Hybrid fibers containing protein-templated nanomaterials and biologically active components as antibacterial materials

A Review on Green Synthesis of TiO2 NPs: Synthesis and Applications in Photocatalysis and Antimicrobial

Nanotechnology is a fast-expanding area with a wide range of applications in science, engineering, health, pharmacy, and other fields. Nanoparticles (NPs) are frequently prepared via a variety of physical and chemical processes. Simpler, sustainable, and cost-effective green synthesis technologies have recently been developed. The synthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) in a green/sustainable manner has gotten a lot of interest in the previous quarter. Bioactive components present in organisms such as plants and bacteria facilitate the bio-reduction and capping processes. The biogenic synthesis of TiO₂ NPs, as well as the different synthesis methods and mechanistic perspectives, are discussed in this review. A range of natural reducing agents including proteins, enzymes, phytochemicals, and others, are involved in the synthesis of TiO₂ NPs. The physics of antibacterial and photocatalysis applications were also thoroughly discussed. Finally, we provide an overview of current research and future concerns in biologically mediated TiO₂ nanostructures-based feasible platforms for industrial applications.

Applications of Lysozyme, an Innate Immune Defense Factor, as an Alternative Antibiotic

Lysozyme is a ~14 kDa protein present in many mucosal secretions (tears, saliva, and mucus) and tissues of animals and plants, and plays an important role in the innate immunity, providing protection against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Three main different types of lysozymes are known: the c-type (chicken or conventional type), the g-type (goose type), and the i-type (invertebrate type). It has long been the subject of several applications due to its antimicrobial properties. The problem of antibiotic resistance has stimulated the search for new molecules or new applications of known compounds. The use of lysozyme as an alternative antibiotic is the subject of this review, which covers the results published over the past two decades. This review is focused on the applications of lysozyme in medicine, (the treatment of infectious diseases, wound healing, and anti-biofilm), veterinary, feed, food preservation, and crop protection. It is available from a wide range of sources, in addition to the well-known chicken egg white, and its synergism with other compounds, endowed with antimicrobial activity, are also summarized. An overview of the modified lysozyme applications is provided in the form of tables.

Smart textiles in wound care: functionalization of cotton/PET blends with antimicrobial nanocapsules

New antimicrobial pH-responsive wound dressings consisting of immobilized human serum albumin/silk fibroin nanocapsules were developed.

Regulating the gaps between folds on the surface of silk fibroin membranes via LBL deposition for improving their biomedical properties

Silk fibroin (SF) has become a promising biomaterial in guided bone regeneration (GBR). In an attempt to modify the size of the gaps on the surface of SF barrier membrane and improve its antibacterial activity, biological and mechanical properties, positively charged Lysozyme (LY)-Collagen Type-I (COL) composites and negatively charged SF were introduced to the negatively charged surface of SF substrates utilizing the electrostatic layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly technique. The morphology, chemical structures and element content of the LBL structured membranes were investigated. The results suggested that LY and COL were successfully assembled and the gaps between the folds on the surface of the membranes became smaller gradually with the increase of coated film numbers. Besides, the content of β-sheets of the membranes increased after deposition, which indicated the improvement of their mechanical properties. Moreover, the results of the measurement of immobilized LY and antibacterial assay not only revealed that the enzymatic catalysis and antibacterial activity of the samples enhanced with the increase of coated bilayer numbers but also implied that LBL modified membranes had better antibacterial activity when LY-COL was on the outermost layer. Furthermore, CCK-8 assay certified both SF membrane and LBL structured membranes could facilitate cell growth and proliferation, and the introduction of COL could further promote this ability. Finally, cell attachment and morphology examination provided intuitional evidence that SF membrane and LBL modified membranes have excellent biocompatibility.

