Protecting the Antibacterial Coating of Urinal Catheters for Improving Safety.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) are among the most common bacterial infections associated with prolonged hospitalization and increased healthcare expenditures. Despite recent advances in the prevention and treatment of these infections, there are still many challenges remaining, among them the creation of a durable catheter coating, which prevents bacterial biofilm formation. The current work reports on a method of protecting medical tubing endowed with antibiofilm properties.

Mitigating Interfacial Capacity Fading in Vanadium Pentoxide by Sacrificial Vanadium Sulfide Encapsulation for Rechargeable Mg-Ion Batteries.

Rechargeable Mg-ion Batteries (RMB) containing a Mg metal anode offer the promise of higher specific volumetric capacity, energy density, safety, and economic viability than lithium-ion battery technology, but their realization is challenging. The limited availability of suitable inorganic cathodes compatible with electrolytes relevant to Mg metal anode restricts the development of RMBs. Despite the promising capability of some oxides to reversibly intercalate Mg ions at high potential, its lack of stability in chloride-containing ethereal electrolytes, relevant to Mg metal anode hinders the realization of a full practical RMB.

Sonochemical treatment of packaging materials for prolonging fresh produce shelf life.

Packaging bags made of polyethylene (PE) were sonochemically coated with edible antibacterial nanoparticles of chitosan (CS). In this work, the nanoparticles (NPs) were deposited on the surface of PE packaging bags by applying sonication waves on an acetic solution of chitosan. The characterization of CS NPs and PE bags was conducted by physicochemical techniques.

Magnetite-Based Biosensors and Molecular Logic Gates: From Magnetite Synthesis to Application.

In the last few decades, point-of-care (POC) sensors have become increasingly important in the detection of various targets for the early diagnostics and treatment of diseases. Diverse nanomaterials are used as building blocks for the development of smart biosensors and magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) are among them. The intrinsic properties of MNPs, such as their large surface area, chemical stability, ease of functionalization, high saturation magnetization, and more, mean they have great potential for use in biosensors.

Enhanced UV Protection, Heavy Metal Detection, and Antibacterial Properties of Biomass-Derived Carbon Dots Coated on Protective Fabrics.

Carbon dots (CDs) were simply prepared from charcoal by hydrothermal processing at 180 °C for 15 h without any chemicals. The as-prepared CDs with an average diameter of 5 ± 6 nm exhibited a predominant absorption peak at 290 nm, corresponding to the n to π* transition of the oxygen functional groups (C═O) and the free amine functional groups (-NH). The resulting CDs were then incorporated into cotton and polyester by facile ultrasonication for 1 h.

Optoelectronics of Atomic Metal-Semiconductor Interfaces in Tin-Intercalated MoS.

Metal-semiconductor interfaces are ubiquitous in modern electronics. These quantum-confined interfaces allow for the formation of atomically thin polarizable metals and feature rich optical and optoelectronic phenomena, including plasmon-induced hot-electron transfer from metal to semiconductors. Here, we report on the metal-semiconductor interface formed during the intercalation of zero-valent atomic layers of tin (Sn) between layers of MoS, a van der Waals layered material.

CuO-Coated Antibacterial and Antiviral Car Air-Conditioning Filters.

The demand for improved indoor air quality, especially during the pandemic of Covid-19, has led to renewed interest in antiviral and antibacterial air-conditioning systems. Here, air filters of vehicles made of nonwoven polyester filter media were sonochemically coated with CuO nanoparticles by a roll-to-roll coating method. The product, aimed at providing commuters with high air quality, showed good stability and mechanical properties and potent activity against and bacteria, H1N1 influenza, and two SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Promising Electrocatalytic Water and Methanol Oxidation Reaction Activity by Nickel Doped Hematite/Surface Oxidized Carbon Nanotubes Composite Structures.

Tailoring the precise construction of non-precious metals and carbon-based heterogeneous catalysts for electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) is crucial for energy conversion applications. Herein, this work reports the composite of Ni doped Fe O (Ni-Fe O ) with mildly oxidized multi-walled CNT (O-CNT) as an outstanding Mott-Schottky catalyst for OER and MOR. O-CNT acts as a co-catalyst which effectively regulates the charge transfer in Ni-Fe O and thus enhances the electrocatalytic performance.

