Development and characterization of multilayer films of polyaniline, titanium dioxide and CTAB for potential antimicrobial applications

Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study on the Structural and Thermodynamic Analysis of Oxidized and Unoxidized Forms of Polyaniline

The conducting polymer polyaniline (PANI) has shown significant interest for the development of electrified membranes (EMs) with superior antifouling characteristics. However, the blending and doping of PANI with other polymers and nanomaterials highly influence the properties of the membrane surface. PANI exists in two forms: oxidized, known as emeraldine salt (ES), and unoxidized, referred to as emeraldine base (EB). Therefore, understanding the different forms of PANI and the variations between the oxidized and unoxidized forms along the length of the polymer chain is intriguing. In this paper, we present the design of a novel copolymer consisting of EB and ES monomers with varying charge densities and different segmental arrangements. We present various intra- and intermolecular structural properties of the PANI chains using all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Herein, we present a detailed conformational free energy analysis to understand the conformational transitions of the PANI chains. Our results show increased radius of gyration (Rg) values with increased charge density. Furthermore, we also present the H-bonding, free energy analysis, reduced density gradient (RDG), and solvent-accessible surface area (SASA) values for the observed conformational transitions of PANI. Therefore, these observations are crucial in understanding the complex behavior of chains for designing target-specific polymeric materials.

The Fate of 1,8-cineole as a Chemical Penetrant: A Review

The stratum corneum continues to pose the biggest obstacle to transdermal drug delivery. Chemical penetrant, the first generation of transdermal drug delivery system, offers a lot of potential. In order to fully examine the permeation mechanism of 1,8-cineole, a natural monoterpene, this review summarizes the effects of permeation-enhancing medications on drugs that are lipophilic and hydrophilic as well as the toxicity of this substance on the skin and other tissues. For lower lipophilic drugs, 1,8-cineole appears to have a stronger osmotic-enhancing impact. An efficient and secure tactic would be to combine enhancers and dose forms. 1,8-cineole is anticipated to be further developed in the transdermal drug delivery system and even become a candidate drug for brain transport due to its permeability and low toxicity.

Synthesis and Antibacterial Aspects of Graphitic C3N4@Polyaniline Composites

In this work, Pani and Pani@g-C3N4 was synthesized by in situ oxidative polymerization methodology of aniline, in the presence of g-C3N4. The as prepared Pani@g-C3N4 was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The morphological analysis showed well dispersed Pani in g-C3N4, as well as the coating of Pani on g-C3N4. The XRD further revealed this, and peaks of Pani as well as g-C3N4 was observed, thereby suggesting successful synthesis of the composite. The DC electrical conductivity studies under isothermal and cyclic aging conditions showed high stability of composites over 100 °C. Further, the synthesized composite material proved to be an excellent antimicrobial agent against both type i.e., gram positive Streptococcus pneumoniae and negative bacteria Escherichia coli. In the zone inhibition assay 18 ± 0.5, 16 ± 0.75 and 20 ± 0.5, 22 ± 0.5 mm zone diameter were found against E. coli and S. pneumoniae in presence of pure g-C3N4 and Pani@g-C3N4 at 50 µg concentrations, respectively. Further antimicrobial activity in the presence of sunlight in aqueous medium showed that Pani@g-C3N4 is more potent than pure g-C3N4.

Emerging technologies for long-term antimicrobial device coatings: advantages and limitations

Over the past 20 years, the field of antimicrobial medical device coatings has expanded nearly 30-fold with technologies shifting their focus from diffusion-only based (short-term antimicrobial eluting) coatings to long-term antimicrobial eluting and intrinsically antimicrobial functioning materials. A variety of emergent coatings have been developed with the goal of achieving long-term antimicrobial activity in order to mitigate the risk of implanted device failure. Specifically, the coatings can be grouped into two categories: those that use antibiotics in conjunction with a polymer coating and those that rely on the intrinsic properties of the material to kill or repel bacteria that come into contact with the surface. This review covers both long-term drug-eluting and non-eluting coatings and evaluates the inherent advantages and disadvantages of each type while providing an overview of variety applications that the coatings have been utilized in. Impact statement This work provides an overview, with advantages and limitations of the most recently developed antibacterial coating technologies, enabling other researchers in the field to more easily determine which technology is most advantageous for them to further develop and pursue.

Facile route to a conducting ternary polyaniline@TiO2/GN nanocomposite for environmentally benign applications: photocatalytic degradation of pollutants and biological activity

A polyaniline@TiO₂/graphene (Pani@TiO₂/GN) nanocomposite was prepared by the in situ oxidative polymerization of aniline in the presence of TiO₂ and GN nanoparticles.

Nanostructured layer-by-layer films containing phaeophytin-b: electrochemical characterization for sensing purposes

This paper reports the study and characterization of a new platform for practical applications, where the use of phaeophytin-b (phaeo-b), a compound derived from chlorophyll, was characterized and investigated for sensing purposes. Modified electrodes with nanostructured phaeo-b films were fabricated via the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique, where phaeo-b was assembled with cashew gum, a polysaccharide, or with poly(allylamine) hydrochloride (PAH). The multilayer formation was investigated with UV-Vis spectroscopy by monitoring the absorption band associated to phaeo-b at approximately 410 nm, where distinct molecular interactions between the materials were verified. The morphology of the films was analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The electrochemical properties through redox behavior of phaeo-b were studied with cyclic voltammetry. The produced films were applied as sensors for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) detection. In terms of sensing, the cashew/phaeo-b film exhibited the most promising result, with a fast response and broad linear range upon the addition of H2O2. This approach provides a simple and inexpensive method for development of a nonenzymatic electrochemical sensor for H2O2.