Photobactericidal activity activated by thiolated gold nanoclusters at low flux levels of white light

Functional nanomaterials as photosensitizers or delivery systems for antibacterial photodynamic therapy

Bacterial infection is a global health problem that closely related to various diseases threatening human life. Although antibiotic therapy has been the mainstream treatment method for various bacterial infectious diseases for decades, the increasing emergence of bacterial drug resistance has brought enormous challenges to the application of antibiotics. Therefore, developing novel antibacterial strategies is of great importance. By producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) with photosensitizers (PSs) under light irradiation, antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) has emerged as a non-invasive and promising approach for treating bacterial infections without causing drug resistance. However, the insufficient therapeutic penetration, poor hydrophilicity, and poor biocompatibility of traditional PSs greatly limit the efficacy of aPDT. Recently, studies have found that nanomaterials with characteristics of favorable photocatalytic activity, surface plasmonic resonance, easy modification, and high drug loading capacity can improve the therapeutic efficacy of aPDT. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of nanomaterials-mediated aPDT and summarize the representative nanomaterials in aPDT, either as PSs or carriers for PSs. In addition, the combination of advanced nanomaterials-mediated aPDT with other therapies, including targeted therapy, gas therapy, and multidrug resistance (MDR) therapy, is reviewed. Also, the concerns and possible solutions of nanomaterials-based aPDT are discussed. Overall, this review may provide theoretical basis and inspiration for the development of nanomaterials-based aPDT.

Natural Extracts for Antibacterial Applications

Bacteria-induced epidemics and infectious diseases are seriously threatening the health of people around the world. In addition, antibiotic therapy has been inducing increasingly more serious bacterial resistance, which makes it urgent to develop new treatment strategies to combat bacteria, including multidrug-resistant bacteria. Natural extracts displaying antibacterial activity and good biocompatibility have attracted much attention due to greater concerns about the safety of synthetic chemicals and emerging drug resistance. These antibacterial components can be isolated and utilized as antimicrobials, as well as transformed, combined, or wrapped with other substances by using modern assistive technologies to fight bacteria synergistically. This review summarizes recent advances in natural extracts from three kinds of sources-plants, animals, and microorganisms-for antibacterial applications. This work discusses the corresponding antibacterial mechanisms and the future development of natural extracts in antibacterial fields.

Multiscale Bioresponses of Metal Nanoclusters

Metal nanoclusters (NCs) are well-recognized novel nano-agents that hold great promise for applications in nanomedicine because of their ultrafine size, low toxicity, and high renal clearance. As foreign substances, however, an in-depth understanding of the bioresponses to metal NCs is necessary but is still far from being realized. Herein, this review is deployed to summarize the biofates of metal NCs at various biological levels, emphasizing their multiscale bioresponses at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels. In the parts-to-whole schema, the interactions between biomolecules and metal NCs are discussed, presenting typical protein-dictated nano-bio interfaces, hierarchical structures, and in vivo trajectories. Then, the accumulation, internalization, and metabolic evolution of metal NCs in the cellular environment and as-imparted theranostic functionalization are demonstrated. The organismal metabolism and transportation processes of the metal NCs are subsequently distilled. Finally, this review ends with the conclusions and perspectives on the outstanding issues of metal NC-mediated bioresponses in the near future. This review is expected to provide inspiration for tailoring the customization of metal NC-based nano-agents to meet practical requirements in different sectors of nanomedicine.

Probing the Effects of Antimicrobial-Lysozyme Derivatization on Enzymatic Degradation of Poly(ε-caprolactone) Film and Fiber

Surface derivatization is essential for incorporating unique functionalities into biodegradable polymers. Nonetheless, its precise effects on enzymatic biodegradation still lack comprehensive understanding. In this study, a facile solution-based method is employed to surface derivatize poly(ε-caprolactone) films and electrospun fibers with lysozyme, aiming to impart antimicrobial properties and examine the impact on enzymatic degradation. The derivatized films and fibers have shown high antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Through gravimetric analysis, it is observed that the degradation rate experiences a slight decrease upon lysozyme derivatization. However, this reduction is effectively countered by the inclusion of Tween-20, as affirmed by isothermal titration calorimetry. Comparing films and fibers, the latter undergoes degradation at a more accelerated pace, coupled with a rapid decline in molecular weight. This study provides valuable insights into the factors influencing the degradation of surface-derivatized biopolymers through electrospinning, offering a simple strategy to mitigate biomaterial-associated infections.

