Zeta potential characterization using commercial microfluidic chips.

Surface charge is a critical feature of microbes that affects their interactions with other cells and their environment. Because bacterial surface charge is difficult to measure directly, it is typically indirectly inferred through zeta potential measurements. Existing tools to perform such characterization are either costly and ill-suited for non-spherical samples or rely on microfluidic techniques requiring expensive fabrication equipment or specialized facilities.

Antimicrobial peptides and their potential application in antiviral coating agents.

Coronavirus pandemic has evidenced the importance of creating bioactive materials to mitigate viral infections, especially in healthcare settings and public places. Advances in antiviral coatings have led to materials with impressive antiviral performance; however, their application may face health and environmental challenges. Bio-inspired antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are suitable building blocks for antimicrobial coatings due to their versatile design, scalability, and environmentally friendly features.