Excellent Antimicrobial Activity Research Articles

A novel polyurethane-based silver foam dressing with superior antimicrobial action for management of infected chronic wounds.

Wound healing is a complex and dynamic process supported by several cellular events. Around 13 million individuals globally suffer from chronic wounds yearly, for which dressings with excellent antimicrobial activity and cell viability (>70%, as per ISO 10993) are needed. Excessive use of silver can cause cytotoxicity and has been linked to increasing antimicrobial resistance.In this study, HDI Ag foam was synthesized using a safer hexamethylene diisocyanate-based prepolymer (HDI prepolymer) instead of commonly used diisocyanates like TDI and MDI and substantially lower Ag content than that incorporated in other Ag foams. In vitro characteristics of the HDI Ag foam were evaluated in comparison with leading clinically-used foam-based dressings. All dressings underwent a detailed characterization in accordance with industrially accepted BS EN 13726 standards. The HDI Ag foam exhibited highest antimicrobial efficiency against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (static condition), with the lowest amount of Ag (0.2 wt%) on the wound contact surface. The extracts from HDI Ag foam showed superior cell viability (>70%), when tested on the L929 mouse fibroblast cell line. Measurements of moisture vapour transmission, fluid handling, physico-chemical and mechanical properties ensured that the HDI foam was clinically acceptable for chronic wound patients.&#xD.

Antimicrobial and antioxidant study of combined essential oils of Anethum Sowa Kurz. and Trachyspermum ammi (L.) along with quality determination, comparative histo-anatomical features, GC‒MS and HPTLC chemometrics

Spices played crucial and variable roles in traditions, culture, history, religious ceremonials and festivals along with fetching food flavor and microbial protection globally due to presence of structurally unique and multi-natured chemotypes. Their existence in dishes portrayed key roles in improving shelf life by regulating spoilage of cuisine with different synergistic mechanism. Histo-anatomically (A) sowa exhibited distinguished cellular attributes which created remarkable differences with T. ammi. HPTLC chemometrics of both fruits revealed several peaks for active metabolomics with unique isocratic combination of menstruum. GC-MS study of hydro-distillate exhibited presence of monoterpenic cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, alcoholic and ketonic groups along with phenolic derivative that covers majorly 90% of total metabolites. Combined essential oils (EOs 1 + 2) of both fruits showed excellent antimicrobial activity against various clinical pathogenic strains such as K. pneumoniae at 10 µL/mL, S. aureus at 2.5 µL/mL, E. coli and E. faecalis at 1.25 µL/mL, and MRSA and Bcereus at 0.625 µL/mL and (C) albicans at 0.312 µL/mL as the MIC. The antioxidant study of (EOs 1 + 2) with maximum inhibition percentage to DPPH assay was 84.02 ± 1.05 at 100 µg/mL, and minimal inhibition was 72.31 ± 0.63 at 5 µg/mL with IC50 value 4.69 ± 0.22 µg/mL, while ABTS assay extreme was 79.15 ± 2.14 µg/mL and minimal was 67 ± 1.34 with the IC50 value of 18.37 ± 0.15 µg/mL, in superoxide assay uppermost inhibition was 81.03 ± 0.27 µg/mL and lowest was at 65.16 ± 3.15 with the IC50 value 16.46 ± 0.54, and H2O2 radical scavenging activity, predominant value was 78.01 ± 0.47 and least was 64.1 ± 2.01 with IC50 15.58 ± 0.34. These comparative key diagnostic features and synergistic effect of multicomponent natural antimicrobials will provide profound intellect of ancient utility and further scientists to explore their multiple mechanistic modality and application in food and beverages industry.

