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12 pages, 1492 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antiparasitic Activity of Isolated Fractions from Parthenium incanum Kunth against the Hemoflagellate Protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi

by David Alejandro Hernández-Marín, Rocio Castro-Rios, Abelardo Chávez-Montes, Sandra L. Castillo-Hernández, Joel Horacio Elizondo-Luevano, Martín Humberto Muñoz-Ortega and Eduardo Sánchez-García

Antibiotics 2024, 13(7), 622; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13070622 - 4 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 788

Abstract

This study focused on isolating, identifying, and evaluating the trypanocidal potential against the hemoflagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi of compounds from Parthenium incanum (Mariola), a plant used in traditional Mexican medicine to treat stomach and liver disorders. P. incanum has a wide distribution in Mexico. This study found that methanolic extracts of P. incanum, obtained by static maceration and successive reflux, had promising results. The fractions were compared using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and those that showed similarities were mixed. A bioguided assay was performed with Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, using agar diffusion and bioautography techniques to determine the preliminary biological activity. The fractions with antimicrobial activity were purified using a preparative thin-layer chromatography (PTLC) plate, obtaining the bioactive bandages that were subjected to a trypanocidal evaluation against the Ninoa strain of T. cruzi in its epimastigote stage. This revealed an IC₅₀ of up to 45 ± 2.5 µg/mL, in contrast to the values obtained from the crude extracts of less than 100 µg/mL. The TLC, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS) techniques were used to identify the compounds, demonstrating the presence of sesquiterpene lactones, parthenin, and coronopolin. We concluded that these compounds have the potential to inhibit T. cruzi growth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antiprotozoal Activity of Natural Products: 2nd Edition)

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17 pages, 3848 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Vitro Risk Assessment of Dental Acid Erosion Caused by Long-Term Exposure to Oral Liquid Bandages

by Ryouichi Satou and Naoki Sugihara

Dent. J. 2024, 12(3), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/dj12030070 - 6 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1596

Abstract

Oral mucosa inflammation can cause severe pain and interfere with eating, reducing quality of life. However, few options for self-care are available. An oral liquid bandage forms a protective film over the affected area. We aimed to assess the acid erosion risk when a newly developed oral liquid bandage (ORAPLA) is accidentally deposited on teeth and to examine the relative acid erosion risk at multiple time points of the maximum recommended duration of continuous use. ORAPLA was applied to both enamel and dentin blocks from 45 bovine anterior mandibular teeth, and an acid challenge was performed in a simulated oral cavity with artificial saliva, with one exposure cycle lasting 6 h. The enamel showed substantial defects and a decrease in Vickers hardness after nine cycles, with no change in surface roughness. Dentin showed an increase in parenchymal defects and surface roughness and a trend toward decreased Vickers hardness with increasing exposure time. We found no significant acid corrosion in enamel after up to nine times the upper limit of normal use time or in dentin after up to six times the upper limit. We conclude that the acid erosion risk due to accidental attachment to teeth is low, and in the human oral cavity with salivary buffering and remineralization, likely even lower. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dental Materials Design and Innovative Treatment Approach)

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33 pages, 10719 KiB

Open AccessReview

Synthesis, Properties, and Applications of Nanocomposite Materials Based on Bacterial Cellulose and MXene

by Aizhan B. Talipova, Volodymyr V. Buranych, Irina S. Savitskaya, Oleksandr V. Bondar, Amanzhol Turlybekuly and Alexander D. Pogrebnjak

Polymers 2023, 15(20), 4067; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15204067 - 12 Oct 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2348

Abstract

MXene exhibits impressive characteristics, including flexibility, mechanical robustness, the capacity to cleanse liquids like water through MXene membranes, water-attracting nature, and effectiveness against bacteria. Additionally, bacterial cellulose (BC) exhibits remarkable qualities, including mechanical strength, water absorption, porosity, and biodegradability. The central hypothesis posits that the incorporation of both MXene and bacterial cellulose into the material will result in a remarkable synthesis of the attributes inherent to MXene and BC. In layered MXene/BC coatings, the presence of BC serves to separate the MXene layers and enhance the material’s integrity through hydrogen bond interactions. This interaction contributes to achieving a high mechanical strength of this film. Introducing cellulose into one layer of multilayer MXene can increase the interlayer space and more efficient use of MXene. Composite materials utilizing MXene and BC have gained significant traction in sensor electronics due to the heightened sensitivity exhibited by these sensors compared to usual ones. Hydrogel wound healing bandages are also fabricated using composite materials based on MXene/BC. It is worth mentioning that MXene/BC composites are used to store energy in supercapacitors. And finally, MXene/BC-based composites have demonstrated high electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Polymer Applications)