Size and charge effects of metal nanoclusters on antibacterial mechanisms

Nanomaterials, specifically metal nanoclusters (NCs), are gaining attention as a promising class of antibacterial agents. Metal NCs exhibit antibacterial properties due to their ultrasmall size, extensive surface area, and well-controlled surface ligands. The antibacterial mechanisms of metal NCs are influenced by two primary factors: size and surface charge. In this review, we summarize the impacts of size and surface charge of metal NCs on the antibacterial mechanisms, their interactions with bacteria, and the factors that influence their antibacterial effects against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Additionally, we highlight the mechanisms that occur when NCs are negatively or positively charged, and provide examples of their applications as antibacterial agents. A better understanding of relationships between antibacterial activity and the properties of metal NCs will aid in the design and synthesis of nanomaterials for the development of effective antibacterial agents against bacterial infections. Based on the remarkable achievements in the design of metal NCs, this review also presents conclusions on current challenges and future perspectives of metal NCs for both fundamental investigations and practical antibacterial applications.

Molecular Dipole Modulation of Porphyrins to Enhance Photocatalytic Oxidation Activity for Inactivation of Intracellular Bacteria

The regulation of molecular structures of porphyrin-based photosensitizers is crucial for yielding the effective singlet oxygen as one of the efficient photocatalytic reactive oxidation species. Here, we select methoxy substitution as an electron donor to decorate the porphyrin rings. Introducing a series of metal ions into porphyrin centers further prepares the methoxy-substituted metalloporphyrins (MPs, M = Co, Ni, Cu, Zn), with the hope of modulating their molecular dipole moments and photocatalytic activity. The theoretical calculation analyses show that the metal-free porphyrin center possesses a higher transition dipole and more delocalized orbitals, leading to efficient charge transfer and improved photocatalytic activity. The metalloporphyrin samples are then polymerized by poly(D, l-lactide-co-glycolide) to be applied to in vitro sterilization experiments. As expected, metal-free porphyrin has good antibacterial ability and good biocompatibility. Moreover, the highly effective bacteriostatic metal-free porphyrin achieves satisfactory photodynamic therapeutic outcomes against intracellular pathogens in cancer cells. This work demonstrates that the molecular dipole modulation of porphyrins is critical for their photocatalytic oxidation and antibacterial ability.

Transparent, Robust, and Photochemical Antibacterial Surface Based on Hydrogen Bonding between a Si-Al and Cationic Dye

Healthcare-associated infections can occur and spread through direct contact with contaminated fomites in a hospital, such as mobile phones, tablets, computer keyboards, doorknobs, and other surfaces. Herein, this study shows a transparent, robust, and visible light-activated antibacterial surface based on hydrogen bonds between a transparent silica-alumina (Si-Al) sol-gel and a visible light-activated photosensitizer, such as crystal violet (CV). The study of the bonding mechanisms revealed that hydrogen bonding predominantly occurs between the N of CV and Al-OH. Apart from CV, Si-Al can be combined with a variety of dyes, highlighting its potential for wide application. The Si-Al@CV film selectively generates singlet oxygen using ambient visible light, triggering potent photochemical antibacterial performance against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, the Si-Al@CV film is stable even after mechanical stability tests such as tape adhesion, scratch, bending, and water immersion. In vitro cytotoxicity tests using C2C12 myoblast cells showed that the Si-Al@CV film is a biocompatible material. This work suggests a new approach for designing a transparent and robust touchscreen surface with photochemical antibacterial capability against healthcare-associated infections.

Visible light-regulated cationic polymer coupled with photodynamic inactivation as an effective tool for pathogen and biofilm elimination

Background

Pathogenic microorganism pollution has been a challenging public safety issue, attracting considerable scientific interest. A more problematic aspect of this phenomenon is that planktonic bacteria exacerbate biofilm formation. There is an overwhelming demand for developing ultra-efficient, anti-drug resistance, and biocompatibility alternatives to eliminate stubborn pathogenic strains and biofilms.