Baicalin nanofiber membranes: A comprehensive study on preparation, characterization, and antimicrobial pharmacological activities

Baicalin is a natural active ingredient known for its medicinal properties and a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, and anticancer effects. However, its application is hindered by its poor water-solubility. In this study, we aimed to enhance the water solubility of baicalin by embedding it within the hydrophobic cavity of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin through supramolecular assembly to form inclusion complexes. The inclusion complexes were subsequently processed into nanofiber membranes suitable for application on skin and wounds using coaxial electrostatic spinning. The inclusion complexes and nanofiber membranes were analyzed and characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The combined results from XRD, FT-IR, and TGA confirmed that baicalin successfully formed inclusion complexes with cyclodextrin, resulting in an increase in water solubility from 0.0170 mg/mL to 8.9600 mg/mL, representing a 527-fold enhancement. Additionally, the inclusion complexes demonstrated superior antimicrobial activity against E. coli, S. aureus and C. albicans, as well as higher free radical scavenging rates compared to native baicalin. After the inclusion complexes were transformed into nanofiber membranes via coaxial electrospinning, their properties remained unchanged, and they continued to exhibit excellent antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. In the in vitro release assay, nearly 90% of the drug (baicalin) was released from the nanofiber membranes over a period of time, indicating sustained release. Furthermore, the molecular docking mechanism of baicalin and cyclodextrin was elucidated through molecular docking simulations, establishing a theoretical foundation for the synthesis of inclusion complexes in the computational studies. This study reports the successful fabrication of water-soluble, antimicrobial nanofiber membranes containing bioavailable baicalin, which have potential clinical applications in the development of wound dressings and drug delivery systems utilizing plant-extracted bioactive compounds.

Design, microwave synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial activity of imidazolone derivatives

Overuse and misuse of antibiotics create superbugs as drug-resistant bacteria. The vital strategy is developing new antibiotics, and one of the vital compounds that proved activity as antimicrobials is imidazoles. So, we designed and synthesized a series of imidazolones via microwave radiation in excellent yield and evaluated them as antimicrobial agents with docking studies to promote and boost their activity. The results obtained from spectroscopic analyses approved the chemical structures of new compounds. The biological antimicrobial activity results was found that these compounds exert an excellent broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against many Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as different fungal strain including some highly human pathogenic microorganisms.Compounds 5a-5c are active against Gram-positive bacteria and compounds 5d-5f against Gram-negative bacteria, together with Candida albicans as fungi. Molecular Docking study on the active compounds 5e, 5f showed ring-stacking interactions between them as ligands and related proteins, which are compatible with other results. Gaussian 09 program is used as computational chemistry software to confirm the obtained experimental results.

Poly(vinyl alcohol)-based multifunctional smart packaging films with carbon dots-loaded metal-organic frameworks for freshness indicator and shelf-life extension of shrimp

This study aims to fabricate poly(vinyl alcohol)-based films (PVA-based films) incorporated with carbon dots-loaded metal-organic frameworks (CD@MOF) for freshness indicator and shelf life extension of shrimp. Incorporation of CD@MOF to PVA-based composite films (PVA/CD@MOF) showed excellent antimicrobial and antioxidant activities with 77.44 % ABTS radical scavenging efficiency. Additionally, the composite films showed a superior UV-barrier of 99.48 % compared to 23.28 % for neat PVA film. The color of PVA/CD@MOF composite films changed from green to blue when exposed to ammonia. In shrimp freshness monitoring tests, the color of PVA/CD@MOF composite films turned brown simultaneously with changes in the chemical parameters of shrimp, providing a visual indication of changes in the quality of stored shrimp. Additionally, PVA/CD@MOF films effectively inhibited weight loss, pH increase, microbial growth, and oxidation of stored shrimp. These results imply that CD@MOF can serve effectively as a dual-purpose active and indicator additive in practical packaging materials.