Rhenium Sulfide Incorporated in Molybdenum Sulfide Nanosheets for High-Performance Symmetric Supercapacitors with Enhanced Capacitance.

Supercapacitors are considered potential energy storage devices and have drawn significant attention due to their superior intrinsic advantages. Herein, we report the synthesis of ReS embedded in MoS nanosheets (RMS-31) by a hydrothermal technique. The prepared RMS-31 electrode material demonstrated superior pseudocapacitive behavior in 1 M KOH electrolyte solution, which is confirmed by the heterostructure of RMS-31 nanosheet architectures.

Magnetite Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Applications in Optics and Nanophotonics.

Magnetite nanoparticles with different surface coverages are of great interest for many applications due to their intrinsic magnetic properties, nanometer size, and definite surface morphology. Magnetite nanoparticles are widely used for different medical-biological applications while their usage in optics is not as widespread. In recent years, nanomagnetite suspensions, so-called magnetic ferrofluids, are applied in optics due to their magneto-optical properties.

Effects of a ZnCuO-Nanocoated Ti-6Al-4V Surface on Bacterial and Host Cells.

This study aims to investigate the effects of a novel ZnCuO nanoparticle coating for dental implants-versus those of conventional titanium surfaces-on bacteria and host cells. A multispecies biofilm composed of , , , and was grown for 14 days on various titanium discs: machined, sandblasted, sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA), ZnCuO-coated, and hydroxyapatite discs. Bacterial species were quantified with qPCR, and their viability was examined via confocal microscopy.

CVD-Assisted Synthesis of 2D Layered MoSe on Mo Foil and Low Frequency Raman Scattering of Its Exfoliated Few-Layer Nanosheets on CaF Substrates.

Transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are unique layered materials with exotic properties. So, examining their structures holds tremendous importance. 2H-MoSe (analogous to MoS; Gr.

Sonochemically engineered nano-enabled zinc oxide/amylase coatings prevent the occurrence of catheter-associated urinary tract infections.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), caused by biofilms, are the most frequent health-care associated infections. Novel antibiofilm coatings are needed to increase the urinary catheters' life-span, decrease the prevalence of CAUTIs and reduce the development of antimicrobial resistance. Herein, antibacterial zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were decorated with a biofilm matrix-degrading enzyme amylase (AM) and simultaneously deposited onto silicone urinary catheters in a one-step sonochemical process.

Interfacial Engineering of Na V (PO ) F Hollow Spheres through Atomic Layer Deposition of TiO : Boosting Capacity and Mitigating Structural Instability.

To mitigate the associated challenges of instability and capacity improvement in Na V (PO ) F  (NVPF), rationally designed uniformly distributed hollow spherical NVPF and coating the surface of NVPF with ultrathin (≈2 nm) amorphous TiO  by atomic layer deposition is demonstrated. The coating facilitates higher mobility of the ion through the cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) and enables higher capacity during cycling. The TiO @NVPF exhibit discharge capacity of >120 mAhg , even at 1C rates, and show lower irreversible capacity in the first cycle.

Laser Printing of Multilayered Alternately Conducting and Insulating Microstructures.

Production of multilayered microstructures composed of conducting and insulating materials is of great interest as they can be utilized as microelectronic components. Current proposed fabrication methods of these microstructures include top-down and bottom-up methods, each having their own set of drawbacks. Laser-based methods were shown to pattern various materials with micron/sub-micron resolution; however, multilayered structures demonstrating conducting/insulating/conducting properties were not yet realized.

Antibacterial and In Vivo Studies of a Green, One-Pot Preparation of Copper/Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle-Coated Bandages.

Simultaneous water and ethanol-based synthesis and coating of copper and zinc oxide (CuO/ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) on bandages was carried out by ultrasound irradiation. High resolution-transmission electron microscopy demonstrated the effects of the solvent on the particle size and shape of metal oxide NPs. An antibacterial activity study of metal-oxide-coated bandages was carried out against (Gram-positive) and (Gram-negative).

