Preparation and characterization of a photocatalytic antibacterial material: Graphene oxide/TiO2/bacterial cellulose nanocomposite

Antibacterial Activity of Various Morphologies of Films Based on Guanidine Derivatives of Pillar[5]arene: Influence of the Nature of One Substitute on Self-assembly

The progress of the pillar[5]arene chemistry allowed us to set out a new concept on application of the supramolecular assemblies to create antimicrobial films with variable surface morphologies and biological activities. Antibacterial films were derived from the substituted pillar[5]arenes containing nine pharmacophoric guanidine fragments and one thioalkyl substituent. Changing the only thioalkyl fragment in the macrocycle structure made it possible to control the biological activity of the resulting antibacterial coating. Pretreatment of the surface with aqueous solution of the amphiphilic pillar[5]arenes reduced the biofilm thickness by 56 ± 10% of Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus in the case of the pillar[5]arene containing a thiooctyl fragment and by 52 ± 7% for the biofilm of Gram-negative Klebsiella pneumoniae in the case of pillar[5]arene containing a thiooctadecyl fragment. Meanwhile, the cytotoxicity of the synthesized macrocycles was examined at a concentration of 50 μg/mL, which was significantly lower than that of bis-guanidine-based antimicrobial preparations.

Recent advances in cellulose-based sustainable materials for wastewater treatment: An overview

Water pollution presents a significant challenge, impacting ecosystems and human health. The necessity for solutions to address water pollution arises from the critical need to preserve and protect the quality of water resources. Effective solutions are crucial to safeguarding ecosystems, human health, and ensuring sustainable access to clean water for current and future generations. Generally, cellulose and its derivatives are considered potential substrates for wastewater treatment. The various cellulose processing methods including acid, alkali, organic & inorganic components treatment, chemical treatment and spinning methods are highlighted. Additionally, we reviewed effective use of the cellulose derivatives (CD), including cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), cellulose nano-fibrils (CNFs), CNPs, and bacterial nano-cellulose (BNC) on waste water (WW) treatment. The various cellulose processing methods, including spinning, mechanical, chemical, and biological approaches are also highlighted. Additionally, cellulose-based materials, including adsorbents, membranes and hydrogels are critically discussed. The review also highlighted the mechanism of adsorption, kinetics, thermodynamics, and sorption isotherm studies of adsorbents. The review concluded that the cellulose-derived materials are effective substrates for removing heavy metals, dyes, pathogenic microorganisms, and other pollutants from WW. Similarly, cellulose based materials are used for flocculants and water filtration membranes. Cellulose composites are widely used in the separation of oil and water emulsions as well as in removing dyes from wastewater. Cellulose's natural hydrophilicity makes it easier for it to interact with water molecules, making it appropriate for use in water treatment processes. Furthermore, the materials derived from cellulose have wider application in WW treatment due to their inexhaustible sources, low energy consumption, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and renewable nature.

Biosynthesis of Peptide Hydrogel-Titania Nanoparticle Composites with Antibacterial Properties

The photoantibacterial properties of titania nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) are attracting much interest, but the separation of their suspension limits their application. In this study, the encapsulation of commercial TiO2NPs within self-assembling tripeptide hydrogels to form hgel-TiO2NP composites with significant photoantibacterial properties is reported. The Fmoc-Phe3 hydrogelator was synthesized via an enzymatic method. The resulting composite was characterized with DLS, ζ-potential, SAXS, FESEM-EDS and rheological measurements. Two different concentrations of TiO2NPs were used. The results showed that, by increasing the TiO2NP quantity from 5 to 10 mg, the value of the elastic modulus doubled, while the swelling ratio decreased from 63.6 to 45.5%. The antimicrobial efficacy of hgel-TiO2NPs was tested against a laboratory Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) strain and two methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) clinical isolates. Results highlighted a concentration-dependent superior antibacterial activity of hgel-TiO2NPs over TiO2NPs in the dark and after UV photoactivation. Notably, UV light exposure substantially increased the biocidal action of hgel-TiO2NPs compared to TiO2NPs. Surprisingly, in the absence of UV light, both composites significantly increased S. aureus growth relative to control groups. These findings support the role of hgel-TiO2NPs as promising biocidal agents in clinical and sanitation contexts. However, they also signal concerns about TiO2NP exposure influencing S. aureus virulence.

