Current advances in black phosphorus-based antibacterial nanoplatform for infection therpy.

Black phosphorus (BP) has attracted much attention due to its excellent physiochemical properties. However, due to its biodegradability and simple antibacterial mechanism, using only BP nanomaterials to combat bacterial infections caused by drug-resistant pathogens remains a significant challenge. In order to improve the antibacterial efficiency and avoid the emergence of drug resistance, BP nanomaterials have been combined with other functional materials to form black phosphorus-based antibacterial nanoplatform (BPANP), which provides unprecedented opportunities for the treatment of drug-resistant infections. This article reviews the performance of BPANP and its multiple antibacterial mechanisms while emphatically introducing its design direction and latest application progress in antibacterial fields. Moreover, this paper additionally summarizes and discusses the current challenges and inadequacies of BPANP that need to be improved in future research. We believe that this review will provide researchers with an up-to-date and multifaceted reference, and provide new ideas for designing effective strategies against drug-resistant bacteria.

Emerging strategies for combating Fusobacterium nucleatum in colorectal cancer treatment: Systematic review, improvements and future challenges.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is generally characterized by a high prevalence of Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum), a spindle-shaped, Gram-negative anaerobe pathogen derived from the oral cavity. This tumor-resident microorganism has been closely correlated with the occurrence, progression, chemoresistance and immunosuppressive microenvironment of CRC. Furthermore, F. nucleatum can specifically colonize CRC tissues through adhesion on its surface, forming biofilms that are highly resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Accordingly, it is crucial to develop efficacious non-antibiotic approaches to eradicate F. nucleatum and its biofilms for CRC treatment. In recent years, various antimicrobial strategies, such as natural extracts, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals, polymers, inorganic-organic hybrid materials, bacteriophages, probiotics, and vaccines, have been proposed to combat F. nucleatum and F. nucleatum biofilms. This review summarizes the latest advancements in anti-F. nucleatum research, elucidates the antimicrobial mechanisms employed by these systems, and discusses the benefits and drawbacks of each antimicrobial technology. Additionally, this review also provides an outlook on the antimicrobial specificity, potential clinical implications, challenges, and future improvements of these antimicrobial strategies in the treatment of CRC.

Regulation of band gap and localized surface plasmon resonance by loading Au nanorods on violet phosphene nanosheets for photodynamic/photothermal synergistic anti-infective therapy.

In the face of the serious threat to human health and the economic burden caused by bacterial antibiotic resistance, 2D phosphorus nanomaterials have been widely used as antibacterial agents. Violet phosphorus nanosheets (VPNSs) are an exciting bandgap-adjustable 2D nanomaterial due to their good physicochemical properties, yet the study of VPNS-based antibiotics is still in its infancy. Here, a composite of gold nanorods (AuNRs) loaded onto VPNS platforms (VPNS/AuNR) is constructed to maximize the potential of VPNSs for antimicrobial applications. The loading with AuNRs not only enhances the photothermal performance via a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect, but also enhances the light absorption capacity due to the narrowing of the band gap of the VPNSs, thus increasing the ROS generation capacity. The results demonstrate that VPNS/AuNR exhibits outstanding antibacterial properties and good biocompatibility. Attractively, VPNS/AuNR is then extensively tested for treating skin wound infections, suggesting promising in vivo antibacterial and wound-healing features. Our findings may open a novel direction to develop a versatile VPNS-based treatment platform, which can significantly boost the progress of VPNS exploration.

Bacterial elimination via cell membrane penetration by violet phosphorene peripheral sub-nanoneedles combined with oxidative stress.