Advance Screening of Bis- Azetidinone Derivatives: Synthesis, Spectroscopy, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Analysis with Molecular Docking Assessment

Introduction: This study includes synthesis, characterizations, antimicrobial, antiox-idant, and docking molecular study of novel Bis-Azetidinone compounds that combined two units of β-lactam rings .In the present investigation, the aromatic aldehydes with primary amine were condensed to create Schiff's base, which was then reacted with chloroacetylchloride to pro-duce bis-Azetidinone compounds. Methods: Melting points, FTIR, and NMR spectrum analyses were used to examine the mor-phological and topological characteristics of the Bis-Azetidinone compounds. The results indi-cate that the prepared Compounds synthesis has excellent antimicrobial activity against both Gram-negative (Escherichia coli,), Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and fungal (Candida albicans) and also indicated that the Compounds synthesis (A2) gave a higher antimi-crobial effect than the B2, C2. The synergistic activity was examined against the pathogenic microbial strains. It was observed that employing compound synthesis combined with antibiot-ics enhanced the synergistic efficacy compared to using compound synthesis alone or antibiotic alone on Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. Results: The antioxidant efficiency was assessed by DPPH, the results show that the compound synthesis has antioxidant activity, and also indicated that the synthesized compound (A2) gave a higher antioxidant effect than the B2, C2. Docking study confirmed via redocking of crystal-ized substrate or inhibitor within target binding pocket. The docking results reveal that the syn-thesized compounds, with a total binding affinity of less than -48 kcal/mol, could be clinically used for future therapeutic purposes. Conclusion: The present research demonstrates the advantageous effectiveness of a simpler pro-duction procedure, novel Bis-Azetidinone compounds, for producing high-purity with low haz-ard that may be utilized as future possible medical therapies.

A potent antimicrobial glycolipopeptide GLIP and its promising combined antimicrobial effect

Here, the glycolipopeptide GLIP was obtained by coupling IL-C8 and the monosaccharide molecule D-(+)-glucosamine to the N-terminal and C-terminal of the peptide P, which was designed on the basis of the biological characteristics of the antimicrobial peptides. In vitro bioactivity and physicochemical properties assays confirmed that GLIP had excellent antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative E. coli ATCC 25922 and Gram-positive S. aureus ATCC 29213, as well as good stability in serum and trypsin, low hemolysis, and good bacterial membrane-disrupting ability. In addition, the glycolipopeptide GLIP could self-assembly in aqueous solution to form spherical nano-aggregates, which could encapsulate the small molecule antibiotic TC to form the nanomedicine GLIP@TC and release the TC continuously and slowly in a sustained-release manner, exerting the combined antimicrobial effect of both. The results of animal experiments demonstrated the excellent in vivo antimicrobial activities of GLIP and nanomedicine GLIP@TC. Finally, molecular docking experiment showed that the GLIP could effectively bind to penicillin-binding protein 5 (PBP5) of E. coli and possibly inhibit its D-Ala carboxypeptidase (CPase) activity. All these results may imply the great potential of GLIP for clinical application against bacterial drug resistance.

Double Enzyme Active Hydrogel Program Regulates the Microenvironment of Staphylococcus aureus-Infected Pressure Ulcers.

The treatment of infected pressure ulcers (IUPs) requires addressing diverse microenvironments. A pressing challenge is to effectively enhance the regenerative microenvironment at different stages of the healing process, tailoring interventions as needed. Here, a dual enzyme mimetic and bacterial responsive self-activating antimicrobial hydrogel designed to enhance IPUs healing is introduced. This hydrogel incorporates pH-responsive dual enzyme-active nanoplatforms (HNTs-Fe-Ag) encapsulated within a methacrylate-modified silk fibroin (SFMA) and dopamine methacrylamide (DMA) matrix. This composite hydrogel exhibits adaptive microenvironment regulation capabilities. Under the low pH microenvironment of bacterial infection, it has excellent antimicrobial activity by self-activating the •OH generation in conjunction with photothermal effects. Under the neutral and alkaline microenvironment of chronic inflammation, it catalyzes the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to produce oxygen (O2), thereby alleviating hypoxia and scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), which in turn remodulates the phenotype of macrophages. The composite hydrogel demonstrates on-demand therapeutic effects in the microenvironment of infected wounds, significantly enhancing the regenerative microenvironment of IUPs by promoting wound closure, inflammation regulation, and collagen deposition through self-activated antimicrobial action during infection and adaptive hypoxia relief during recovery. This approach offers a novel strategy for developing smart wound dressings.