Novel Lignin-Capped Silver Nanoparticles against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria.

The emergence of bacteria resistant to antibiotics and the resulting infections are increasingly becoming a public health issue. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are responsible for infections leading to increased morbidity and mortality in hospitals, prolonged time of hospitalization, and additional burden to financial costs. Therefore, there is an urgent need for novel antibacterial agents that will both treat MDR infections and outsmart the bacterial evolutionary mechanisms, preventing further resistance development.

Higher Ultrasonic Frequency Liquid Phase Exfoliation Leads to Larger and Monolayer to Few-Layer Flakes of 2D Layered Materials.

Among the most reliable techniques for exfoliation of two-dimensional (2D) layered materials, sonication-assisted liquid-phase exfoliation (LPE) is considered as a cost-effective and straightforward method for preparing graphene and its 2D inorganic counterparts at reasonable sizes and acceptable levels of defects. Although there were rapid advances in this field, the effect and outcome of the sonication frequency are poorly understood and often ignored, resulting in a low exfoliation efficiency. Here, we demonstrate that simple mild bath sonication at a higher frequency and low power positively contributes to the thickness, size, and quality of the final exfoliated products.

Robust Room-Temperature NO Sensors from Exfoliated 2D Few-Layered CVD-Grown Bulk Tungsten Di-selenide (2H-WSe).

We report a facile and robust room-temperature NO sensor fabricated using bi- and multi-layered 2H variant of tungsten di-selenide (2H-WSe) nanosheets, exhibiting high sensing characteristics. A simple liquid-assisted exfoliation of 2H-WSe, prepared using ambient pressure chemical vapor deposition, allows smooth integration of these nanosheets on transducers. Three sensor batches are fabricated by modulating the total number of layers (L) obtained from the total number of droplets from a homogeneous 2H-WSe dispersion, such as ∼2L, ∼5-6L, and ∼13-17L, respectively.

In vitro skin toxicity of CuO and ZnO nanoparticles: Application in the safety assessment of antimicrobial coated textiles.

In the context of nosocomial infections, there is an urgent need to develop efficient nanomaterials (NMs) with antibacterial properties for the prevention of infection diseases. Metal oxide nanoparticles (MeO-NPs) are promising candidates for the development of new antibacterial textiles. However, the direct exposure to MeO-NPs and MeO-coated NMs through skin contact could constitute a severe hazard for human health.

Osteopontin regulates biomimetic calcium phosphate crystallization from disordered mineral layers covering apatite crystallites.

Details of apatite formation and development in bone below the nanometer scale remain enigmatic. Regulation of mineralization was shown to be governed by the activity of non-collagenous proteins with many bone diseases stemming from improper activity of these proteins. Apatite crystal growth inhibition or enhancement is thought to involve direct interaction of these proteins with exposed faces of apatite crystals.

Scalable Synthesis of Few-Layered 2D Tungsten Diselenide (2H-WSe) Nanosheets Directly Grown on Tungsten (W) Foil Using Ambient-Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition for Reversible Li-Ion Storage.

We report a facile two-furnace APCVD synthesis of 2H-WSe. A systematic study of the process parameters is performed to show the formation of the phase-pure material. Extensive characterization of the bulk and exfoliated material confirm that 2H-WSe is layered (i.

Bifunctional Carbon Dots-Magnetic and Fluorescent Hybrid Nanoparticles for Diagnostic Applications.

There is a huge demand for materials capable of simple detection or separation after conjugation with specific biologic substances when applied as a diagnostic tools. Taking into account the photoluminescence properties of C-dots and the highly magnetic properties of Fe(0), a new hybrid composite of these components was synthesized via ultrasound irradiation. The material was fully characterized by various physicochemical techniques.

Small molecule-decorated gold nanoparticles for preparing antibiofilm fabrics.

The increase in antibiotic resistance reported worldwide poses an immediate threat to human health and highlights the need to find novel approaches to inhibit bacterial growth. In this study, we present a series of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) capped by different N-heterocyclic molecules (N_Au NPs) which can serve as broad-spectrum antibacterial agents. Neither the Au NPs nor N-heterocyclic molecules were toxic to mammalian cells.