Evidence suggests sutures coated in curcumin are effective at decreasing the development of infections at surgical sites. However, no novel strategies employ the use of piperine alongside curcumin in medicated sutures, despite extensive research validating the increased bioavailability of curcumin in the presence of piperine in given oral-suspensions and efficacious transdermal curcumin delivery. This study aims to determine if the addition of piperine to curcumin enhances its antimicrobial activity as a topical solution, hypothesizing that the addition of piperine to curcumin will improve its effectiveness as an antimicrobial agent as opposed to curcumin alone. This was accomplished via a minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) assay to assess antimicrobial efficacy in which a range of concentrations (0-100uM) of curcumin, piperine, a combinatory treatment, and a vehicle control of DMSO, were added to Mueller-Hinton agar solutions. Plates were then inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus, incubated, and then analyzed by ImageJ software, enabling assessment of the treatments’ antimicrobial effects via plate-area bacterial growth percentages. Our findings indicate that our curcumin-piperine therapy suggests an effective natural solution to inhibit S. aureus growth. Thus, the investigation of piperine-stimulated curcumin therapies is found to be warranted and demanding of an electrospinning technological maneuver to further unmap its implications on suture technique and management. Accordingly, framed by global health perspectives, this exploration functions as a catalyst for the incorporation of natural, nontoxic compounds in infection control through the synthesis of novel alternative therapies.

Dr. Blythe Janowiak is an esteemed professor and mentor who made the completion of this project possible. Dr. Janowiak guided us through every step of the process and opened her lab to us to conduct our investigation and analyses. Not only is she passionate about teaching but also mentored us on fundamental biological laboratory processes resulting in the awardment of the Knoedler Research Fund. We truly could not have done this without Dr. Janowiak's wisdom, expertise, and dedication. She is an exemplary professor whose passion can only be matched by the care she has for her students and truly has left an indelible mark on our undergraduate research journeys. We are forever grateful to Dr. Janowiak and all members of the Janowiak Lab for their constant support, assistance, and encouragement.