The effectiveness of an antibacterial agent is strongly influenced by its antibacterial mechanism, which, in turn, depends on the agent's topological structure. In the natural world, the nanoprotrusions on the surface of insect wings give them excellent antimicrobial properties through physical penetration while being compatible with host cells. Inspired by the novel nanostructure of insect wings, violet phosphorus (VP), a new member of the phosphorus family, has antibacterial potential due to the sub-nanoneedle on its edge. Here, we demonstrate that VP and its exfoliated product, violet phosphorene nanosheets (VPNSs), have superior antibacterial capability against pathogens via cell membrane penetration induced by peripheral sub-nanoneedles combined with oxidative stress. The results show that VPNSs can inactivate more than 99.9% of two common pathogens (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) and more than 99.9% of two antibiotic-resistant bacteria (Escherichia coli pUC19 and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), while showing almost no toxicity toward normal cells at a high concentration of 2.0 mg mL-1. Moreover, VPNSs can achieve effective treatment of induced skin wound infections and bacterial keratitis (BK) by Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, respectively, showing promising potential for ocular and skin wound infection theragnostics.

Phage-Based antibacterial hydrogels for bacterial targeting and Ablation: Progress and perspective.

The emergence of drug-resistant bacteria makes antibiotics inadequate to treat bacterial infections, which is now a global problem. Phage as a virus with specific recognition ability can effectively kill the bacteria, which is an efficacious antibacterial material to replace antibiotics. Phage-based hydrogels have good biocompatibility and antibacterial effect at the site of infection. Phage hydrogels have remarkable antibacterial effects on targeted bacteria because of their specific targeted bactericidal ability, but there are few reports and reviews on phage hydrogels. This paper discusses the construction method of phage-based antibacterial hydrogels (PAGs), summarizes the advantages related to PAGs and their applications in the direction of wound healing, treating bone bacterial infections, gastrointestinal infection treatment and other application, and finally gives an outlook on the development and research of PAGs.

Current status of development and biomedical applications of peptide-based antimicrobial hydrogels.

Microbial contamination poses a serious threat to human life and health. Through the intersection of material science and modern medicine, advanced bionic hydrogels have shown great potential for biomedical applications due to their unique bioactivity and ability to mimic the extracellular matrix environment. In particular, as a promising antimicrobial material, the synthesis and practical biomedical applications of peptide-based antimicrobial hydrogels have drawn increasing research interest. The synergistic effect of peptides and hydrogels facilitate the controlled release of antimicrobial agents and mitigation of their biotoxicity while achieving antimicrobial effects and protecting the active agents from degradation. This review reports on the progress and trends of researches in the last five years and provides a brief outlook, aiming to provide theoretical background on peptide-based antimicrobial hydrogels and make suggestions for future related work.

2D nanomaterial-based 3D network hydrogels for anti-infection therapy.

Two-dimensional nanomaterials (2D NMs) refer to nanomaterials that possess a planar topography with a thickness of one or several atomic layers. Due to their large specific surface areas, atomic thickness, rough edges, and electron confinement in two dimensions, they have emerged as promising antimicrobial agents over antibiotics in combating bacterial infections. However, 2D NMs encounter issues such as low bio-safety, easy aggregation, and limited tissue penetration efficiency. To address these concerns, hydrogels with three-dimensional (3D) networks have been developed to encapsulate 2D NMs, aiming to enhance their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ability to regulate and remodel the tissue microenvironment at the infected site. This review systematically summarizes the current studies on 2D NM-based antibacterial hydrogels with 3D network structures (named 2N3Hs). Firstly, we introduce the emerging types of 2N3Hs and describe their antibacterial actions. Subsequently, we discuss the applications of 2N3Hs in three biomedical fields, including wound dressing, cancer treatment, and bone regeneration. Finally, we conclude the review with current challenges and future developments for 2N3Hs, highlighting their potential as a promising choice for next-generation biomedical devices, particularly in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This review aims to provide a comprehensive and panoramic overview of anti-infective 2N3Hs for various biomedical applications.

Facile Construction of Antimicrobial Surface via One-Step Co-Deposition of Peptide Polymer and Dopamine.