Recent advances in bacterial cellulose-based antibacterial composites for infected wound therapy

Wound infection arising from pathogenic bacteria brought serious trouble to the patient and medical system. Among various wound dressings that are effective in killing pathogenic bacteria, antimicrobial composites based on bacterial cellulose (BC) are becoming the most popular materials due to their success in eliminating pathogenic bacteria, preventing wound infection, and promoting wound healing. However, as an extracellular natural polymer, BC is not inherently antimicrobial, which means that it must be combined with other antimicrobials to be effective against pathogens. BC has many advantages over other polymers, including nano-structure, significant moisture retention, non-adhesion to the wound surface, which has made it superior to other biopolymers. This review introduces the recent advances in BC-based composites for the treatment of wound infection, including the classification and preparation methods of composites, the mechanism of wound treatment, and commercial application. Moreover, their wound therapy applications include hydrogel dressing, surgical sutures, wound healing bandages, and patches are summarized in detail. Finally, the challenges and future prospects of BC-based antibacterial composites for the treatment of infected wounds are discussed.

Hybrid nanostructures exhibiting both photocatalytic and antibacterial activity-a review

The most vital issues of the modern world for a sustainable future are "health" and "the environment." Scientific endeavors to tackle these two major concerns for mankind need serious attention. The photocatalytic activity toward curbing environmental pollution and antibacterial performance toward a healthy society are two directions that have been emphasized for decades. Recently, materials engineering, in their nanodimension, has shown tremendous possibilities to integrate these functionalities within the same materials. In particular, hybrid nanostructures have shown magnificent prospects to combat both crucial challenges. Many researchers are separately engaged in this important field of research but the collective knowledge on this domain which can facilitate them to excel is badly missing. The present article integrates the development of different hybrid nanostructures which exhibit both photocatalytic degradations of environmental pollutants and antibacterial efficiency. Various synthesis techniques of those hybrid nanomaterials have been discussed. Hybrid nanosystems based on several successful materials have been categorically discussed for better insight into the research advancement in this direction. In particular, Ag-based, metal oxides-based, layered carbon material-based, and Mexene- and self-cleaning-based materials have been chosen for detailing their performance as anti-pollutant and antibacterial materials. Those hybrid systems along with some miscellaneous booming nanostructured materials have been discussed comprehensively with their success and limitations toward their bifunctionality as antipollutant and antibacterial agents.

Original nanostructured bacterial cellulose/pyrite composite: Photocatalytic application in advanced oxidation processes

The development of an original catalytic composite of bacterial cellulose (BC) and pyrite (FeS₂) for environmental application was the objective of this study. Nanoparticles of the FeS₂ were synthesized from the hydrothermal method and immobilized on the BC structure using ex situ methodology. In the BC, the FTIR and XRD analyzes showed the absorption band associated with the Fe-S bond and crystalline peaks attributed to the pyrite. Thus, the immobilization of the iron particles on the biopolymer was proven, producing the composite BC/FeS₂. The use of the SEM technique also ratifies the composite production by identifying the fibrillar structure morphology of the cellulose covered by FeS₂ particles. The total iron concentration was 54.76 ± 1.69 mg L^-1, determined by flame atomic absorption analysis. TG analysis and degradation tests showed respectively the thermal stability of the new material and its high catalytic potential. A multi-component solution of textile dyes was used as the matrix to be treated via advanced oxidative processes. The composite acted as the catalyst for the Fenton and photo-Fenton processes, with degradations of 52.87 and 96.82%, respectively. The material proved stability by showing low iron leaching (2.02 ± 0.09 and 2.11 ± 0.11 mg L^-1 for the respective processes). Thus, its high potential for reuse is presumed, given the remaining concentration of this metal in the BC. The results showed that the BC/FeS₂ composite is suitable to solve the problems associated with using catalysts in suspension form.

Recent advances in cellulose supported photocatalysis for pollutant mitigation: A review

In recent times, green chemistry or "green world" is a new and effective approach for sustainable environmental remediation. Among all biomaterials, cellulose is a vital material in research and green chemistry. Cellulose is the most commonly used natural biopolymer because of its distinctive and exceptional properties such as reproducibility, cost-effectiveness, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and universality. Generally, coupling cellulose with other nanocomposite materials enhances the properties like porosity and specific surface area. The polymer is environment-friendly, bioresorbable, and sustainable which not only justifies the requirements of a good photocatalyst but boosts the adsorption ability and degradation efficiency of the nanocomposite. Hence, knowing the role of cellulose to enhance photocatalytic activity, the present review is focused on the properties of cellulose and its application in antibiotics, textile dyes, phenol and Cr(VI) reduction, and degradation. The work also highlighted the degradation mechanism of cellulose-based photocatalysts, confirming cellulose's role as a support material to act as a sink and electron mediator, suppressing the charge carrier's recombination rate and enhancing the charge migration ability. The review also covers the latest progressions, leanings, and challenges of cellulose biomaterials-based nanocomposites in the photocatalysis field.