Results

The present work aims to construct a visible light-induced anti-pathogen agents to ablate biofilms using the complementary merits of ROS and cationic polymers. The photosensitizer chlorin e6-loaded polyethyleneimine-based micelle (Ce6-TPP-PEI) was constructed by an amphiphilic dendritic polymer (TPP-PEI) and physically loaded with photosensitizer chlorin e6. Cationic polymers can promote the interaction between photosensitizer and Gram-negative bacteria, resulting in enhanced targeting of PS and lethality of photodynamic therapy, and remain active for a longer duration to prevent bacterial re-growth when the light is turned off. As expected, an eminent antibacterial effect was observed on the Gram-negative Escherichia coli, which is usually insensitive to photosensitizers. Surprisingly, the cationic polymer and photodynamic combination also exert significant inhibitory and ablative effects on fungi and biofilms. Subsequently, cell hemolysis assessments suggested its good biocompatibility.

Conclusions

Given the above results, the platform developed in this work is an efficient and safe tool for public healthcare and environmental remediation.

ALD-induced TiO2/Ag nanofilm for rapid surface photodynamic ion sterilization

The daily life of people in the intelligent age is inseparable from electronic device, and a number of bacteria on touch screens are increasingly threatening the health of users. Herein, a photocatalytic TiO₂/Ag thin film was synthesized on a glass by atomic layer deposition and subsequent in situ reduction. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectra showed that this film can harvest the simulated solar light more efficiently than that of pristine TiO₂. The antibacterial tests in vitro showed that the antibacterial efficiency of the TiO₂/Ag film against S. aureus and E. coli was 98.2% and 98.6%, under visible light irradiation for 5 min. The underlying mechanism was that the in-situ reduction of Ag on the surface of TiO₂ reduced the bandgap of TiO₂ from 3.44 to 2.61 eV due to the formation of Schottky heterojunction at the interface between TiO₂ and Ag. Thus, TiO₂/Ag can generate more reactive oxygen species for bacterial inactivation on the surface of electronic screens. More importantly, the TiO₂/Ag film had great biocompatibility with/without light irradiation. The platform not only provides a more convenient choice for the traditional antibacterial mode but also has limitless possibilities for application in the field of billions of touch screens.

Nanomaterial-enabled photothermal-based solar water disinfection processes: Fundamentals, recent advances, and mechanisms

The pathogenic microorganisms in water pose a great threat to human health. Photothermal and photothermocatalytic disinfection using nanomaterials (NPs) has offered a promising and effective strategy to address the challenges in solar water disinfection (SODIS), especially in the point-of-use operations. This review aims at providing comprehensive and state-of-the-art knowledge of photothermal-based disinfection by NPs. The fundamentals and principles of photothermal-based disinfection were first introduced. Then, recent advances in developing photothermal/photothermocatalytic catalysts were systematically summarized. The light-to-heat conversion and disinfection performance of a large variety of photothermal materials were presented. Given the complicated mechanisms of photothermal-based disinfection, the attacks from reactive oxygen species and heat, the destruction of bacterial cells, and the antibacterial effects of released metal ions were highlighted. Finally, future challenges and opportunities associated with the development of cost-effective photothermal/photothermocatalytic disinfection systems were outlined. This review will provide guidance in designing future NPs and inspire more research efforts from environmental nano-communities to move towards practical water disinfection operations.

Light-Induced Anti-Bacterial Effect Against Staphylococcus aureus of Porphyrin Covalently Bonded to a Polyethylene Terephthalate Surface

Antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation represents a promising and potentially greener alternative to conventional antimicrobials, and a solution for multidrug-resistant strains. The current study reports the development and characterization of tetra-substituted diazirine porphyrin covalently bonded to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and its use as an antimicrobial surface. The diazirine moiety on the porphyrin was activated using a temperature of 120 °C, which initiated a C-H insertion mechanism that irreversibly functionalized the PET surface. Activation of the surface with white LED light in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) led to singlet oxygen generation, which was detected via the degradation of 9,10-anthracenediylbis(methylene)dimalonic acid (ADMA) over time. The bactericidal effect of the ¹O₂-producing surface against Staphylococcus aureus was determined qualitatively and quantitatively. The growth of the pathogen beneath porphyrin-functionalized PET coupons was reduced; moreover, the PET coupons resulted in a 1.76-log reduction in cell counts after exposure to white LED light for 6 h. This is a promising material and platform for the development of safer antimicrobial surfaces, with applications in healthcare, food packaging, marine surfaces, and other surfaces in the environment.