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10 pages, 2255 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Facile Transfer of Spray-Coated Ultrathin AgNWs Composite onto the Skin for Electrophysiological Sensors

by Minwoo Lee, Jaeseong Kim, Myat Thet Khine, Sunkook Kim and Srinivas Gandla

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(17), 2467; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13172467 - 31 Aug 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1303

Abstract

Disposable wearable sensors that ultrathin and conformable to the skin are of significant interest as affordable and easy-to-use devices for short-term recording. This study presents a facile and low-cost method for transferring spray-coated silver nanowire (AgNW) composite films onto human skin using glossy paper (GP) and liquid bandages (LB). Due to the moderately hydrophobic and rough surface of the GP, the ultrathin AgNWs composite film (~200 nm) was easily transferred onto human skin. The AgNW composite films conformally attached to the skin when applied with a LB, resulting in the stable and continuous recording of wearable electrophysiological signals, including electromyogram (EMG), electrocardiogram (ECG), and electrooculogram (EOG). The volatile LB, deposited on the skin via spray coating, promoted rapid adhesion of the transferred AgNW composite films, ensuring stability to the AgNWs in external environments. The AgNWs composite supported with the LB film exhibited high water vapor breathability (~28 gm⁻²h⁻¹), which can avoid the accumulation of sweat at the skin–sensor interface. This approach facilitates the creation of rapid, low-cost, and disposable tattoo-like sensors that are practical for extended use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanomaterials for Soft and Wearable Electronics)

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23 pages, 7829 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Curative Effects of Copper Iodide Embedded on Gallic Acid Incorporated in a Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) Liquid Bandage

by Putita Phetcharat, Pakakrong Sangsanoh, Chasuda Choipang, Sonthaya Chaiarwut, Orawan Suwantong, Piyachat Chuysinuan and Pitt Supaphol

Gels 2023, 9(1), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9010053 - 8 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2459

Abstract

In daily life, people are often receiving minor cuts due to carelessness, leaving wounds on the skin. If wound healing is interrupted and the healing process does not finish, pathogens can easily enter wounds and cause infection. Liquid bandages are a fast and convenient way to help stop the bleeding of superficial wounds. Moreover, antibacterial agents in liquid bandages can promote wound restoration and fight bacteria. Herein, a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) liquid bandage incorporating copper iodide nanoparticles (CuI NPs) was developed. CuI NPs were synthesized through green synthesis using gallic acid (GA) as a reducing and capping agent. The sizes of the CuI NPs, which were dependent on the concentration of GA, were 41.45, 43.51 and 49.71 nm, with the concentrations of gallic acid being 0, 2.5 mM and 5.0 mM, respectively. CuI NPs were analyzed using FTIR, XRD and SEM and tested for peroxidase-like properties and antibacterial activity. Then, PVA liquid bandages were formulated with different concentrations of stock CuI suspension. The results revealed that PVA liquid bandages incorporating 0.190% CuI synthesized with 5.0 mM of GA can kill bacteria within 24 h and have no harmful effects on human fibroblast cells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioceramics, Bioglasses and Gels for Tissue Engineering)

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12 pages, 5684 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Polyvinyl Alcohol/Chitosan/Polyhexamethylene Biguanide Phase Separation System: A Potential Topical Antibacterial Formulation with Enhanced Antimicrobial Effect

by Yunzhou Ni, Zhixiang Qian, Yu Yin, Weien Yuan, Fei Wu and Tuo Jin

Molecules 2020, 25(6), 1334; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25061334 - 15 Mar 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3854

Abstract

An aqueous polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/chitosan (CHT)/polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) blends (PVA/CHT/PHMB blends) has been developed as a potential low dose topical antibacterial formulation with enhanced antimicrobial effect. The preparation of PVA/CHT/PHMB blends was quite facilely, with just dissolved PVA, CHT, PHMB in water in order. There was the aggregates with 100 nm size around induced by phase separation in the blends and an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) formed, as non-ionic polymer PVA formed a continuous phase and cationic polymer CHT and PHMB formed dispersed phases. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of PHMB in the PVA/CHT/PHMB blends was 0.5μg/mL, which was four times lower than the MIC of PHMB individually. A phase separation increased zeta potential mechanism was proposed to explain the enhanced antibacterial activities. In addition, the blends could easily form film on the skin surface with good water vapor permeability and be used as a liquid bandage to accelerate the scratch wound healing process of nude mouse. These findings provide experimental evidence that the PHMB-functionalized blends could be further explored as low-dose topical antibacterial formulations, and the nano-sized phase separation strategy could be used to design novel low-dose topical antibacterial formulations with an enhanced antimicrobial effect. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Materials in Drug Delivery)

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