Bacterial cellulose as a potential biopolymer in biomedical applications: a state-of-the-art review

Throughout history, natural biomaterials have benefited society. Nevertheless, in recent years, tailoring natural materials for diverse biomedical applications accompanied with sustainability has become the focus. With the progress in the field of materials science, novel approaches for the production, processing, and functionalization of biomaterials to obtain specific architectures have become achievable. This review highlights an immensely adaptable natural biomaterial, bacterial cellulose (BC). BC is an emerging sustainable biopolymer with immense potential in the biomedical field due to its unique physical properties such as flexibility, high porosity, good water holding capacity, and small size; chemical properties such as high crystallinity, foldability, high purity, high polymerization degree, and easy modification; and biological characteristics such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, excellent biological affinity, and non-biotoxicity. The structure of BC consists of glucose monomer units polymerized via cellulose synthase in β-1-4 glucan chains, creating BC nano fibrillar bundles with a uniaxial orientation. BC-based composites have been extensively investigated for diverse biomedical applications due to their similarity to the extracellular matrix structure. The recent progress in nanotechnology allows the further modification of BC, producing novel BC-based biomaterials for various applications. In this review, we strengthen the existing knowledge on the production of BC and BC composites and their unique properties, and highlight the most recent advances, focusing mainly on the delivery of active pharmaceutical compounds, tissue engineering, and wound healing. Further, we endeavor to present the challenges and prospects for BC-associated composites for their application in the biomedical field.

Recent advances in the hybridization of cellulose and carbon nanomaterials: Interactions, structural design, functional tailoring, and applications

Due to the good biocompatibility and flexibility of cellulose and the excellent optical, electronic, as well as mechanical properties of carbon nanomaterials (CNMs), cellulose/CNM hybrid materials have been widely synthesized and used in energy storage, sensors, adsorption, biomedicine, and many other fields. In this review, we present recent advances (2016-current) in the design, structural design, functional tailoring and various applications of cellulose/CNM hybrid materials. For this aim, first the interactions between cellulose and CNMs for promoting the formation of cellulose/CNM materials are analyzed, and then the hybridization between cellulose with various CNMs for tailoring the structures and functions of hybrid materials is introduced. Further, abundant applications of cellulose/CNM hybrid materials in various fields are presented and discussed. This comprehensive review will be helpful for readers to understand the functional design and facile synthesis of cellulose-based nanocomposites, and to promote the high-performance utilization and sustainability of biomass materials in the future.

Sustainable Green Nanotechnologies for Innovative Purifications of Water: Synthesis of the Nanoparticles from Renewable Sources

Polluting the natural water resources is a serious global issue, which is confirmed by the fact that today at least 2 billion people consume water from contaminated sources. The conventional wastewater treatment methods cannot effectively remove the persistent pollutants (e.g., drugs, organic dyes, pesticides) from the aqueous environment. Heterogeneous photocatalysis is a promising and sustainable alternative for water remediation. It is based on the interaction between light irradiation and the semiconductors (e.g., TiO₂, ZnO) as photocatalysts, but these compounds, unfortunately, have some disadvantages. Hence, great attention has been paid to the nanotechnology as a possible way of improvement. Nanomaterials have extraordinary properties; however, their conventional synthesis is often difficult and requires a significant amount of dangerous chemicals. This concise topical review gives recent updates and trends in development of sustainable and green pathways in the synthesis of nanomaterials, as well as in their application for water remediation. In our review we put emphasis on the eco-friendly, mostly plant extract-based materials. The importance of this topic, including this study as well, is proved by the growing number of publications since 2018. Due to the current serious environmental issues (e.g., global warming, shortage of pure and quality water), it is necessary for the traditional TiO₂ and ZnO semiconductors to be replaced with the harmless, non-toxic, and more powerful nanocomposites as photocatalysts. Not only because of their higher efficiency as compared to the bulk semiconductors, but also because of the presence of biomolecules that can add up to the pollutant removal efficiency, which has been already confirmed in many researches. However, despite the fact that the application of heterogeneous photocatalysis together with green nanotechnology is absolutely the future in water purification, there are some challenges which have to be overcome. The exact effects of the biomolecules obtained from plants in the synthesis of nanoparticles, as well as in the photocatalytic processes, are not exactly known and require further investigation. Furthermore, heterogeneous photocatalysis is a well-known and commonly examined process; however, its practical use outside the laboratory is expensive and difficult. Thus, it has to be simplified and improved in order to be available for everyone. The aim of our review is to suggest and prove that using these bio-inspired compounds it is possible to reduce human footprint in the nature.

GO-based antibacterial composites: Application and design strategies

Graphene oxide (GO), for its unique structure with high biocompatibility and designability, is widely used in the antibacterial field. Various strategies have been designed to fabricate GO-based composites with antibacterial properties. This review summarized these strategies, divided them into three types and interpreted their antibacterial mechanisms: (i) "GO*/non-GO" type in which GO acts as the single antibacterial core, (ii) "GO*/non-GO*" type in which GO and non-GO components function synergistically as dual antibacterial cores, (iii) "GO/non-GO*" type in which non-GO acts as the single antibacterial core, while GO component plays a supportive, not a dominant role in antibiosis. Besides, the fields suiting their applications and factors influencing their antibacterial properties were analyzed. Finally, the limitations and prospects in the current researches were discussed. In summary, GO-based composites have revolutionized antibacterial strategies. This review may serve as a reference to inspire further research on GO-based antibacterial composites.