Lethal Interactions of Atomically Precise Gold Nanoclusters and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus Bacterial Cells

Ultrasmall metal nanoclusters (NCs) are employed in an array of diagnostic and therapeutic applications due to their tunable photoluminescence, high biocompatibility, polyvalent effect, ease of modification, and photothermal stability. However, gold nanoclusters' (AuNCs') intrinsically antimicrobial properties remain poorly explored and are not well understood. Here, we share an insight into the antimicrobial action of atomically precise AuNCs based on their ability to passively translocate across the bacterial membrane. Functionalized by a hydrophilic modified-bidentate sulfobetaine zwitterionic molecule (AuNC-ZwBuEt) or a more hydrophobic monodentate-thiolate, mercaptohexanoic acid (AuNC-MHA) molecule, 2 nm AuNCs were lethal to both Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The bactericidal efficiency was found to be bacterial strain-, time-, and concentration-dependent. The direct visualizations of the translocation of AuNCs and AuNC-cell and subcellular interactions were investigated using cryo-soft X-ray nano-tomography, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning TEM energy-dispersive spectroscopy analyses. AuNC-MHA were identified in the bacterial cytoplasm within 30 min, without evidence of the loss of membrane integrity. It is proposed that the bactericidal effect of AuNCs is attributed to their size, which allows for efficient energy-independent translocation across the cell membrane. The internalization of both AuNCs caused massive internal damage to the cells, including collapsed subcellular structures and altered cell morphology, leading to the eventual loss of cellular integrity.

Antibacterial metal nanoclusters

Combating bacterial infections is one of the most important applications of nanomedicine. In the past two decades, significant efforts have been committed to tune physicochemical properties of nanomaterials for the development of various novel nanoantibiotics. Among which, metal nanoclusters (NCs) with well-defined ultrasmall size and adjustable surface chemistry are emerging as the next-generation high performance nanoantibiotics. Metal NCs can penetrate bacterial cell envelope more easily than conventional nanomaterials due to their ultrasmall size. Meanwhile, the abundant active sites of the metal NCs help to catalyze the bacterial intracellular biochemical processes, resulting in enhanced antibacterial properties. In this review, we discuss the recent developments in metal NCs as a new generation of antimicrobial agents. Based on a brief introduction to the characteristics of metal NCs, we highlight the general working mechanisms by which metal NCs combating the bacterial infections. We also emphasize central roles of core size, element composition, oxidation state, and surface chemistry of metal NCs in their antimicrobial efficacy. Finally, we present a perspective on the remaining challenges and future developments of metal NCs for antibacterial therapeutics.

Photobiocidal-triboelectric nanolayer coating of photosensitizer/silica-alumina for reusable and visible-light-driven antibacterial/antiviral air filters

Outbreaks of airborne pathogens pose a major threat to public health. Here we present a single-step nanocoating process to endow commercial face mask filters with photobiocidal activity, triboelectric filtration capability, and washability. These functions were successfully achieved with a composite nanolayer of silica-alumina (Si-Al) sol-gel, crystal violet (CV) photosensitizer, and hydrophobic electronegative molecules of 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (PFOTES). The transparent Si-Al matrix strongly immobilized the photosensitizer molecules while dispersing them spatially, thus suppressing self-quenching. During nanolayer formation, PFOTES was anisotropically rearranged on the Si-Al matrix, promoting moisture resistance and triboelectric charging of the Si-Al/PFOTES-CV (SAPC)-coated filter. The SAPC nanolayer stabilized the photoexcited state of the photosensitizer and promoted redox reaction. Compared to pure-photosensitizer-coated filters, the SAPC filter showed substantially higher photobiocidal efficiency (∼99.99 % for bacteria and a virus) and photodurability (∼83 % reduction in bactericidal efficiency for the pure-photosensitizer filter but ∼0.34 % for the SAPC filter after 72 h of light irradiation). Moreover, after five washes with detergent, the SAPC filter maintained its photobiocidal and filtration performance, proving its reusability potential. Therefore, this SAPC nanolayer coating provides a practical strategy for manufacturing an antimicrobial and reusable mask filter for use during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Levonorgestrel-protected Au8 and Au10 clusters with different antimicrobial abilities

