Microbial Colonization, Biofilm Formation, and Malodour of Washing Machine Surfaces and Fabrics and the Evolution of Detergents in Response to Consumer Demands and Environmental Concerns.

Bacterial attachment and biofilm formation are associated with the contamination and fouling at several locations in a washing machine, which is a particularly complex environment made from a range of metal, polymer, and rubber components. Microorganisms also adhere to different types of clothing fibres during the laundering process as well as a range of sweat, skin particles, and other components. This can result in fouling of both washing machine surfaces and clothes and the production of malodours.

Amine headgroups in ionizable lipids drive immune responses to lipid nanoparticles by binding to the receptors TLR4 and CD1d.

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are the most clinically advanced delivery vehicle for RNA therapeutics, partly because of established lipid structure-activity relationships focused on formulation potency. Yet such knowledge has not extended to LNP immunogenicity. Here we show that the innate and adaptive immune responses elicited by LNPs are linked to their ionizable lipid chemistry.

A translational framework to DELIVER nanomedicines to the clinic.

Nanomedicines have created a paradigm shift in healthcare. Yet fundamental barriers still exist that prevent or delay the clinical translation of nanomedicines. Critical hurdles inhibiting clinical success include poor understanding of nanomedicines' physicochemical properties, limited exposure in the cell or tissue of interest, poor reproducibility of preclinical outcomes in clinical trials, and biocompatibility concerns.

Branched-Tail Lipid Nanoparticles for Intravenous mRNA Delivery to Lung Immune, Endothelial, and Alveolar Cells in Mice.

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are proven safe and effective delivery systems on a global scale. However, their efficacy has been limited primarily to liver and immune cell targets. To extend the applicability of mRNA drugs, 580 ionizable lipidoids are synthesized and tested for delivery to extrahepatocellular targets.

Multidrug-Resistant Remains Susceptible to Metal Ions and Graphene-Based Compounds.

is listed as a priority 1 pathogen on the World Health Organization (WHO) priority pathogen list. For this list of pathogens, new antibiotics are urgently needed to control the emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant strains. This study assessed eighteen metal ions, graphene, and graphene oxide for their antimicrobial efficacy against in both planktonic and biofilm growth states and the potential synergy between metal ions and graphene-based compounds.

Lipid Nanoparticle-Associated Inflammation is Triggered by Sensing of Endosomal Damage: Engineering Endosomal Escape Without Side Effects.

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged as the dominant platform for RNA delivery, based on their success in the COVID-19 vaccines and late-stage clinical studies in other indications. However, we and others have shown that LNPs induce severe inflammation, and massively aggravate pre-existing inflammation. Here, using structure-function screening of lipids and analyses of signaling pathways, we elucidate the mechanisms of LNP-associated inflammation and demonstrate solutions.

The use of biomimetic surfaces to reduce single- and dual-species biofilms of and .

The ability of bacteria to adhere to and form biofilms on food contact surfaces poses serious challenges, as these may lead to the cross-contamination of food products. Biomimetic topographic surface modifications have been explored to enhance the antifouling performance of materials. In this study, the topography of two plant leaves, var.

Lipid nanoparticle structure and delivery route during pregnancy dictate mRNA potency, immunogenicity, and maternal and fetal outcomes.

Treating pregnancy-related disorders is exceptionally challenging because the threat of maternal and/or fetal toxicity discourages the use of existing medications and hinders new drug development. One potential solution is the use of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) RNA therapies, given their proven efficacy, tolerability, and lack of fetal accumulation. Here, we describe LNPs for efficacious mRNA delivery to maternal organs in pregnant mice via several routes of administration.

Characterization and comparison of human and mouse milk cells.

Recent data has characterized human milk cells with unprecedented detail and provided insight into cell populations. While such analysis of freshly expressed human milk has been possible, studies of cell functionality within the infant have been limited to animal models. One commonly used animal model for milk research is the mouse; however, limited data are available describing the composition of mouse milk.

Ten-Year Analysis of Bacterial Colonisation and Outcomes of Major Burn Patients with a Focus on .

A retrospective descriptive study included patients admitted with severe burns over the course of 10 years (2008-2018). Across all patients, there were 39 different species of bacteria, with 23 species being Gram-negative and 16 being Gram-positive bacteria, with also five different species of fungi cultured. was the most commonly isolated organism, with 57.

Non-Viral RNA Delivery During Pregnancy: Opportunities and Challenges.

During pregnancy, the risk of maternal and fetal adversities increases due to physiological changes, genetic predispositions, environmental factors, and infections. Unfortunately, treatment options are severely limited because many essential interventions are unsafe, inaccessible, or lacking in sufficient scientific data to support their use. One potential solution to this challenge may lie in emerging RNA therapeutics for gene therapy, protein replacement, maternal vaccination, fetal gene editing, and other prenatal treatment applications.

Effects of Cationic and Anionic Surfaces on the Perpendicular and Lateral Forces and Binding of Conidia.

The binding of conidia to surfaces is a prerequisite for biofouling by fungal species. In this study, subtypes 1957 and 1988 were used which produced differently shaped conidia (round or spikey respectively). Test surfaces were characterised for their surface topography, wettability, and hardness.

Antibiofilm Effect of Nitric Acid-Functionalized Carbon Nanotube-Based Surfaces against and .

Chemically modified carbon nanotubes are recognized as effective materials for tackling bacterial infections. In this study, pristine multi-walled carbon nanotubes (p-MWCNTs) were functionalized with nitric acid (f-MWCNTs), followed by thermal treatment at 600 °C, and incorporated into a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) matrix. The materials' textural properties were evaluated, and the roughness and morphology of MWCNT/PDMS composites were assessed using optical profilometry and scanning electron microscopy, respectively.