A review of graphene-TiO2 and graphene-ZnO nanocomposite photocatalysts for wastewater treatment

Technologies for wastewater remediation have been growing ever since the environmental and health concern is realized. Development of nanomaterials has enabled mankind to have different methods to treat the various kinds of inorganic and organic pollutants present in wastewater from many resources. Among the many materials, semiconductor materials have found many environmental applications due to their outstanding photocatalytic activities. TiO₂ and ZnO are more effectively used as photocatalyst or adsorbents in the withdrawal of inorganic as well as organic wastes from the wastewater. On the other hand, graphene is tremendously being investigated for applications in environmental remediation in view of the superior physical, optical, thermal, and electronic properties of graphene nanocomposites. In this work, graphene-TiO₂ and graphene-ZnO nanocomposites have been reviewed for photocatalytic wastewater treatment. The various preparation techniques of these nanocomposites have been discussed. Also, different design strategies for graphene-based photocatalyst have been revealed. These nanocomposites exhibit promising applications in most of the water purification processes which are reviewed in this work. Along with this, the development of these nanocomposites using biomass-derived graphene has also been introduced. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Graphene-TiO₂ and graphene-ZnO nanocomposites are effective for wastewater treatment through photocatalysis. These nanocomposite photocatalysts have been used in the form of membrane as well as antibacterial agents. Synthetic strategies and design considerations of graphene-based photocatalyst play a major role. Biomass-derived graphene-TiO₂ and graphene-ZnO nanocomposites have also found application in wastewater treatment.

Bacterial cellulose and its potential for biomedical applications

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an important polysaccharide synthesized by some bacterial species under specific culture conditions, which presents several remarkable features such as microporosity, high water holding capacity, good mechanical properties and good biocompatibility, making it a potential biomaterial for medical applications. Since its discovery, BC has been used for wound dressing, drug delivery, artificial blood vessels, bone tissue engineering, and so forth. Additionally, BC can be simply manipulated to form its derivatives or composites with enhanced physicochemical and functional properties. Several polymers, carbon-based nanomaterials, and metal nanoparticles (NPs) have been introduced into BC by ex situ and in situ methods to design hybrid materials with enhanced functional properties. This review provides comprehensive knowledge and highlights recent advances in BC production strategies, its structural features, various in situ and ex situ modification techniques, and its potential for biomedical applications.

Fabrication of Inorganic Oxide Fiber Using a Cigarette Filter as a Template

Inorganic oxides with unique physical and chemical properties have attracted much attention because they can be applied in a wide range of fields. Herein, recycled cigarette filters are deacetylated to cellulose filters (CFs), which are then applied as templates to prepare fiber-like inorganic oxides (titanium dioxide, TiO₂, and silicon dioxide, SiO₂). Inorganic oxides are prepared using CF as a template by a typical sol-gel reaction of metal alkoxides. Owing to the fibrous structure of the CF template, the prepared inorganic oxides (TiO₂ and SiO₂) show similar fibrous structures, which was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis. Moreover, the prepared inorganic oxides (TiO₂ and SiO₂) show high surface areas and pore volumes. Furthermore, the TiO₂ fiber-like materials are evaluated for their photocatalytic properties by analyzing the methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) degradation. In this study, we provide a clean method, which can convert cellulose acetate-based waste into useful templates to prepare inorganic oxides with relatively simple steps, and the prepared inorganic oxides can be applied in water treatment.

Versatile nanocellulose-based nanohybrids: A promising-new class for active packaging applications

The food packaging industry is rapidly growing as a consequence of the development of nanotechnology and changing consumers' preferences for food quality and safety. In today's globalization of markets, active packaging has achieved many advantages with the capability to absorb or release substances for prolonging the food shelf life over the traditional one. Therefore, it is critical to developing multifunctional active packaging materials from biodegradable polymers with active agents to decrease environmental challenges. This review article addresses the recent advances in nanocelluloses (NCs)- baseds nanohybrids with new function features in packaging, focusing on the various synthesis methods of NCs-based nanohybrids, and their reinforcing effects as active agents on food packaging properties. The applications of NCs-based nanohybrids as antioxidants, antimicrobial agents, and UV blocker absorbers for prolonging food shelf-life are also reviewed. Overall, these advantages make the CNs-based nanohybrids with versatile properties promising in food and packaging industries, which will impact more readership with concern for future research.

