Highly Efficient F, Cu doped TiO2 anti-bacterial visible light active photocatalytic coatings to combat hospital-acquired infections.

Bacterial infections are a major threat to the health of patients in healthcare facilities including hospitals. One of the major causes of patient morbidity is infection with Staphylococcus aureus. One of the the most dominant nosocomial bacteria, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have been reported to survive on hospital surfaces (e.

Antibacterial properties of F-doped ZnO visible light photocatalyst.

Nanocrystalline ZnO photocatalysts were prepared by a sol-gel method and modified with fluorine to improve their photocatalytic anti-bacterial activity in visible light. Pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) were employed to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of synthesized materials. The interaction with biological systems was assessed by analysis of the antibacterial properties of bacteria suspended in 2% (w/w) powder solutions.

Influence of selenium supplementation on fatty acids profile and biological activity of four edible amaranth sprouts as new kind of functional food.

Suitability assessment of amaranth sprouts as a new functional food was carried out. The optimisation of sprouting process and the influence of selenium supplementation, in doses 10, 15, and 30 mg/l of selenium as sodium selenite, on amaranth growth and fatty acid profile were examined. Methods such as FRAP, DPPH, polyphenols content and GPX activity were applied to characterize antioxidant potential of seeds and sprouts of four different edible amaranth genera.

Biodegradable poly(ester urethane) urea scaffolds for tissue engineering: Interaction with osteoblast-like MG-63 cells.

Porous three-dimensional scaffolds with potential for application as cancellous bone graft substitutes were prepared from aliphatic segmented poly(ester urethane) urea using the phase-inverse technique. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance, size-exclusion chromatography, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, secondary ion mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, computed tomography and mechanical tests were carried out, to characterize the scaffolds' physicochemical properties. Human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells were seeded into the scaffolds for 1, 2, 3 and 4weeks to evaluate their potential to support attachment, growth and proliferation of osteogenic cells.