A Photothermally Enhanced Vancomycin-Coated Liquid Metal Antimicrobial Agent with Targeting Capability

Aquifer pollution by metal-antibiotic complexes: Origins, transport dynamics, and ecological impacts

Aquifer pollution by metal-antibiotic complexes is a rising environmental and public health concern owing to their enhanced mobility and persistence in groundwater. The purpose of this review is to examine the origins, transport dynamics, and ecological impacts of complexes formed through interactions between metal ions and antibiotics in agricultural runoff, pharmaceutical effluents, and wastewater discharge. Metal-antibiotic complexes are more resistant to degradation and are more soluble than their components. This complicates the conventional water purification efforts. These complexes disrupt microbial ecosystems, facilitate the spread of antibiotic-resistance genes, and negatively affect aquatic organisms. The entry of pollutants into drinking water sources poses notable health risks, including chronic exposure to contaminants and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. This review emphasizes both preventative and remedial strategies to mitigate these impacts. Preventative measures emphasize the regulation of antibiotic and metal use in agriculture and industry and promote green chemistry alternatives. Remediation approaches include advanced treatment technologies such as membrane filtration, oxidation, and bioremediation. Integrated management practices and ongoing monitoring were discussed to address this complex issue. To protect water quality and public health, metal-antibiotic complexes in aquifers require stringent regulatory measures, innovative treatment solutions, and heightened public awareness. This review highlights the importance of coordinated efforts to prevent and remediate the emerging pollution problem.

Recent advances in nanostructured delivery systems for vancomycin

Despite the development of new generations of antibiotics, vancomycin remained as a high-efficacy antibiotic for treating the infections caused by MRSA. Researchers have explored various nanoformulations, aiming to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of vancomycin. Such novel formulations improve the effectiveness of drug cargoes in treating bacterial infections and minimizing the risk of adverse effects. The vast of researches have focuses on enhancing the permeation ability of vancomycin through different biological barriers especially those of gastrointestinal tract. Increasing the drug loading and tuning the drug release from nanocarrier are other important goal for many conducted studies. This study reviews the newest nano-based formulations for vancomycin as a key antibiotic in treating hospitalized bacterial infections.

Gallium Liquid Metal: Nanotoolbox for Antimicrobial Applications

The proliferation of drug resistance in microbial pathogens poses a significant threat to human health. Hence, treatment measures are essential to surmount this growing problem. In this context, liquid metal nanoparticles are promising. Gallium, a post-transition metal notable for being a liquid at physiological temperature, has drawn attention for its distinctive properties, high antimicrobial efficacy, and low toxicity. Moreover, gallium nanoparticles demonstrate anti-inflammatory properties in immune cells. Gallium can alloy with other metals and be prepared in various composites to modify and tailor its characteristics and functionality. More importantly, the bactericidal mechanism of gallium liquid metal could sidestep the threat of emerging drug resistance mechanisms. Building on this rationale, gallium-based liquid metal nanoparticles can enable impactful and innovative strategic pathways in the battle against antimicrobial resistance. This review outlines the characteristics of gallium-based liquid metals at the nanoscale and their corresponding antimicrobial mechanisms to provide a comprehensive yet succinct overview of their current antimicrobial applications. In addition, challenges and opportunities that require further research efforts have been identified and discussed.