeh Nooshin",
            "initials": "SN",
            "lastname": "Safavi"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Chemical and Petrochemical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.",
            "firstname": "Hamidreza",
            "initials": "H",
            "lastname": "Sahrayi"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Faculty of Pharmacy, Ayatollah Amoli Branch, Islamic Azad University, Amol, Iran.",
            "firstname": "Dorsa",
            "initials": "D",
            "lastname": "Alizadegan"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, United States.",
            "firstname": "Mohammadmahdi",
            "initials": "M",
            "lastname": "Eskandarisani"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-1503, United States.",
            "firstname": "Alireza",
            "initials": "A",
            "lastname": "Javanmard"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Biomedical Engineering Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, United States.",
            "firstname": "Mohammadreza",
            "initials": "M",
            "lastname": "Tajik"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Sciences in Infectious Disease, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran. Electronic address: Z.sadeghi16@gmail.com.",
            "firstname": "Zohre",
            "initials": "Z",
            "lastname": "Sadeghi"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Chemical and Petrochemical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.",
            "firstname": "Arvin",
            "initials": "A",
            "lastname": "Toutounch"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Chemistry, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: ffyeganeh@gmail.com.",
            "firstname": "Faten Eshrati",
            "initials": "FE",
            "lastname": "Yeganeh"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: h.noorbazargan@gmail.com.",
            "firstname": "Hassan",
            "initials": "H",
            "lastname": "Noorbazargan"
        }
    ],
    "conclusions": null,
    "copyrights": "Copyright \u00a9 2025. Published by Elsevier B.V.",
    "doi": "10.1016/j.colsurfb.2025.114529",
    "journal": "Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces",
    "keywords": [
        "Anti-biofilm activities",
        "Antibacterial activity",
        "Thymol",
        "UIO-66 frameworks",
        "Zinc oxide nanoparticles"
    ],
    "methods": null,
    "publication_date": "2025-01-30",
    "pubmed_id": "39879671",
    "results": null,
    "title": "Antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of prepared thymol@UIO-66 and thymol/ZnONPs@UIO-66 nanoparticles against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A synergistic approach.",
    "xml": "<Element 'PubmedArticle' at 0x78850542c220>"
}