Sustained-release composite films incorporated with cinnamon essential oil: Characterization, release kinetics and application for cherry tomato preservation

Food spoilage waste accelerated the development of bio-based active food packaging. Sustained-release composite films based on oxidized corn starch/ pullulan were prepared by incorporating cinnamon essential oil (CEO) nanoemulsion. The SEM, ATR-FTIR and XRD results showed that CEO was successfully encapsulated in film matrixes. The composite films exhibited the increase of thermal stability, UV-shielding, flexibility and water vapor resistance properties. The films containing CEO nanoemulsion (≥10%) showed excellent antimicrobial activities against S. aureus, E. coli and B. cinerea (the maximum inhibition zones achieving 27.23 ± 2.31 mm). The release kinetics results showed sustained release of CEO from the films with high content of CEO nanoemulsion, and the dominant release mechanism was Fickian diffusion. The composite films effectively maintained cell structure, weight, firmness and total soluble solids content of fruits during storage. Therefore, the sustained-release composite films could be a prospective packaging material for fruits preservation.

Synthesis and characterization of ZnO and CuO coatings for antibacterial and antiviral applications

Copper oxide (CuO) and Zinc oxide (ZnO), coating have attracted attention for their potential antiviral properties, including their ability to combat virus. This study focuses on the development and characterization of self-disinfecting surface passivation films composed of CuO and ZnO, obtained using the spin-coating technique. The research aims to develop surfaces that can actively eliminate harmful microorganisms, reducing the risk of infections, while also offering strong mechanical resistance and adhesion to withstand external factors, which is crucial for ensuring long-term effectiveness. Additionally, the microstructural properties of the elaborated films were analyzed using SEM/EDS, which stands for Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy and X-Ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The mechanical behavior was assessed through Vickers hardness and scratch resistance tests. It was found a dense and homogeneous thin films. The hardness of CuO and ZnO films were 11.14 ± 0.04 GPa, and 8.89 ± 0.04 GPa respectively. Therefore, scratching tests revealed high adhesion properties with a critical load LC1 of 1.89 ± 0.02 N and 1.04 ± 0.02 N for CuO and ZnO films respectively. Then, this study revealed that CuO and ZnO films exhibit excellent antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, as well as outstanding antiviral activity against the HSV-2 virus.

Remediation of fenitrothion pesticide from the aquatic environment by porous Graphitized 3D carbon material: Their antimicrobial activity

