Bioactive Materials Based on Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose and Silver Nanoparticles: Structural-Morphological Characterization and Antimicrobial Testing

Fabrication and Characterization of Dissolving Microneedles Containing Oryza sativa L. Extract Complex for Enhancement of Transfollicular Delivery

Dissolving microneedles are extensively applied in drug delivery systems to enhance penetration into the skin. In this study, dissolving microneedles fabricated from polyvinylpyrrolidone K90 (PVP-K90) and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) E50 in different ratios were characterized. The selected formulations incorporated Oryza sativa L. extract complex and its characteristics, transfollicular penetration, and safety were observed. The microneedles, fabricated from PVP K90: HPMC E50 in a ratio of 25:5 (P25H5) and 20:10 (P20H10), revealed excellent morphological structure, proper mechanical strength, and excellent skin insertion. P25H5 microneedles exhibited faster dissolution than P20H10 microneedles. Microneedles containing Oryza sativa L. extract complex showed excellent morphological structure via scanning electron microscopy but decreased mechanical strength. P25H5-O, which exhibited an effective ability to enter skin, was selected for further investigation. This microneedle formulation had a high percentage of drug-loading content, enhanced skin penetration via the transfollicular route, and was safe for keratinocytes. As a result, the dissolving microneedle containing Oryza sativa L. extract complex can be used to enhance transfollicular delivery through the skin with safety.

Influence of Carboxymethyl Cellulose on the Green Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles Using Gliricidia sepium and Petiveria alliacea Extracts: Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Effect Evaluation

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized and stabilized using ecological strategies: the extracts of the leaves of the plants Gliricidia sepium (GS) and Petiveria alliacea (PA) reduced the metallic Au ions to AuNPs. The AuNPs were analyzed as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates for pyridoxine detection (vitamin B6). UV-vis spectroscopy was carried out to assess the stability of the AuNPs. As a result, absorption bands around 530 and 540 nm were obtained for AuNPs-PA and AuNPs-GS, respectively. Both cases associated it with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). In the final stage of the synthesis, to stabilize the AuNPs, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was added; however, LSPR bands do not exhibit bathochromic or hypsochromic shifts with the addition of CMC. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs show relatively spherical morphologies; the particle diameters were detected around 7.7 and 12.7 nm for AuNPs-PA and AuNPs-GS, respectively. The nanomaterials were evaluated as SERS substrates on pyridoxine, revealing an intensification in the vibrational mode centered at 688 cm-1 associated with the pyridinic ring. Complementarily, different density functional theory functionals were included to obtain molecular descriptors on the Aun-cluster-pyridoxine interaction to study the SERS behavior.

Bioactive Polyoxymethylene Composites: Mechanical and Antibacterial Characterization

The aim of this study is to analyze the strength and antibacterial properties of composites based on structural polyoxymethylene. The base material was modified with the most used antibacterial additives, such as silver nanoparticles, copper oxide, zinc oxide, and titanium oxide. Basic strength and low-cycle fatigue tests were conducted to determine the dissipation energy of the material. The composites were also tested for antibacterial properties against two strains of bacteria: Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538. Strength properties showed no significant changes in the mechanical behavior of the tested composites against the matrix material. The best antibacterial additive was the addition of titanium oxide nanoparticles, providing 100% efficacy against Escherichia coli and almost 100% biocidal efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus. The other antibacterial additives showed biocidal efficacy of about 30-40% against the unmodified material. The added value of the work is the consistency in the methodology of testing materials modified with antibacterial additives, as well as the same compactness of the introduced additives. This study makes it clear which of the introduced additives has the highest biocidal activity.