Antibiotic protected silver nanoparticles for microbicidal cotton

Coated Cotton Fabrics with Antibacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Silica Nanoparticles for Improving Wound Healing

Herein, we report the preparation of bifunctional silica nanoparticles by covalent attachment of both an anti-inflammatory drug (ibuprofen) and an antibiotic (levofloxacin or norfloxacin) through amide groups. We also describe the coating of cotton fabrics with silica nanoparticles containing both ibuprofen and norfloxacin moieties linked by amide groups by using a one-step coating procedure under ultrasonic conditions. The functionalized nanoparticles and cotton fabrics have been characterized using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The functionalized nanoparticles and textiles have been treated with model proteases for the in situ release of the drugs by the amide bond enzymatic cleavage. Topical dermal applications in medical bandages are expected, which favor wound healing.

Facile Fabrication of Superhydrophobic and Flame-Retardant Coatings on Cotton Fabrics

The hydrophilicity and inherent flammability of cotton textiles severely limit their usage. To solve these drawbacks, a superhydrophobic and flame-retardant (SFR) coating made of chitosan (CH), ammonium polyphosphate (APP), and TiO₂-SiO₂-HMDS composite was applied to cotton fabric using simple layer-by-layer assembly and dip-coating procedures. First, the fabric was alternately immersed in CH and APP water dispersions, and then immersed in TiO₂-SiO₂-HMDS composite to form a CH/APP@TiO₂-SiO₂-HMDS coating on the cotton fabric surface. SEM, EDS, and FTIR were used to analyze the surface morphology, element composition, and functional groups of the cotton fabric, respectively. Vertical burning tests, microscale combustion calorimeter tests, and thermogravimetric analyses were used to evaluate the flammability, combustion behavior, thermal degradation characteristics, and flame-retardant mechanism of this system. When compared to the pristine cotton sample, the deposition of CH and APP enhanced the flame retardancy, residual char, heat release rate, and total heat release of the cotton textiles. The superhydrophobic test results showed that the maximal contact angle of SFR cotton fabric was 153.7°, and possessed excellent superhydrophobicity. Meanwhile, the superhydrophobicity is not lost after 10 laundering cycles or 50 friction cycles. In addition, the UPF value of CH/APP@TiO₂-SiO₂-HMDS cotton was 825.81, demonstrating excellent UV-shielding properties. Such a durable SFR fabric with a facile fabrication process exhibits potential applications for both oil/water separation and flame retardancy.

Eugenol, a Promising Building Block for Biobased Polymers with Cutting-Edge Properties

Biobased materials, derived from biomass building blocks, are essential in the pursuit of sustainable materials. Eugenol, a natural phenol obtained from clove oil, but also from lignin depolymerization, possesses a chemical structure that allows its easy modification to obtain a broad and versatile platform of biobased monomers. In this Perspective, an overview of the variety of reactions that have been executed on the allylic double bond, phenol hydroxyl group, aromatic ring, and methoxy group is given, focusing our attention on those to obtain monomers suitable for different polymerization reactions. Furthermore, possible applications and perspectives on the eugenol-derived materials are provided.

Recent Advances on Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Cotton Fabrics Containing Nanostructures

Hydrophilic cotton textiles, used in hospitals and sportswear, are prone to the growth of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi) resulting in hygiene and health risks. Thus, healthcare concerns have motivated the interest for the development of multifunctional antimicrobial cotton fabrics. Moreover, cotton textiles are also used in medical applications such as wound dressings. Their functionalization with anti-inflammatory agents is desirable in order to accelerate cicatrisation in the treatment of chronic wounds. This review summarizes recent advances (from January 2016 to January 2021) on the modification and coating of cotton fabrics with nanostructures (mainly metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, functionalized silica nanoparticles) to provide them antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal) and anti-inflammatory properties.

Bioactive Ibuprofen-Loaded PLGA Coatings for Multifunctional Surface Modification of Medical Devices

To modulate the biofunctionality of implantable medical devices commonly used in clinical practice, their surface modification with bioactive polymeric coatings is an attractive and successful emerging strategy. Biodegradable coatings based on poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid), PLGA, represent versatile and safe candidates for surface modification of implantable biomaterials and devices, providing additional tunable ability for topical delivery of desired therapeutic agents. In the present study, Ibuprofen-loaded PLGA coatings (PLGA/IBUP) were obtained by using the dip-coating and drop-casting combined protocol. The composite materials demonstrated long-term drug release under biologically simulated dynamic conditions. Reversible swelling phenomena of polymeric coatings occurred in the first two weeks of testing, accompanied by the gradual matrix degradation and slow release of the therapeutic agent. Irreversible degradation of PLGA coatings occurred after one month, due to copolymer's hydrolysis (evidenced by chemical and structural modifications). After 30 days of dynamic testing, the cumulative release of IBUP was ~250 µg/mL. Excellent cytocompatibility was revealed on human-derived macrophages, fibroblasts and keratinocytes. The results herein evidence the promising potential of PLGA/IBUP coatings to be used for surface modification of medical devices, such as metallic implants and wound dressings.

An Updated Review on Silver Nanoparticles in Biomedicine

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) represent one of the most explored categories of nanomaterials for new and improved biomaterials and biotechnologies, with impressive use in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry, anti-infective therapy and wound care, food and the textile industry. Their extensive and versatile applicability relies on the genuine and easy-tunable properties of nanosilver, including remarkable physicochemical behavior, exceptional antimicrobial efficiency, anti-inflammatory action and antitumor activity. Besides commercially available and clinically safe AgNPs-based products, a substantial number of recent studies assessed the applicability of nanosilver as therapeutic agents in augmented and alternative strategies for cancer therapy, sensing and diagnosis platforms, restorative and regenerative biomaterials. Given the beneficial interactions of AgNPs with living structures and their nontoxic effects on healthy human cells, they represent an accurate candidate for various biomedical products. In the present review, the most important and recent applications of AgNPs in biomedical products and biomedicine are considered.

Anti-inflammatory Cotton Fabrics and Silica Nanoparticles with Potential Topical Medical Applications

The preparation of functional cotton fabrics and silica nanoparticles by direct covalent linking of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (salicylic acid, ibuprofen, and diclofenac) through an amide group is reported. Moreover, the coating of cotton fabrics with silica nanoparticles functionalized with such antiinflamatory agents is found to increase the roughness of the surface, providing hydrophobicity to the modified fabrics. This property is enhanced by the addition of fluorinated alkyl silane in the co-condensation process to form the coating solution. Characterization of the functionalized nanoparticles and cotton textiles is accomplished by microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. The treatment of functionalized nanoparticles and cotton fabrics with model proteases and leukocytes from animal origin results in the in situ release of the drug by the selective enzymatic cleavage of the amide bond. Topical cutaneous applications in wound dressings and cream formulations for the acceleration of wound healing are envisaged.