This work sought to optimize the elimination of organophosphate from the watery surroundings by a Porous Graphitized 3D Nitrogen-Doped Carbon material (NDC) derived from freeze-dried sponge-based hydrogel, employing response surface methodology using Box-Behnken architecture (BBA). The Porous Graphitized 3D Nitrogen-Doped Carbon materials were prepared at 500 °C (NDC-500) and 900 °C (NDC-900) carbonization temperatures; among these, NDC-900 was found to be micropore rich and can be used as a potential adsorbent for effective remediation of organophosphate fenitrothion pesticide from the aquatic environment. Various characterization techniques include Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms studies (BET), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to characterize the NDC-900. It revealed that the surface area of NDC-900 is appreciably large,2346.54 m2/g, and has a considerable pore volume of 1.59 cm3/g. Furthermore, the synthesized porous carbon-based material depicted acceptable profitable benefits with a remuneration of 600 $t−1. The as-prepared material undergoes a hydrothermal reaction with silver nitrate to form silver-doped carbon material, which displays excellent antimicrobial activity. The impact of four critical parameters, including initialfenitrothion(FE) concentration, NDC-900 mass, pH, and temperature, were maximized by a quadratic model. Analysis of variance demonstrated that the findings were trustworthy. According to the Pareto analysis, preliminary FE concentration had the most impact on eliminating FE among the four chosen parameters. The optimum variables for FE remediation were 40.01 mg L−1 preliminary FE concentration, 14.99 mgL−1 NDC-900 dosage, 35.62 °C temperature, and solution pH 7.91. The predicted FE remediation effectiveness of 99.91 % is in excellent accord with the experimental result of 99.88 % under ideal circumstances. The effectiveness of FE adsorption on NDC was comprehensively assessed by employing kinetic models, particularly those that follow the pseudo-first-order kinetic models. Additionally, the Langmuir isotherm model was used to match the adsorption process precisely. A physisorption mechanism was shown to be involved in the entire process. Furthermore, the study was done to understand better how NDC-900 and FE interact. The interplay might transpire via many pathways, such as H-bonding and pore filling. There has never been evidence of how well NDC-900 works as an adsorbent to eliminate FE from sewer water samples. However, our research is the first to accomplish this. The findings show that the optimum adsorption capacity of FE onto NDC, 616 mg. g−1, can only be attained at a pH of 7. The derived values of (ΔH°), (ΔS°), and (ΔG°) for FE suggested that the process was exothermic and spontaneous when employing NDC-900 as an adsorbent. Furthermore, NDC-900, in combination with Ag (silver), shows excellent antibacterial and antifungal activity. The regeneration outcomes showed that FE remediation effectiveness efficiency was still sustained at 80 % during five iterations of the adsorption–desorption process. Consequently, NDC-900 is a viable adsorbent for the effective and quick adsorption of FE from water.

Enhanced antibacterial activity of starch-alginate beads by a synergistic effect between Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions with a potential wound dressing application

The synthesis and characterization of starch/alginate composite beads, crosslinked with Cu2+, Zn2+, and Cu:Zn mixtures were investigated, focusing on their potential application in exudative wound dressings. Hydrogel beads were prepared using the external gelation method and then dried via freeze-drying to create cryogels and air-drying to create xerogels. Microstructural characterization was performed using SEM and EDS, showing the typical porous structure with a homogeneous distribution of cations across the beads. Unimetallic beads exhibited higher equilibrium water uptake compared to Cu:Zn bimetallic beads (500 % vs. 300 %). After the swelling study, the total amount of Cu2+ released was significantly below the maximum allowed level as a safeguard against copper toxicity. All beads demonstrated excellent antimicrobial activity against E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa. Bimetallic materials, particularly cryogels with equal or greater amount of zinc relative to copper, were particularly effective against P. aeruginosa. Hence, the synthesized bimetallic starch-alginate materials presented superior water absorption capacity and significantly enhanced antibacterial response compared to unimetallic beads, due to the synergistic effect between Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions, making then suitable for use in exudative wound dressings.

Profiling metabolites and exploring metabolism of parabens in human urine using non-target screening and molecular networking

Parabens are widely used as preservatives in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics due to their excellent antimicrobial activities, cost-effectiveness, and stability. Previous studies have demonstrated their harmful potential and ubiquity in the environment and human tissues. This study revealed profiles of parabens and their metabolites in urine samples from a general population of different ages in China using non-target screening. Metabolism of parabens in human bodies was further explored through the identified metabolites in combination of molecular networking. A total of 34 paraben compounds were screened in the urine samples. In addition to 3 identified confidence level 1 (CL1) parent parabens, 3 CL2 compounds were also identified, namely 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, and ethylparaben sulfate. Furthermore, 6 CL3 compounds were tentatively identified, five of which were sulfonated and sulfated metabolites of parabens. The remaining 22 were CL4 features without certain chemical structures. Hazardousness assessment suggested toxic potential of the identified metabolites. Distribution of the parabens and metabolites in the urines showed age-dependent differences. Sulfonation and sulfation were potentially significant metabolic pathways of the parabens in human bodies. This study provides a new insight into understanding metabolism of parabens in human bodies and potential risks of human exposure to parabens.

