Combination Strategies of Different Antimicrobials: An Efficient and Alternative Tool for Pathogen Inactivation

Despite the discovery and development of an array of antimicrobial agents, multidrug resistance poses a major threat to public health and progressively increases mortality. Recently, several studies have focused on developing promising solutions to overcome these problems. This has led to the development of effective alternative methods of controlling antibiotic-resistant pathogens. The use of antimicrobial agents in combination can produce synergistic effects if each drug invades a different target or signaling pathway with a different mechanism of action. Therefore, drug combinations can achieve a higher probability and selectivity of therapeutic responses than single drugs. In this systematic review, we discuss the combined effects of different antimicrobial agents, such as plant extracts, essential oils, and nanomaterials. Furthermore, we review their synergistic interactions and antimicrobial activities with the mechanism of action, toxicity, and future directions of different antimicrobial agents in combination. Upon combination at an optimum synergistic ratio, two or more drugs can have a significantly enhanced therapeutic effect at lower concentrations. Hence, using drug combinations could be a new, simple, and effective alternative to solve the problem of antibiotic resistance and reduce susceptibility.

Nickel oxide nanoparticles synthesis using plant extract and evaluation of their antibacterial effects on Streptococcus mutans

Dental decay is known in the world as the most common human infectious disease. Ascending process of dental caries index in the world shows the failure of oral disease prevention. Streptococcus mutans bacteria cause acid damage and tooth decay by producing acid over time. Nanomaterials with suitable functionality, high permeability, extremely large surface area, significant reactivity, unique mechanical features, and non-bacterial resistance can be considered as promising agents for antimicrobial and antiviral applications. In this study, nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles with size range from 2 to 16 nm containing Stevia natural sweetener were eco-friendly synthesized via a simple method. Additionally, their various concentrations were evaluated on S. mutans bacteria by applying the broth dilution method. The results demonstrated that these spherical NiO nanoparticles had efficient bacteriostatic activity on this gram-positive coccus.

Polymeric Materials as Potential Inhibitors Against SARS-CoV-2

Recently discovered SARS-CoV-2 caused a pandemic that triggered researchers worldwide to focus their research on all aspects of this new peril to humanity. However, in the absence of specific therapeutic intervention, some preventive strategies and supportive treatment minimize the viral transmission as studied by some factors such as basic reproduction number, case fatality rate, and incubation period in the epidemiology of viral diseases. This review briefly discusses coronaviruses' life cycle of SARS-CoV-2 in a human host cell and preventive strategies at some selected source of infection. The antiviral activities of synthetic and natural polymers such as chitosan, hydrophobically modified chitosan, galactosylated chitosan, amine-based dendrimers, cyclodextrin, carrageenans, polyethyleneimine, nanoparticles are highlighted in this article. Mechanism of virus inhibition, detection and diagnosis are also presented. It also suggests that polymeric materials and nanoparticles can be effective as potential inhibitors and immunization against coronaviruses which would further develop new technologies in the field of polymer and nanoscience.

FORMATION OF NICKEL NANOPARTICLES IN SOLUTIONS OF A HYDROPHILIC GRAFT COPOLYMER

A graft copolymer of poly(vinyl alcohol) and polyacrylamide (PVA-g-PAAm) with interacting main and grafted chains was synthesized by radical matrix polymerization of PAAm from the PVA backbone in an aqueous medium. Its basic molecular parameters including the number and length (molecular weight) of grafts were determined using elemental analysis, DTGA and viscometry. The copolymer macromolecules formed special monomolecular micelles of elipsoidal shape and length ~18-64 nm in aqueous solutions due to the formation of intramolecular polycomplexes between the main and grafted chains. This copolymer was used as a hydrophilic matrix for the in situ synthesis of nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) in aqueous solutions.On the basis of UV-Vis spectroscopy, an original and simple method for monitoring the kinetics of the formation and yield of metal nanoparticles in systems in which a surface plasmon resonance band does not appear has been proposed and implemented. Using this approach, the kinetics of borohydride reduction of Ni-salt to NiNPs in pure water and PVA-g-PAAm solutions was studied depending on the concentrations of Ni-salt and copolymer matrices. An increase in the initial rate of accumulation and yield of NiNPs with an increase in the concentration of Ni-salt and a decrease in both parameters in copolymer solutions in comparison with pure water was established. At the same time, the accumulation rate and NiNP yield in a complex way was depended on the matrix concentration that was determined by the ratio of such factors as a decrease in the diffusion rate of NaBH4 molecules in copolymer solutions and the accumulation of Ni2+-ions in matrix particles due to complexation with active chemical groups at the first stage of reduction process. The morphology and main structural elements of the NiNPs/PVA-g-PAAm composition were revealed using TEM. It was shown that the in situ synthesis of NiNPs in copolymer matrices was accompanied by the “detachment” of PAAm grafts from the main PVA chains and led to the appearance of two new structures, such as “hairy coils” and “hairy rods”, containing small spherical NiNPs (d~0,5–12,0 nm) in isolated and chain states, respectively. The appearance of the latter structures was explained by the formation of coordination complexes of Ni2+-ions with active groups of both PVA and PAAm chains at the first stage of the reduction reaction.

Hyperbranched Polyamidoamine Surfactants: Synthesis, Characterization and Evaluation as Biocides

Different generations of cationic hyperbranched quaternary ammonium polyamidoamine dendrimers (PAMAM) with methyl ester end group (G-0.5, G 0.5, G1.5 and G 2.5) were synthesized. Preparation of these dendrimers was carried out via alternative steps of an aza Michael addition reaction (of piperazine as core center molecule) and amidation reaction by ethylene diamine. Each aza Michael addition step was followed by a quaternization step using alkyl bromide with different chain length (4, 8 or 12) carbon atoms. The chemical structures of the prepared dendrimers were confirmed using FTIR, 1H-NMR spectra and elemental analysis for two generations as representative compounds. Also their surface activity has been studied and their surface parameters including surface and interfacial tension, emulsification power, critical micelle concentration, effectiveness, efficiency, maximum surface excess and minimum surface area were determined. The prepared quaternized dendrimers were tested as antimicrobial agents against different strains of bacteria, yeast and fungi. The results showed a significant antimicrobial efficacy of the synthesized surfactants.