Permeation of Silver Sulfadiazine Into TEMPO-Oxidized Bacterial Cellulose as an Antibacterial Agent

Surface oxidation of bacterial cellulose (BC) was done with the TEMPO-mediated oxidation mechanism system. After that, TEMPO-oxidized bacterial cellulose (TOBC) was impregnated with silver sulfadiazine (AgSD) to prepare nanocomposite membranes. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was carried out to determine the existence of aldehyde groups on BC nanofibers and X-ray diffraction (XRD) demonstrated the degree of crystallinity. FESEM analysis revealed the impregnation of AgSD nanoparticles at TOBC nanocomposites with the average diameter size ranging from 11 nm to 17.5 nm. The sample OBCS3 showed higher antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli by the disc diffusion method. The results showed AgSD content, dependent antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria, and degree of crystallinity increases with TOBC and AgSD. The main advantage of the applications of TEMPO-mediated oxidation to BC nanofibers is that the crystallinity of BC nanofibers is unchanged and increased after the oxidation. Also enhanced the reactivity of BC as it is one of the most promising method for cellulose fabrication and functionalization. We believe that the novel composite membrane could be a potential candidate for biomedical applications like wound dressing, BC scaffold, and tissue engineering.

Adsorption and photocatalytic activity of Cu-doped cellulose nanofibers/nano-titanium dioxide for different types of dyes

Cu-doped cellulose nanofibers/nano-titanium dioxide (Cu-TOCN/TiO₂) photocatalysts were prepared by the hydrolysis-precipitation method using TiCl₄ as the source of titanium and cellulose nanofibers suspension as a reaction medium. The prepared photocatalysts were used to decolorize organic dyes (reactive brilliant red K-2BP and cationic red X-GRL) efficiently under the synergistic effect of simultaneous adsorption and photocatalysis. The combination of TOCN inhibited the growth of TiO₂ crystals, reduced agglomeration and increased the specific surface area. When compared with TiO₂, TOCN/TiO₂ improved the decolorization efficiency of the two dyes by 14.82% and 22.87%, respectively, under UV-light irradiation. The absorption edge exhibited red-shift from 380 to 410 nm after Cu doping. An excellent photocatalytic activity was recorded by 0.5 mol % Cu-TOCN/TiO₂ and the decolorization efficiency of the two dyes was further improved by 34.76% and 10.44% respectively, compared with no Cu doping. After 2 hours of irradiation, the decolorization efficiency reached 96.57% and 99.73% respectively, while under dark conditions, it was 47.64% and 91.56% for the two dyes. The degradation mechanism of the dyes was verified as the destruction of the azo chromophore and benzene ring. This work provides a potential method for the development of a novel adsorptive photocatalyst with excellent recyclability.

Transcriptomic analysis of stress response to novel antimicrobial coatings in a clinical MRSA strain

Multi-drug resistant pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) cause nosocomial infections that can have deleterious effects on human health. Thus, it is imperative to find solutions to treat these detrimental infections as well as to control their spread. We tested the effect of two different antimicrobial materials, functionalised graphene oxide (GOX), and AGXX® coated on cellulose fibres, on the growth and transcriptome of the clinical MRSA strain S. aureus 04-02981. In addition, we investigated the effect of a third material as a combination of GOX and AGXX® fibres on S. aureus 04-02981. Standard plate count assay revealed that the combination of fibres, GOX-AGXX® inhibited the growth of S. aureus 04-02981 by 99.98%. To assess the effect of these antimicrobials on the transcriptome of our strain, cultures of S. aureus 04-02981 were incubated with GOX, AGXX®, or GOX-AGXX® fibres for different time periods and then subjected to RNA-sequencing. Uncoated cellulose fibres were used as a negative control. The antimicrobial fibres had a huge impact on the transcriptome of S. aureus 04-02981 affecting the expression of 2650 genes. Primarily genes related to biofilm formation and virulence (such as agr, sarA, and those of the two-component system SaeRS), and genes crucial for survival in biofilms (like arginine metabolism arc genes) were repressed. In contrast, the expression of siderophore biosynthesis genes (sbn) was induced, a probable response to stress imposed by the antimicrobials and the conditions of iron-deficiency. Genes associated with potassium transport, intracellular survival and pathogenesis (kdp) were also differentially expressed. Our data suggest that the combination of GOX and AGXX® acts as an efficient antimicrobial against S. aureus 04-02981. Thus, these materials are potential candidates for applications in antimicrobial surface coatings.