Fabrication of N-doped TiO2 coatings on nanoporous Si nanopillar arrays through biomimetic layer by layer mineralization

Si/N-doped TiO2 core/shell nanopillar arrays with a nanoporous structure are fabricated through a simple protein-mediated TiO2 deposition process. The Si nanopillar arrays are used as templates and alternatively immersed in aqueous solutions of catalytic molecules (protamine, PA) and the titania precursor (titanium(iv) bis(ammonium lactato)dihydroxide, Ti-BALDH) for the layer by layer mineralization of a PA/TiO2 coating. After a subsequent calcination, a N-doped TiO2 layer is formed, and its thickness could be controlled by varying the cycles of deposition. Moreover, the nanoporous structure of the Si nanopillars strongly affects the formation of the TiO2 layer. The obtained Si/TiO2 nanocomposites show significantly improved solar absorption compared with commercially purchased TiO2 nanoparticles.

Preparation and antibacterial activity of lysozyme and layered double hydroxide nanocomposites

It is necessary to develop "green" disinfection technology which does not produce disinfection by-products. Lysozyme-layered double hydroxide nanocomposites (LYZ-LDHs) were prepared by intercalating LYZ in LDH for the first time. Their antibacterial activity was evaluated using staphylococcus aureus as a target. The bacteria removal mechanism was also studied. Characterization of LYZ-LDHs by X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that LYZ was successfully intercalated in LDH, compressed and deformed without secondary structural change. LYZ-LDHs showed excellent bactericidal effectiveness against staphylococcus aureus. The antibacterial performance of LYZ-LDHs was found to be affected by the LYZ/LDH ratio and the pH of the bacteria-containing water. The bacteria removal efficiency of LYZ-LDHs with LYZ/LDH mass ratio of 0.8 was consistently above 94% over the pH range of 3-9. LYZ-LDHs adsorbed bacteria to their surface by LDH and then killed them by the immobilized LYZ. This new material integrated the bactericidal ability of LYZ and adsorption ability of LDH. Moreover, the antibacterial ability of LYZ-LDHs was persistent and not limited by the adsorption capacity.

Antibacterial multilayer films fabricated by LBL immobilizing lysozyme and HTCC on nanofibrous mats

Cellulose acetate nanofibrous mats were prepared by electrospunning technique. Positively charged and negatively charged composites were alternately deposited on negatively charged CA mats via layer-by-layer self-assembly technique. The morphology and inhibition rate of samples were investigated by regulating number of deposition bilayers and composition of outermost layer. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images indicated that the average diameter of fibers was increased with increasing the number of coating bilayers. Additionally, the catalytic activity of immobilized LY was measured and results showed "layer-by-layer alternative oscillation" phenomenon. The results of antibacterial assay indicated that (LY-HTCC/ALG)(10.5) films coating had the best inhibitory effect.

Sporicidal/bactericidal textiles via the chlorination of silk

Bacterial spores, such as those of the Bacillus genus, are extremely resilient, being able to germinate into metabolically active cells after withstanding harsh environmental conditions or aggressive chemical treatments. The toughness of the bacterial spore in combination with the use of spores, such as those of Bacillus anthracis, as a biological warfare agent necessitates the development of new antimicrobial textiles. In this work, a route to the production of fabrics that kill bacterial spores and cells within minutes of exposure is described. Utilizing this facile process, unmodified silk cloth is reacted with a diluted bleach solution, rinsed with water, and dried. The chlorination of silk was explored under basic (pH 11) and slightly acidic (pH 5) conditions. Chloramine-silk textiles prepared in acidified bleach solutions were found to have superior breaking strength and higher oxidative Cl contents than those prepared under caustic conditions. Silk cloth chlorinated for ≥1 h at pH 5 was determined to induce >99.99996% reduction in the colony forming units of Escherichia coli, as well as Bacillus thuringiensis Al Hakam (B. anthracis simulant) spores and cells within 10 min of contact. The processing conditions presented for silk fabric in this study are highly expeditionary, allowing for the on-site production of protein-based antimicrobial materials from a variety of agriculturally produced feed-stocks.