The infections associated with implantable medical devices can greatly affect the therapeutic effect and impose a heavy financial burden. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop antimicrobial biomaterials for the prevention and mitigation of healthcare-associated infections. Here, a facile construction of antimicrobial surface via one-step co-deposition of peptide polymer and dopamine is reported. The co-deposition of antimicrobial peptide polymer DLL60 BLG40 with dopamine (DA) on the surface of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) provides peptide polymer-modified TPU surface (TPU-DLL60 BLG40 ). The antimicrobial test shows that the TPU-DLL60 BLG40 surfaces of the sheet and the catheter both exhibit potent killing of 99.9% of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). In addition, the TPU-DLL60 BLG40 surface also exhibits excellent biocompatibility. This one-step antimicrobial modification method is fast and efficient, implies promising application in surface antimicrobial modification of implantable biomaterials and medical devices.

A review of the bioactive properties of Mongolian plants, with a focus on their potential as natural food preservatives.

Consumers have recently preferred food that is easy to make and of excellent quality, as well as food that is safe, natural, and minimally processed, but has a longer shelf life. Food deteriorates over time as a result of microbiological, chemical, or physical changes. Phytochemicals derived from medicinal and food plants have long been recognized for their biological activity to protect plants. These bioactivities are designed to increase the shelf life of food while inhibiting the growth of microorganisms. The use of natural plant food preservatives containing bioactive compounds as health-promoting agents is particularly intriguing. Furthermore, due to their effectiveness against food spoilage and foodborne pathogens, natural plant-origin antimicrobial compounds have been investigated as alternatives to synthetic antimicrobial compounds for preserving food quality. This review focused on the plant composition and properties that can be utilized as a natural food preservative, as well as the possibilities of using Mongolian medicinal plants.

Biological regulation on iodine using nano-starch for preventing thyroid dysfunction.

The growing incidence of thyroid disease triggered by excess iodine uptake poses a severe health threat throughout the world. Extracellular interference therapies impede iodine transport across the sodium-iodide symporter (NIS) membrane protein and thus prevent excessive iodine uptake by thyroid cells, which may lessen the occurrence of disease. Herein, we for the first time utilized nano-starch particles (St NPs) to regulate iodine transport across the NIS protein of thyroid cells by using extracellular interference therapy. By precisely encapsulating iodine within the cavity of a glucan α-helix via hydrogen bonding, extracellular St NPs prevented excess iodine uptake by thyroid cells in vitro and in vivo; this down-regulated the expression of NIS protein (0.06-fold) and autophagy protein LC3B-II (0.35-fold). We also found that St NPs regulated the metabolic pathway of iodine in zebrafish. We believe this proposed strategy offers a novel insight into controlling iodine uptake by the thyroid and indicates a new direction for preventing iodine-induced thyroid disease.

Black Phosphorus-Based Conductive Hydrogels Assisted by Electrical Stimulus for Skin Tissue Engineering.

Conductive hydrogels have shown great potential in wound healing and skin tissue engineering, owing to their electroactive, mechanical, and chemical properties. However, it still remains as a challenge to incorporate other functions into conductive hydrogels, such as antibacterial ability, controllable drug release, and biodegradability. In this study, a black phosphorus-based conductive hydrogel (HA-DA@BP) is prepared by an amidation reaction coupled with a coordination of Fe3+ -catechol. The hydrogel could be changed from the sol phase to the gel phase under electrical stimulus (ES). The results show that BP could be released under slight acidity, which is cell compatible but could achieve synergistic electrical antibacterial action and promote wound healing. This study proves that BP is a strong candidate for electroactive materials and provides a new insight for the development of BP-based biomedical materials in skin tissue engineering.

Recent advances in bacterial cellulose-based antibacterial composites for infected wound therapy.

Wound infection arising from pathogenic bacteria brought serious trouble to the patient and medical system. Among various wound dressings that are effective in killing pathogenic bacteria, antimicrobial composites based on bacterial cellulose (BC) are becoming the most popular materials due to their success in eliminating pathogenic bacteria, preventing wound infection, and promoting wound healing. However, as an extracellular natural polymer, BC is not inherently antimicrobial, which means that it must be combined with other antimicrobials to be effective against pathogens. BC has many advantages over other polymers, including nano-structure, significant moisture retention, non-adhesion to the wound surface, which has made it superior to other biopolymers. This review introduces the recent advances in BC-based composites for the treatment of wound infection, including the classification and preparation methods of composites, the mechanism of wound treatment, and commercial application. Moreover, their wound therapy applications include hydrogel dressing, surgical sutures, wound healing bandages, and patches are summarized in detail. Finally, the challenges and future prospects of BC-based antibacterial composites for the treatment of infected wounds are discussed.