Gold nanoclusters exhibit significant potential in antimicrobial applications due to their good stability and desirable biocompatibility in the mammalian cell model. However, most of the previously reported gold nanocluster antimicrobial agents do not have an atomic-precise structure, causing difficulties in understanding the structure-property correlation. In this study, structurally defined gold-levonorgestrel clusters, named Au₈(C₂₁H₂₇O₂)₈ (Au₈NCs) and Au₁₀(C₂₁H₂₇O₂)₁₀ (Au₁₀NCs), with the same ligand-to-metal ratio but different inner cores were prepared for antibacterial activity investigations, demonstrating that Au₈NCs exhibited a stronger antibacterial activity owing to the more significant damage it causes on the bacteria wall and membrane, and a stronger inhibition of glutathione reductase activity in bacteria. The leakage of the intracellular components and enzyme inhibition caused an imbalance of the intracellular antioxidant defence system, and consequently killed bacteria. These results indicated that the structure of gold nanoclusters has an important effect on their biological activity, indicating that it as a key factor to consider in the future design of antimicrobial agents.

Infection microenvironment-activated core-shell nanoassemblies for photothermal/chemodynamic synergistic wound therapy and multimodal imaging

The development of intelligent designs of new antibacterial modalities for diagnosing and treating chronic multidrug-resistant bacterial infections is an urgent need, but achieving the precisive theranostic in response to specific inflammatory microenvironments remains a great challenge. This paper describes our work designing and demonstrating infection microenvironment-activated core-shell Gd-doped Bi₂S₃@Cu(II) boron imidazolate framework (Bi₂S₃:Gd@Cu-BIF) nanoassemblies. Upon exposure to a single beam of 808 nm laser, Bi₂S₃:Gd@Cu-BIF nanoassemblies showed exceptional photothermal conversion (η = 52.6%) and produced several cytotoxic reactive oxygen species, such as singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals, by depleting the intracellular glutathione and in-situ catalyzing the decomposition of endogenous hydrogen peroxide in the inflammatory microenvironment. The broad-spectrum antibacterial properties of nanoassemblies were confirmed to be effective against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with an inhibition rate of 99.99% in vitro. Additionally, in vivo wound-healing studies revealed that Bi₂S₃:Gd@Cu-BIF nanoassemblies could serve as an effective wound spray to accelerate healing following MRSA infections via photothermal/chemodynamic (PTT/CDT) synergistic therapy. The effective wound healing rate in the synergistic treatment group was 99.8%, which is higher than the 69.5% wound healing rate in the control group. Furthermore, magnetic resonance and computed tomography dual-modal imaging mediated by Bi₂S₃:Gd@Cu-BIF nanoassemblies also exhibits promising potential as an integrated diagnostic nanoplatform. Overall, this work provides useful insights for developing all-in-one theranostic nanoplatforms for clinical treatment of drug-resistant bacterial infections. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: New treatments and effective diagnostic strategies are critical for fighting drug-resistant bacterial infections. Infection microenvironment-activated Bi₂S₃@Cu-BIF nanoassemblies can simultaneously increase eigen temperature and generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species, such as singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals, under near-infrared laser irradiation, achieving the synergistic effect of photothermal and chemodynamic therapy, which has been proven to be highly effective for inhibiting bacterial activity and speeding wound healing from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection. More importantly, the nanoassemblies could enable early precise visualized detection of bacterial abscess using magnetic resonance/computed tomography dual-modal bio-imaging techniques.

Silver and Gold Nanoparticles for Antimicrobial Purposes against Multi-Drug Resistance Bacteria

Several pieces of research have been done on transition metal nanoparticles and their nanocomplexes as research on their physical and chemical properties and their relationship to biological features are of great importance. Among all their biological properties, the antibacterial and antimicrobial are especially important due to their high use for human needs. In this article, we will discuss the different synthesis and modification methods of silver (Ag) and gold (Au) nanoparticles and their physicochemical properties. We will also review some state-of-art studies and find the best relationship between the nanoparticles’ physicochemical properties and potential antimicrobial activity. The possible antimicrobial mechanism of these types of nanoparticles will be discussed in-depth as well.