Nanocellulose Hybrids with Metal Oxides Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

Cellulose is one of the most affordable, sustainable and renewable resources, and has attracted much attention especially in the form of nanocellulose. Bacterial cellulose, cellulose nanocrystals or nanofibers may serve as a polymer support to enhance the effectiveness of metal nanoparticles. The resultant hybrids are valuable materials for biomedical applications due to the novel optical, electronic, magnetic and antibacterial properties. In the present review, the preparation methods, properties and application of nanocellulose hybrids with different metal oxides nanoparticles such as zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, copper oxide, magnesium oxide or magnetite are thoroughly discussed. Nanocellulose-metal oxides antibacterial formulations are preferred to antibiotics due to the lack of microbial resistance, which is the main cause for the antibiotics failure to cure infections. Metal oxide nanoparticles may be separately synthesized and added to nanocellulose (ex situ processes) or they can be synthesized using nanocellulose as a template (in situ processes). In the latter case, the precursor is trapped inside the nanocellulose network and then reduced to the metal oxide. The influence of the synthesis methods and conditions on the thermal and mechanical properties, along with the bactericidal and cytotoxicity responses of nanocellulose-metal oxides hybrids were mainly analyzed in this review. The current status of research in the field and future perspectives were also signaled.

Photodegradation of ibuprofen and four other pharmaceutical pollutants on natural pigments sensitized TiO2 nanoparticles

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in water system have drawn increasing concerns in recent years. TiO₂ -based photodegradation has shown great potential as a low-cost and sustainable technology in water treatment, however, can only use the UV light range of solar radiation which makes the system less efficient. Dyes have been studied to improve the TiO₂ system light-harvesting range, but studies on environmental friendly natural dyes are rare. In this study, a screening method using UV-Vis spectra analysis was carried out on a group of 22 different tropical natural plants for the potential applications on dye-sensitized TiO₂ in PPCP treatment. As a result, Begonia "Martin's Mystery" significantly increased TiO₂ photodegradation efficiency toward ibuprofen treatments which is first time reported in literature as our best knowledge. Moreover, the promising discovery of Begonia application in ibuprofen treatment has been successfully applied to warfarin and famotidine treatment. Similar results were expanded to many other Begonia species which indicate that Begonia extracts could be excellent sensitizers for TiO₂ -based photodegradation of PPCPs. Our discovery suggested that the screening process may potentially open a brand-new way for future TiO₂ photodegradation studies before the complex and time-consuming detailed mechanism studies. PRACTITIONER POINTS.: Natural dyes were screened as sensitizers for TiO₂ photodegradation of ibuprofen. Ibuprofen photodegradation efficiency was increased twice using Begonia "Martin's Mystery." The Begonia applications were extended to warfarin, trimethoprim, and famotidine. Promising results were also observed using five other Begonia species.

Current progress on the production, modification, and applications of bacterial cellulose

Adoption of biomass for the development of biobased products has become a routine agenda in evolutionary metabolic engineering. Cellulose produced by bacteria is a "rising star" for this sustainable development. Unlike plant cellulose, bacterial cellulose (BC) shows several unique properties like a high degree of crystallinity, high purity, high water retention, high mechanical strength, and enhanced biocompatibility. Favored with those extraordinary properties, BC could serve as ideal biomass for the development of various industrial products. However, a low yield and the requirement for large growth media have been a persistent challenge in mass production of BC. A significant number of techniques has been developed in achieving efficient BC production. This includes the modification of bioreactors, fermentation parameters, and growth media. In this article, we summarize progress in metabolic engineering in order to solve BC growth limitation. This article emphasizes current engineered BC production by using various bioreactors, as well as highlighting the structure of BC fermented by different types of engineered-bioreactors. The comprehensive overview of the future applications of BC, aims to provide readers with insight into new economic opportunities of BC and their modifiable properties for various industrial applications. Modifications in chemical composition, structure, and genetic regulation, which preceded the advancement of BC applications, were also emphasized.

Titanium dioxide decorated natural cellulosic Juncus effusus fiber for highly efficient photodegradation towards dyes

The removal of dyes via photocatalytic degradation has been identified as an eco-friendly method for producing clean and purified water. Natural cellulosic fibers are significant renewable resource and important in a wide range of applications. Herein, we report a natural cellulosic Juncus effusus (JE) fiber with 3D network structure as a framework to provide controllable space for the growth of TiO₂ particles. The TiO₂-JE showed remarkable activity in the removal of C.I. Reactive Red 120 (RR120), C.I. Direct Yellow 12 (DY12), and methylene blue (MB) with a photodegradation efficiency of 99.9 % under simulated sunlight irradiation. Additionally, an orientate fabric was fabricated using the prepared TiO₂-JE fibers for the photocatalytic degradation of dye-contaminated water in the sun, further confirming its practical application. The TiO₂ decorated natural cellulosic JE fiber can be a promising material for photocatalysis and sustainable chemistry.