Functional carbohydrate-based hydrogels for diabetic wound therapy.

Diabetes wound are grave and universal complications of diabetes. Owing to poor treatment course, high amputation rate and mortality, diabetes wound treatment and care have become a global challenge. Wound dressings have received much attention due to their ease of use, good therapeutic effect, and low costs. Among them, carbohydrate-based hydrogels with excellent biocompatibility are considered to be the best candidates for wound dressings. Based on this, we first systematically summarized the problems and healing mechanism of diabetes wounds. Next, common treatment methods and wound dressings were discussed, and the application of various carbohydrate-based hydrogels and their corresponding functionalization (antibacterial, antioxidant, autoxidation and bioactive substance delivery) in the treatment of diabetes wounds were emphatically introduced. Ultimately, the future development of carbohydrate-based hydrogel dressings was proposed. This review aims to provide a deeper understanding of wound treatment and theoretical support for the design of hydrogel dressings.

Near-infrared Light-accelerated Glucose Oxidase-MoS2 Cascade Catalytic Chemodynamic Therapy in Synergistic Cationic Polymer Hydrogels to Combate Multibacterial Infection.

Given the poor antibacterial activity of hydrogels, a multimodal synergistic antibacterial hydrogel based on dopamine-modified oxidized hyaluronic acid was developed, and its antibacterial activity and biocompatibility were demonstrated. First, dopamine-modified oxidized hyaluronic acid (OHA-DA) was used as the hydrogel backbone. A dual-dynamically cross-linked injectable hydrogel was constructed by mixing OHA-DA, Fe3+ with cationic antimicrobial peptide polylysine (EPL) via Schiff base and coordination complexation. Next, glucose oxidase-loaded MoS2 nanosheets were synthesized through electrostatic interaction and loaded into the hydrogel through physical mixing. Finally, a multimodal synergistic antibacterial hydrogel OD/EPL/GM was obtained. Antibacterial experiments show that the hydrogel has good antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus, and the antibacterial rate can reach 99.99%.

Physical Contact-Triggered In Situ Reactivation of Antibacterial Hydrogels.

In situ reactivation of hydrogels remains a long-standing key challenge in chemistry and materials science. Herein, we first report an ultraconvenient in situ renewable antibacterial hydrogel prepared via a facile physical contact-triggered strategy based on an ultrafast chlorine transfer pathway. We discover that the as-proposed hydrogel with a programmable 3D network cross-linked by noncovalent bonds and physical interactions can serve as a smart platform for selective active chlorine transfer at the hydrogel/hydrogel interface. Systematic experiments and density functional theory prove that the N-halamine glycopolymers integrated into the hydrogel system work as a specific renewable biocide, permitting the final hydrogel to be recharged in situ within 1 min under ambient conditions. Due to its strength and durability, pathogen specificity, and biocompatibility, coupled with its rapid in situ reactivation, this antibacterial hydrogel holds great potential for in vivo biomedical use and circulating water disinfection. We envision this proposed strategy will pave a new avenue for the development of in situ renewable smart hydrogels for real-world applications.

Current Progress in Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents for the Extraction of Active Components from Plants.