Nanoplatforms for Sepsis Management: Rapid Detection/Warning, Pathogen Elimination and Restoring Immune Homeostasis

Sepsis, a highly life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by uncontrollable immune responses to infection, is a leading contributor to mortality in intensive care units. Sepsis-related deaths have been reported to account for 19.7% of all global deaths. However, no effective and specific therapeutic for clinical sepsis management is available due to the complex pathogenesis. Concurrently eliminating infections and restoring immune homeostasis are regarded as the core strategies to manage sepsis. Sophisticated nanoplatforms guided by supramolecular and medicinal chemistry, targeting infection and/or imbalanced immune responses, have emerged as potent tools to combat sepsis by supporting more accurate diagnosis and precision treatment. Nanoplatforms can overcome the barriers faced by clinical strategies, including delayed diagnosis, drug resistance and incapacity to manage immune disorders. Here, we present a comprehensive review highlighting the pathogenetic characteristics of sepsis and future therapeutic concepts, summarizing the progress of these well-designed nanoplatforms in sepsis management and discussing the ongoing challenges and perspectives regarding future potential therapies. Based on these state-of-the-art studies, this review will advance multidisciplinary collaboration and drive clinical translation to remedy sepsis.

Antipathogenic properties and applications of low-dimensional materials

A major health concern of the 21st century is the rise of multi-drug resistant pathogenic microbial species. Recent technological advancements have led to considerable opportunities for low-dimensional materials (LDMs) as potential next-generation antimicrobials. LDMs have demonstrated antimicrobial behaviour towards a variety of pathogenic bacterial and fungal cells, due to their unique physicochemical properties. This review provides a critical assessment of current LDMs that have exhibited antimicrobial behaviour and their mechanism of action. Future design considerations and constraints in deploying LDMs for antimicrobial applications are discussed. It is envisioned that this review will guide future design parameters for LDM-based antimicrobial applications.

Mechano-Induced Assembly of a Nanocomposite for "Press-N-Go" Coatings with Highly Efficient Surface Disinfection

Using antimicrobial coatings to control the spread of pathogenic microbes is appreciated in public and healthcare settings, but the performance of most antimicrobial coatings could not fulfill the increasing requirements, particularly the ease of preparation, high durability, rapid response, and high killing efficiency. Herein, we develop a new type of mechano-induced assembly of nanocomposite coating by simple "Press-N-Go" procedures on various substrates such as glassware, gloves, and fabrics, in which the coating shows strong adhesion, high shear stability, and high stiffness, making it durable in daily use to withstand common mechanical deformation and scratches. The coating also shows remarkable disinfection effectiveness over 99.9% to clinically significant multiple drug-resistant bacterial pathogens upon only 6 s near-infrared irradiation, which can be further improved to over 99.9999% upon another 6 s treatment. We envision that the coating can provide convenience and values to control pathogen spread for easily contaminated substrates in high-risk areas.

BiOClBr-coated fabrics with enhanced antimicrobial properties under ambient light

This study demonstrates the fabrication of ambient light enabled antimicrobial functional fabrics by coating flower-like bismuth oxyhalide i.e. BiOCl_0.875Br_0.125, with the use of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as binders for improved coating robustness and durability. The uniformity of the microparticles was ensured with simultaneous probe sonication during the stages of crystal nucleation and growth. The polymeric binders not only strongly anchor the particle on the fabric, but also serve as an ultra-thin protective layer on the BiOClBr that mitigates bismuth leaching. The efficacy of inhibiting bacteria was investigated over the BiOClBr-coated fabrics i.e. cotton and polyester, and the results showed that the coated fabrics could effectively inhibit both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, i.e. S. aureus and E. coli. In comparison with fabrics coated with other photocatalytic materials including bismuth oxide (Bi₂O₃) and zinc oxide (ZnO), an exceptionally better antimicrobial efficacy was observed for BiOClBr-coated fabrics. The BiOClBr-coated cotton showed ∼5.0 and ∼6.8 times higher disinfection efficacy towards E. coli compared to that of ZnO and Bi₂O₃-coated cotton with the same particle weight percentage, respectively. Further elucidation of the probable mechanism by BiOClBr-coated fabrics is related to the excess amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Overall, BiOClBr has been shown to be a promising material to fabricate cost-effective antimicrobial functional surfaces for both environmental and biomedical applications e.g. protective laboratory and factory clothing.