Toxicity of ZnO/TiO2 -conjugated carbon-based nanohybrids on the coastal marine alga Thalassiosira pseudonana

Increasing consumption of metal-oxide nanoparticles (NPs) and carbon-based nanomaterials has caused significant concern about their potential hazards in aquatic environments. The release of NPs into aquatic environments could result in adsorption of NPs on microorganisms. While metal-oxide NP-conjugated carbon-based nanohybrids (NHs) may exhibit enhanced toxicity toward microorganisms due to their large surface area and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), there is a lack of information regarding the ecotoxicological effects of NHs on marine diatom algae, which are an indicator of marine pollution. Moreover, there is scant information on toxicity mechanisms of NHs on aquatic organisms. In this study, four NHs (ie, ZnO-conjugated graphene oxide [GO], ZnO-conjugated carbon nanotubes [CNTs], TiO₂ -conjugated GO, and TiO₂ -conjugated CNT) that were synthesized by a hydrothermal method were investigated for their toxicity effects on a Thalassiosira pseudonana marine diatom. The in vitro cellular viability and ROS formation employed at the concentration ranges of 50 and 100 mg/L of NHs over 72 hours revealed that ZnO-GO had the most negative effect on T. pseudonana. The primary mechanism identified was the generation of ROS and GO-induced dispersion that caused electrostatic repulsion, preventing aggregation, and an increase in surface areas of NHs. In contrast to GO-induced dispersion, large aggregates were observed in ZnO/TiO₂ -conjugated CNT-based NHs. The scanning electron microscopy images suggest that NHs covered algae cells and interacted with them (shading effects); this reduced light availability for photosynthesis. Detailed in vitro toxicity effects and mechanisms that cause high adverse acute toxicity on T. pseudonana were unveiled; this implied concerns about potential hazards of these mechanisms in aquatic ecosystems.

Antibacterial effects of graphene- and carbon-nanotube-based nanohybrids on Escherichia coli: Implications for treating multidrug-resistant bacteria

Some nanomaterials including Fe⁰, Ag⁰, and ZnO are well known for their antibacterial effects. However, very few studies have examined antibacterial effects of nanohybrids. Given that metal oxides, mainly ZnO and TiO₂, are known to increase mobility, surface area, and photocatalysis when combined with carbon-based nanomaterials, ZnO- and TiO₂-conjugated carbon nanotube and graphene oxide nanohybrids were investigated for their antibacterial effects on Escherichia coli (DH5α, a multidrug-resistant coliform bacterium). Graphene-oxide (GO)-based nanohybrids (ZnO-GO and TiO₂-GO) induced increased dispersion compared to carbon-nanotube (CNT)-based nanohybrids (ZnO-CNT and TiO₂-CNT). Among the four types of nanohybrids, ZnO-conjugated nanohybrids exhibited a higher antibacterial property, resulting in the antibacterial effect (measured with growth inhibition of cells) in the order ZnO-GO > ZnO-CNT > TiO₂-GO > TiO₂-CNT. Among four possible antibacterial mechanisms (generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), physicochemical characteristics, the steric effect, and release of metal ions), a primary mechanism-ROS generation-was identified; whereas, physicochemical characteristics and the steric effect were part of contributing mechanisms. The increasing dispersion of TiO₂/ZnO on GO may have contributed to the antibacterial effects due to increasing surface areas. Similarly, significant damages to E. coli cell membranes were found by the GO sheet with its sharp edges. Our results suggest that applying GO-based ZnO or TiO₂ could be an effective antibacterial method, especially for the treatment of multidrug-resistant bacteria in the water.

Metabolic adaptability shifts of cell membrane fatty acids of Komagataeibacter hansenii HDM1-3 improve acid stress resistance and survival in acidic environments

Komagataeibacter hansenii HDM1-3 (K. hansenii HDM1-3) has been widely applied for producing bacterial cellulose (BC). The yield of BC has been frequently limited by the acidification during sugar metabolism, due to the generation of organic acids such as acetic acid. In this study, the acid resistance mechanism of K. hansenii HDM1-3 has been investigated from the aspect of metabolic adaptability of cell membrane fatty acids. Firstly, we observed that the survival rate of K. hansenii HDM1-3 was decreased with lowered pH values (adjusted with acetic acids), accompanied by increased leakage rate. Secondly, the cell membrane adaptability in response to acid stress was evaluated, including the variations of cell membrane fluidity and fatty acid composition. The proportion of unsaturated fatty acids was increased (especially, C18-1w9c and C19-Cyc), unsaturation degree and chain length of fatty acids were also increased. Thirdly, the potential molecular regulation mechanism was further elucidated. Under acid stress, the fatty acid synthesis pathway was involved in the structure and composition variations of fatty acids, which was proved by the activation of both fatty acid dehydrogenase (des) and cyclopropane fatty acid synthase (cfa) genes, as well as the addition of exogenous fatty acids. The fatty acid synthesis of K. hansenii HDM1-3 may be mediated by the activation of two-component sensor signaling pathways in response to the acid stress. The acid resistance mechanism of K. hansenii HDM1-3 adds to our knowledge of the acid stress adaptation, which may facilitate the development of new strategies for improving the industrial performance of this species under acid stress.