In the last decade, natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) have gained more and more attention due to their green, convenient preparation, low toxicity and biodegradability. It is widely used in various fields, especially in the extraction of active components from plants, formed by the combination of hydrogen bond donors (HBDs) and hydrogen bond acceptors (HBAs) at a certain condition. In this article, six preparation methods of NADESs were summarized and the interactions that occur in the eutectic behavior of NADES including hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interaction and van der Waals force were also reviewed. What is more, its significant extraction capacity on flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids and plant pigments endows its extensive applications in the extraction of active components from medicinal plants. Extraction factors including solvents properties (viscosity, carbon chain length, number of hydroxyl groups), extraction condition (water content, extraction temperature, extraction time, solid-liquid ratio), extraction method and recycling method were discussed. In addition, NADESs can also be combined with other technologies, like molecular imprinting, monolithic column, to achieve efficient and specific extraction of active ingredients. Further systematic studies on the biodegradability and biotoxicity are put forward to be urgent.

Highly Antibacterial and Adhesive Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel for Wound Repair.

Bacterial infections accompanied with wound healing often lead to more serious health hazards to patients. Therefore, it is urgent to explore a wound dressing that can promote wound repair while possessing antibacterial capability. Here, we constructed a multifunctional hydrogel dressing by a redox-initiated cross-linking reaction of methacrylated hyaluronic acid (HAMA), 5,10,15,20-tetra (4-methacrylate phenyl) porphyrin (TPP), and dopamine methacrylamide (DMA), named HAMA-TPP-DMA, with broad-spectrum photodynamic antibacterial capability, where the aggregation of TPP photosensitizer units could be greatly inhibited to produce more singlet oxygen. The hydrogel has excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility, providing favorable conditions for wound healing. Furthermore, the incorporation of dopamine into the hydrogel gives the wound dressing with enhanced adhesiveness, benefiting for the wound repair. More importantly, the antibacterial experiments in vitro and mice wound models in vivo showed that the HAMA-TPP-DMA hydrogel can significantly resist bacteria and accelerate the wound healing in mice (the closure rate > 98% after 15 days). Thus, this hydrogel dressing with superior antibacterial infection and wound healing capability provides a promising strategy in wound repair.

Advances in stimuli-responsive systems for pesticides delivery: Recent efforts and future outlook.

Effective pest management for enhanced crop output is one of the primary goals of establishing sustainable agricultural practices in the world. Pesticides are critical in preventing biological disasters, ensuring crop productivity, and fostering sustainable agricultural production growth. Studies showed that crops are unable to properly utilize pesticides because of several limiting factors, such as leaching and bioconversion, thereby damaging ecosystems and human health. In recent years, stimuli-responsive systems for pesticides delivery (SRSP) by nanotechnology demonstrated excellent promise in enhancing the effectiveness and safety of pesticides. SRSP are being developed with the goal of delivering precise amounts of active substances in response to biological needs and environmental factors. An in-depth analysis of carrier materials, design fundamentals, and classification of SRSP were provided. The adhesion of SRSP to crop tissue, absorption, translocation in and within plants, mobility in the soil, and toxicity were also discussed. The problems and shortcomings that need be resolved to accelerate the actual deployment of SRSP were highlighted in this review.

Optimization of the extraction process of flavonoids from Trollius ledebouri with natural deep eutectic solvents.

In recent years, natural deep eutectic solvents have been favored greatly due to their environment friendly, mild biological toxicity and simple biodegradability. Natural deep eutectic solvents gradually applied for the extracting bioactive compounds from natural products efficiently. In this study, 20 natural deep eutectic solvents were prepared and their physical and chemical properties were tested. The ultrasonic-assisted extraction method was used to extract flavonoids from Trollius ledebouri and high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet was applied to examine two main bioactive flavonoids (orientin and vitexin). Compared with traditional solvents (water and 60% ethanol solution), natural deep eutectic solvents composed of L(-)-proline and levulinic acid (molar ratio 1:2) show a super extraction efficiency. On this basis, the response surface method was used to optimize the extraction temperature, extraction time, water contents, and solid-liquid ratio. As a consequence, the extraction temperature 60℃, extraction time 18 min, water content 14% (v/v), and the solid-liquid ratio 48 mL·g-1 were chosen as the best extraction process. This study shows that natural deep eutectic solvents can effectively extract flavonoids from T. ledebouri, laying a foundation for the further application of natural deep eutectic solvents to extract bioactive compounds from natural products.