Synthesis and biomedical potential of silk fiber/methylcellulose composite containing copper and zinc co-substituted hydroxyapatite for bone tissue engineering applications

The primary feature of biomaterials is to aid in the regeneration of damaged tissues and organs. To attain a biomaterial, we fabricated a double mineral (copper and zinc) substituted hydroxyapatite/silk fiber/methylcellulose (CZ-HAP/SF/MC) nanocomposite by the E-Spin method. The as-developed CZ-HAP/SF/MC nanocomposite was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and moreover, the fabricated nanocomposites were used to investigate morphological changes, porosity, swelling test, mechanical strength, antibacterial activity and apatite growth. In addition, antimicrobial studies demonstrated that CZ-HAP/SF/MC nanocomposite exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, E. coli and C. albicans and, the resultant nanocomposite revealed that the CZ-HAP/SF/MC nanocomposite will be an effective implant material for better cell growth in BTE applications.

Molecular hybridization of pyridine-thiophene clubbed isoxazole heterocycle in a single entity: Synthesis, antimicrobial, antitubercular, molecular docking and ADMET analysis

In the present study, 10 new hybrid pyridine-thiophene clubbed isoxazole derivatives (8a-j) were synthesized from the reaction of benzylideneacetophenones (7a-j) with hydroxylamine hydrochloride in alkaline medium. The synthesized compounds were tested for in vitro antimicrobial and antitubercular properties. Four promising new lead compounds such as 8c, 8d, 8f, and 8h endowed with excellent antimicrobial and antitubercular activity. In addition, the docking score for the most active compounds 8b, 8e, 8g, and 8h was found to be -8.6 to -8.8 kcal/mol demonstrating its favorable accommodation within the active site of the PknB enzyme.. KEYWORDS :ADMET analysis, Antimicrobial, Antitubercular, Molecular docking, Molecular hybridization, Pyridine-thiophene clubbed isoxazole.

Gallic Acid Based Polymers for Food Preservation: A Review.

The extensive usage of nonbiodegradable plastic materials for food packaging is a major environmental concern. To address this, researchers focus on developing biocompatible and biodegradable food packaging from natural biopolymers, such as polysaccharides, proteins, and polyesters. These biopolymer-based packaging materials extend the shelf life of food due to their inherent antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. An important additive that enhances these beneficial effects is gallic acid (GA), a naturally occurring phenolic compound. GA exhibits potent antioxidant activity by scavenging free radicals and excellent antimicrobial activity against a wide range of bacteria by disrupting cell membranes. These gallic acid based active packaging solutions have demonstrated remarkable abilities to inhibit lipid oxidation, enzymatic browning, and microbial contamination and even retard the ripening processes in mushrooms, walnuts, strawberries, fresh-cut apples, bananas, fish, pork, and beef. This review focuses on the antioxidant, antibacterial, and food preservation capabilities of GA-incorporated biodegradable food packaging materials as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastic packaging.

Discovery of AMPs from random peptides via deep learning-based model and biological activity validation

The ample peptide field is the best source for discovering clinically available novel antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) to address emerging drug resistance. However, discovering novel AMPs is complex and expensive, representing a major challenge. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have significantly improved the efficiency of identifying antimicrobial peptides from large libraries, whereas using random peptides as negative data increases the difficulty of discovering antimicrobial peptides from random peptides using discriminative models. In this study, we constructed three multi-discriminator models using deep learning and successfully screened twelve AMPs from a library of 30,000 random peptides. three candidate peptides (P2, P11, and P12) were screened by antimicrobial experiments, and further experiments showed that they not only possessed excellent antimicrobial activity but also had extremely low hemolytic activity. Mechanistic studies showed that these peptides exerted their bactericidal effects through membrane disruption, thus reducing the possibility of bacterial resistance. Notably, peptide 12 (P12) showed significant efficacy in a mouse model of Staphylococcus aureus wound infection with low toxicity to major organs at the highest tested dose (400 mg/kg). These results suggest deep learning-based multi-discriminator models can identify AMPs from random peptides with potential clinical applications.