The mixing method used to formulate lipid nanoparticles affects mRNA delivery efficacy and organ tropism.

mRNA is a versatile drug molecule with therapeutic applications ranging from protein replacement therapies to in vivo gene engineering. mRNA delivery is often accomplished using lipid nanoparticles, which are formulated via mixing of aqueous and organic solutions. Although this has historically been accomplished by manual mixing for bench scale science, microfluidic mixing is required for scalable continuous manufacturing and batch to batch control.

Spray dried lipid nanoparticle formulations enable intratracheal delivery of mRNA.

RNA therapies have recently taken a giant leap forward with the approval of Onpattro™, a siRNA therapy delivered using a lipid nanoparticle (LNP), and the LNP-enabled mRNA vaccines against COVID-19, which are the first mRNA drugs to reach the marketplace. The latter medicines have illustrated that stability is a significant challenge in the distribution of RNA drugs using non-viral delivery systems, particularly in areas without cold chain storage. Here, we describe a proof-of-concept study on the engineering of an LNP mRNA formulation suitable for spray drying.

Placental drug transport and fetal exposure during pregnancy is determined by drug molecular size, chemistry, and conformation.

Pregnant people are unable to take many prescription and over-the-counter medications because of suspected or known risk to the fetus. This undermedication contributes to the high maternal mortality rate in the United States and detracts from the quality of life of pregnant people. As such, there is an urgent need to develop safe pharmaceutical formulations for use during pregnancy.

Analysis of Cellular Damage Resulting from Exposure of Bacteria to Graphene Oxide and Hybrids Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy.

With the increase in antimicrobial resistance, there is an urgent need to find new antimicrobials. Four particulate antimicrobial compounds, graphite (G), graphene oxide (GO), silver-graphene oxide (Ag-GO) and zinc oxide-graphene oxide (ZnO-GO) were tested against , , and . The antimicrobial effects on the cellular ultrastructure were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and selected FTIR spectral metrics correlated with cell damage and death arising from exposure to the GO hybrids.

Factor XII Silencing Using siRNA Prevents Thrombus Formation in a Rat Model of Extracorporeal Life Support.

Heparin anticoagulation increases the bleeding risk during extracorporeal life support (ECLS). This study determined whether factor XII (FXII) silencing using short interfering RNA (siRNA) can provide ECLS circuit anticoagulation without bleeding. Adult male, Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to four groups (n = 3 each) based on anticoagulant: (1) no anticoagulant, (2) heparin, (3) FXII siRNA, or (4) nontargeting siRNA.

Ionizable lipid nanoparticles deliver mRNA to pancreatic β cells via macrophage-mediated gene transfer.

Systemic messenger RNA (mRNA) delivery to organs outside the liver, spleen, and lungs remains challenging. To overcome this issue, we hypothesized that altering nanoparticle chemistry and administration routes may enable mRNA-induced protein expression outside of the reticuloendothelial system. Here, we describe a strategy for delivering mRNA potently and specifically to the pancreas using lipid nanoparticles.

The Voltammetric Detection of Cadaverine Using a Diamine Oxidase and Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Functionalised Electrochemical Biosensor.

Cadaverine is a biomolecule of major healthcare importance in periodontal disease; however, current detection methods remain inefficient. The development of an enzyme biosensor for the detection of cadaverine may provide a cheap, rapid, point-of-care alternative to traditional measurement techniques. This work developed a screen-printed biosensor (SPE) with a diamine oxidase (DAO) and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) functionalised electrode which enabled the detection of cadaverine via cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry.

Enzymatic modification and adsorption of hydrophobic zein proteins on lactic acid bacteria stabilize Pickering emulsions.

The effect of enzymatic and physical modifications of the surface of two different strains from lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG) and Lactobacillus delbruekii subs. lactis ATCC 4797 (LBD), to stabilize medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil based Pickering emulsions were investigated. A section of cell wall degrading enzymes, lysozyme from chicken egg white and human, lysostaphin, mutanolysin from Streptomyces globisporus and proteinase k and the hydrophobic protein zein were used for enzymatic and physical surface modifications.

The Effect of Infant Gastric Digestion on Human Maternal Milk Cells.

Scope: Human breast milk contains a variety of cell types that have potential roles in infant immunity and development. One challenge associates with defining the purpose(s) of milk cells in the infant is a poor understanding of the effect of digestion on cell fate.

Methods And Results: This study first demonstrates that milk cell death occurs after gastric digestion in mice.

The strawberry-derived permeation enhancer pelargonidin enables oral protein delivery.

Although patients generally prefer oral drug delivery to injections, low permeability of the gastrointestinal tract makes this method impossible for most biomacromolecules. One potential solution is codelivery of macromolecules, including therapeutic proteins or nucleic acids, with intestinal permeation enhancers; however, enhancer use has been limited clinically by modest efficacy and toxicity concerns surrounding long-term administration. Here, we hypothesized that plant-based foods, which are well tolerated by the gastrointestinal tract, may contain compounds that enable oral macromolecular absorption without causing adverse effects.

Lateral force removal of fungal spores to demonstrate how surface properties affect fungal spore retention.

Microbial biofouling on polymer surfaces can lead to their biodeterioration. This may result in deterioration of the surface, leading to cracking and fracturing. Fungal spores from 1957, 1988 and were tested to determine their strength of attachment on three surfaces, p(γ-MPS-co-MMA), p(γ-MPS-co-LMA) and spin-coated poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMAsc), using lateral force measurements.