Photoactivated nanomotors via aggregation induced emission for enhanced phototherapy

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) has, since its discovery, become a valuable tool in the field of nanoscience. AIEgenic molecules, which display highly stable fluorescence in an assembled state, have applications in various biomedical fields—including photodynamic therapy. Engineering structure-inherent, AIEgenic nanomaterials with motile properties is, however, still an unexplored frontier in the evolution of this potent technology. Here, we present phototactic/phototherapeutic nanomotors where biodegradable block copolymers decorated with AIE motifs can transduce radiant energy into motion and enhance thermophoretic motility driven by an asymmetric Au nanoshell. The hybrid nanomotors can harness two photon near-infrared radiation, triggering autonomous propulsion and simultaneous phototherapeutic generation of reactive oxygen species. The potential of these nanomotors to be applied in photodynamic therapy is demonstrated in vitro, where near-infrared light directed motion and reactive oxygen species induction synergistically enhance efficacy with a high level of spatial control.

Induced motion has emerged as a method to increase the efficacy of delivery and therapeutic outcomes using nanomaterials. Here, the authors report on a Janus gold shell polymersome with aggregation-induced emission molecules for phototactic and photodynamic therapy applications.

Water-Repellent TiO2-Organic Dye-Based Air Filters for Efficient Visible-Light-Activated Photochemical Inactivation against Bioaerosols

Recently, bioaerosols, including the 2019 novel coronavirus, pose a serious threat to global public health. Herein, we introduce a visible-light-activated (VLA) antimicrobial air filter functionalized with titanium dioxide (TiO₂)-crystal violet (CV) nanocomposites facilitating abandoned visible light from sunlight or indoor lights. The TiO₂-CV based VLA antimicrobial air filters exhibit a potent inactivation rate of ∼99.98% and filtration efficiency of ∼99.9% against various bioaerosols. Under visible-light, the CV is involved in overall inactivation by inducing reactive oxygen species production both directly (CV itself) and indirectly (in combination with TiO₂). Moreover, the susceptibility of the CV to humidity was significantly improved by forming a hydrophobic molecular layer on the TiO₂ surface, highlighting its potential applicability in real environments such as exhaled or humid air. We believe this work can open a new avenue for designing and realizing practical antimicrobial technology using ubiquitous visible-light energy against the threat of infectious bioaerosols.

Gold Nanoparticles: Can They Be the Next Magic Bullet for Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria?

In 2017 the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a list of the 12 multidrug-resistant (MDR) families of bacteria that pose the greatest threat to human health, and recommended that new measures should be taken to promote the development of new therapies against these superbugs. Few antibiotics have been developed in the last two decades. Part of this slow progression can be attributed to the surge in the resistance acquired by bacteria, which is holding back pharma companies from taking the risk to invest in new antibiotic entities. With limited antibiotic options and an escalating bacterial resistance there is an urgent need to explore alternative ways of meeting this global challenge. The field of medical nanotechnology has emerged as an innovative and a powerful tool for treating some of the most complicated health conditions. Different inorganic nanomaterials including gold, silver, and others have showed potential antibacterial efficacies. Interestingly, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have gained specific attention, due to their biocompatibility, ease of surface functionalization, and their optical properties. In this review, we will focus on the latest research, done in the field of antibacterial gold nanoparticles; by discussing the mechanisms of action, antibacterial efficacies, and future implementations of these innovative antibacterial systems.

Advancements in research and development to combat COVID-19 using nanotechnology

The whole world is currently facing a global health crisis due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused by SARS coronavirus 2, which started in Wuhan City, China, in December 2019. The pandemic has affected 235 countries, areas or territories and infected over 42 million people across the globe as per WHO update on 27 October 2020. More than 1.1 million people have died and the numbers are increasing daily. However, some drugs have been authorized for emergency treatment of patients, medication and vaccines with proven efficacy to prevent and treat the disease is still under various phases of development. The entire world is consistently making efforts to address three major challenges related to COVID-19 including prevention of its spread, prompt and early diagnosis and treatment of patients to save lives. Touted as one of the game-changing technologies of the century, nanotechnology has huge potential to develop solutions against these three major challenges of the disease. Nanotechnology comprises of multidisciplinary prospects encompassing diverse disciplines including medicine, material science, artificial intelligence, environment, virology, physical sciences, chemistry and biology. The numerous challenges can be addressed through the engineering of the various physicochemical properties of materials presents in abundance in nature. Various claims, studies and reports on research and development to combat these challenges associated with COVID-19 have been collectively discussed in this article from the perspectives of nanotechnology.