Anti-Inflammatory and Antimicrobial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Green-Synthesized Using Extracts of Different Plants.

In this study, an easy, efficient, economical, and eco-friendly green bio-synthesis method was utilized to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the extracts of four plants: Ginkgo biloba, Cichorium Intybus, Adiantum Capillus-Veneris, and Rosmarinus Officinalis. The synthesis of AgNPs was confirmed by using a uv-vis spectrometer, which showed distinct surface plasmon resonance (SPR) bands. The surface of AgNPs was characterized using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The anti-inflammatory activity of Tenoxicam/Meloxicam-loaded AgNPs has been studied using the inhibition of albumin denaturation method. Tenoxicam-loaded AgNPs showed higher % Inhibition, but Meloxicam-loaded AgNPs showed lower % Inhibition. Furthermore, the AgNPs showed excellent antimicrobial activity on both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

Bio-Composite Films Based on Carboxymethyl Chitosan Incorporated with Calcium Oxide: Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity.

The utilization of biopolymers incorporated with antimicrobial agents is extremely interesting in the development of environmentally friendly functional materials for food packaging and other applications. In this study, the effect of calcium oxide (CaO) on the morphological, mechanical, thermal, and hydrophilic properties as well as the antimicrobial activity of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCH) bio-composite films was investigated. The CMCH was synthesized from shrimp chitosan through carboxymethylation, whereas the CaO was synthesized via a co-precipitation method with polyethylene glycol as a stabilizer. The CMCH-CaO bio-composite films were prepared by the addition of synthesized CaO into the synthesized CMCH using a facile solution casting method. As confirmed by XRD and SEM, the synthesized CaO has a cubic shape, with an average crystalline size of 25.84 nm. The synthesized CaO exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (>99.9% R). The addition of CaO into CMCH improved the mechanical and hydrophobic properties of the CMCH-CaO films. However, it resulted in a slight decrease in thermal stability. Notably, the CMCH-CaO10% films exhibited exceptional antimicrobial activity against E. coli (98.8% R) and S. aureus (91.8% R). As a result, such bio-composite films can be applied as an active packaging material for fruit, vegetable, or meat products.

Exploring the feasibility of biodegradable films for antimicrobial absorbent sachets and CO2 emitters as sustainable active packaging

The use of biodegradable polymer films for packaging materials as eco-friendly alternatives to traditional plastics is limited by their water sensitivity and poor gas barrier properties. This study developed a multifunctional supplemental packaging system using poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and thermoplastic starch (TPS) blend film incorporated with 3% and 5% zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles. The system targets the triple-active packaging displayed antimicrobial activity with water absorption and CO2 emission properties. ZnO incorporation effectively reduced water solubility of the PBAT/TPS film (from 16% to 7%), and exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (>99% reduction). Well-dispersed ZnO, verified by scanning electron microscopy, decreased water vapor and CO2 gas permeation. A PBAT/TPS-ZnO sachet was fabricated, comprising carboxymethyl cellulose as the absorbent function and CO2 precursors (sodium bicarbonate and citric acid). The 3% ZnO loading achieved optimal performance, balancing water absorption (2.48 g weight gain after 144 h) and CO2 emission (35% in headspace at equilibrium). Kinetic studies suggested diffusion as the dominant mechanism for CO2 release, driven by concentration differences between the sachet and headspace. This system showed potential as active modified atmosphere packaging to extend product shelf life.