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.

Low-Dimensional Architectures in Isomeric cis-PtCl2{Ph2PCH2N(Ar)CH2PPh2} Complexes Using Regioselective-N(Aryl)-Group Manipulation

The solid-state behaviour of two series of isomeric, phenol-substituted, aminomethylphosphines, as the free ligands and bound to Pt^II, have been extensively studied using single crystal X-ray crystallography. In the first library, isomeric diphosphines of the type Ph₂PCH₂N(Ar)CH₂PPh₂ [1a–e; Ar = C₆H₃(Me)(OH)] and, in the second library, amide-functionalised, isomeric ligands Ph₂PCH₂N{CH₂C(O)NH(Ar)}CH₂PPh₂ [2a–e; Ar = C₆H₃(Me)(OH)], were synthesised by reaction of Ph₂PCH₂OH and the appropriate amine in CH₃OH, and isolated as colourless solids or oils in good yield. The non-methyl, substituted diphosphines Ph₂PCH₂N{CH₂C(O)NH(Ar)}CH₂PPh₂ [2f, Ar = 3-C₆H₄(OH); 2g, Ar = 4-C₆H₄(OH)] and Ph₂PCH₂N(Ar)CH₂PPh₂ [3, Ar = 3-C₆H₄(OH)] were also prepared for comparative purposes. Reactions of 1a–e, 2a–g, or 3 with PtCl₂(η⁴-cod) afforded the corresponding square-planar complexes 4a–e, 5a–g, and 6 in good to high isolated yields. All new compounds were characterised using a range of spectroscopic (¹H, ³¹P{¹H}, FT–IR) and analytical techniques. Single crystal X-ray structures have been determined for 1a, 1b∙CH₃OH, 2f∙CH₃OH, 2g, 3, 4b∙(CH₃)₂SO, 4c∙CHCl₃, 4d∙½Et₂O, 4e∙½CHCl₃∙½CH₃OH, 5a∙½Et₂O, 5b, 5c∙¼H₂O, 5d∙Et₂O, and 6∙(CH₃)₂SO. The free phenolic group in 1b∙CH₃OH, 2f∙CH₃OH_,2g, 4b∙(CH₃)₂SO, 5a∙½Et₂O, 5c∙¼H₂O, and 6∙(CH₃)₂SO exhibits various intra- or intermolecular O–H∙∙∙X (X = O, N, P, Cl) hydrogen contacts leading to different packing arrangements.

Improving Electrochemical Performance and Safety of Lithium-Sulfur Batteries by a "Bulletproof Vest"

In the field of high-density energy storage, lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have attracted more and more attention because of their high specific capacity and affordable cost. However, their actual implementation is hindered by the dissolution of polysulfides and severe safety concerns caused by flammable electrolytes. Herein, we report the preparation of an interlayer that can effectively suppress polysulfide shuttling and increase the working temperature range. In this work, polyamide nanofibers (ANFs) are used as the substrate material to prepare the Ni(OH)₂@ANFs-Ni (NAFN) film that works as the interlayer on the "outside" of the cathode in situ. The experimental results show that Li-S batteries containing NAFN as the interlayer can achieve excellent outstanding stability in a long cycle life. After 800 cycles at 1 C, the capacity remains at 482 mA h/g, with a decay rate of 0.047%. At high temperature (60 °C), after 500 cycles at 1 C, its capacity is 622 mA h/g with a decay rate of 0.079%. Therefore, the flexible design of the NAFN interlayer provides the growth of high-performance Li-S batteries with novel insights. The ultrathin, microporous structure of the interlayer tightly wraps the cathode material, just like the addition of a "bulletproof vest" inside the Li-S batteries. The plentiful amide functional groups of the "bulletproof vest" enable the strong complexation reaction with polysulfides to suppress the polysulfides' shuttling effect and ensure a facile Li⁺ transfer. At the same time, the nickel hydroxide is able to accelerate the redox kinetics via reaction with polysulfides to produce the intermediate thiosulfate groups. Also, the ANFs as the heat-resistant material ensure the stability of the batteries at high temperatures.