A study of the interaction of cationic dyes with gold nanostructures

The interaction of methylene blue and crystal violet dyes with a range of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), gold nanoclusters and gold/silver nanoclusters is reported.

Remediation of textile effluents for water reuse: Decolorization and desalination using Escherichia fergusonii followed by detoxification with activated charcoal

Textile effluents contain high levels of pollutants of different categories like dyes, metal salts, acids, bases and microorganisms. Remediation of textile effluents is often challenging because of its composition, which also varies between dyeing units. In this study, we demonstrate the novel use of a waste-water bacterium, Escherichia fergusonii, in the effective remediation of textile effluents. The bacteria application efficiently caused a reduction of color (98.4%), total dissolved solids (75%), sulphates (87%), bicarbonates (83%), chlorides (64%), calcium (84%), and chemical oxygen demand (81%) of the textile effluents. The bacteria-treated effluents were further disinfected and detoxified by treating with rice husk activated charcoal. After the charcoal treatment, the chemical oxygen demand decreased further by 11.5% and biochemical oxygen demand decreased by 85%. The effluents remediated using the two-step process were subjected to toxicity assays using zebrafish (Danio rerio) model. The textile effluents treated using Escherichia fergusonii, followed by activated charcoal were found to be non-toxic and suitable for reuse for domestic applications. Thus, we present here, a simple, less energy-intensive, economic, two-step process as a complete solution for textile effluent treatment. The results of this investigation can be used to simplify the remediation process of textile effluents in common treatment plants as well as the individual dyeing units.

Development of coinage metal nanoclusters as antimicrobials to combat bacterial infections

Infections from antibiotic-resistant bacteria have caused huge economic loss and numerous deaths over the past decades. Researchers are exploring multiple strategies to combat these bacterial infections. Metal nanomaterials have been explored as therapeutics against these infections owing to their relatively low toxicity, broad-spectrum activity, and low bacterial resistance development. Some coinage metal nanoclusters, such as gold, silver, and copper nanoclusters, can be readily synthesized. These nanoclusters can feature multiple useful properties, including ultra-small size, high catalytic activity, unique photoluminescent properties, and photothermal effect. Coinage metal nanoclusters have been investigated as antimicrobials, but more research is required to tap their full potential. In this review, we discuss multiple advantages and the prospect of using gold/silver/copper nanoclusters as antimicrobials.

Continuous Single-Phase Synthesis of [Au25(Cys)18] Nanoclusters and their Photobactericidal Enhancement

Thiolate-gold nanoclusters have various applications. However, most of the synthesis methods require prolonged synthesis times from several hours to days. In the present study, we report a rapid synthesis method for [Au₂₅(Cys)₁₈] nanoclusters and their application for photobactericidal enhancement. For [Au₂₅(Cys)₁₈] synthesis, we employed a tube-in-tube membrane reactor using CO as a reducing agent at elevated temperatures. This approach allows continuous generation of high-quality [Au₂₅(Cys)₁₈] within 3 min. Photobactericidal tests against Staphylococcus aureus showed that crystal violet-treated polymer did not have photobactericidal activity, but addition of [Au₂₅(Cys)₁₈] in the treated polymer demonstrated a potent photobactericidal activity at a low white light flux, resulting in >4.29 log reduction in viable bacteria numbers. Steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopies demonstrated that after light irradiation, photoexcited electrons in crystal violet flowed to [Au₂₅(Cys)₁₈] in the silicone, suggesting that redox reaction from [Au₂₅(Cys)₁₈] enhanced the photobactericidal activity. Stability tests revealed that leaching of crystal violet and [Au₂₅(Cys)₁₈] from the treated silicone was negligible and cyclic testing showed that the silicone maintained a strong photobactericidal activity after repeated use.