Antibacterial Properties of Graphene-Based Nanomaterials

Bacteria mediated infections may cause various acute or chronic illnesses and antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria has become a serious health problem around the world due to their excessive use or misuse. Replacement of existing antibacterial agents with a novel and efficient alternative is the immediate demand to alleviate this problem. Graphene-based materials have been exquisitely studied because of their remarkable bactericidal activity on a wide range of bacteria. Graphene-based materials provide advantages of easy preparation, renewable, unique catalytic properties, and exceptional physical properties such as a large specific surface area and mechanical strength. However, several queries related to the mechanism of action, significance of size and composition toward bacterial activity, toxicity criteria, and other issues are needed to be addressed. This review summarizes the recent efforts that have been made so far toward the development of graphene-based antibacterial materials to face current challenges to combat against the bacterial targets. This review describes the inherent antibacterial activity of graphene-family and recent advances that have been made on graphene-based antibacterial materials covering the functionalization with silver nanoparticles, other metal ions/oxides nanoparticles, polymers, antibiotics, and enzymes along with their multicomponent functionalization. Furthermore, the review describes the biosafety of the graphene-based antibacterial materials. It is hoped that this review will provide valuable current insight and excite new ideas for the further development of safe and efficient graphene-based antibacterial materials.

Photocatalytic antibacterial agent incorporated double-network hydrogel for wound healing

A novel antibacterial hydrogel was prepared through the addition of IT to a chitin (CT) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel, creating a promising material for wound dressings. The addition of nano particles IT endowed the anti-bacterial activity of hydrogel as well as had a positive impact on the mechanical properties of the hydrogels. The structure of the prepared hydrogel dressing was characterized by FTIR, XPS, XRD, SEM and TEM. The composite hydrogel exhibited excellent anti-bacterial activity under the visible light. Cytotoxicity tests (L929 fibroblast cells) showed all samples achieving up to 80% cell viability. Furthermore, compared with conventional dressings, wound healing test revealed that CT/PVA/IT hydrogel could accelerated wound healing in vivo, wound closure rates reached 95.5% after 10 days. This study suggests that the novel hydrogel has considerable potential for applications in wound dressings.

Applications of cellulose and chitin/chitosan derivatives and composites as antibacterial materials: current state and perspectives

The bacterial infections have always a serious problem to public health. Scientists are developing new antibacterial materials to overcome this problem. Polysaccharides are promising biopolymers due to their diverse biological functions, low toxicity, and high biodegradability. Chitin and chitosan have antibacterial properties due to their cationic nature, while cellulose/bacterial cellulose does not possess any antibacterial activity. Moreover, the insolubility of chitin in common solvents, the poor solubility of chitosan in water, and the low mechanical properties of chitosan have restricted their biomedical applications. In order to solve these problems, chemical modifications such as quaternization, carboxymethylation, cationization, or surface modification of these polymers with different antimicrobial agents, including metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, are carried out to obtain new materials with improved physiochemical and biological properties. This mini review describes the recent progress in such derivatives and composites with potential antibacterial applications.

Nanocellulose-Based Antibacterial Materials

In recent years, nanocellulose-based antimicrobial materials have attracted a great deal of attention due to their unique and potentially useful features. In this review, several representative types of nanocellulose and modification methods for antimicrobial applications are mainly focused on. Recent literature related with the preparation and applications of nanocellulose-based antimicrobial materials is reviewed. The fabrication of nanocellulose-based antimicrobial materials for wound dressings, drug carriers, and packaging materials is the focus of the research. The most important additives employed in the preparation of nanocellulose-based antimicrobial materials are presented, such as antibiotics, metal, and metal oxide nanoparticles, as well as chitosan. These nanocellulose-based antimicrobial materials can benefit many applications including wound dressings, drug carriers, and packaging materials. Finally, the challenges of industrial production and potentials for development of nanocellulose-based antimicrobial materials are discussed.

Nanocellulose: Recent advances and its prospects in environmental remediation

Among many other sustainable functional nanomaterials, nanocellulose is drawing increasing interest for use in environmental remediation technologies due to its numerous unique properties and functionalities. Nanocellulose is usually derived from the disintegration of naturally occurring polymers or produced by the action of bacteria. In this review, some invigorating perspectives on the challenges, future direction, and updates on the most relevant uses of nanocellulose in environmental remediation are discussed. The reported applications and properties of nanocellulose as an adsorbent, photocatalyst, flocculant, and membrane are reviewed in particular. However, additional effort will be required to implement and commercialize nanocellulose as a viable nanomaterial for remediation technologies. In this regard, the main challenges and limitations in working with nanocellulose-based materials are identified in an effort to improve the development and efficient use of nanocellulose in environmental remediation.