ANTIMICROBIAL WOUND DRESSINGS FOR FULL-THICKNESS INFECTED BURN WOUNDS.

Infection of wounds delays healing, increases treatment costs, and leads to major complications. Current methods to manage such infections include antibiotic ointments and antimicrobial wound dressings, both of which have significant drawbacks, including frequent reapplication and contribution to antimicrobial resistance. In this work, we developed wound dressings fabricated with a medical-grade polyurethane coating composed of natural plant secondary metabolites, cinnamaldehyde, and alpha-terpineol.

Bioinspired Zwitterionic Nanowires with Simultaneous Biofouling Reduction and Release.

Marine biofouling is a complex and dynamic process that significantly increases the carbon emissions from the maritime industry by increasing drag losses. However, there are no existing non-toxic marine paints that can achieve both effective fouling reduction and efficient fouling release. Inspired by antifouling strategies in nature, herein, a superoleophobic zwitterionic nanowire coating with a nanostructured hydration layer is introduced, which exhibits simultaneous fouling reduction and release performance.

Co-Delivery Polymeric Poly(Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid) (PLGA) Nanoparticles to Target Cancer Stem-Like Cells.

Nanoparticle drug delivery has been promoted as an effective mode of delivering antineoplastic therapeutics. However, most nanoparticle designs fail to consider the multifaceted tumor microenvironment (TME) that produce pro-tumoral niches, which are often resistant to chemo- and targeted therapies. In order to target the chemoresistant cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) and their supportive TME, in this chapter we describe a nanoparticle-based targeted co-delivery that addresses the paracrine interactions between CSC and non-cancerous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the TME.

Surfaces with instant and persistent antimicrobial efficacy against bacteria and SARS-CoV-2.

Surfaces contaminated with bacteria and viruses contribute to the transmission of infectious diseases and pose a significant threat to global public health. Modern day disinfection either relies on fast-acting (>3-log reduction within a few minutes), yet impermanent, liquid-, vapor-, or radiation-based disinfection techniques, or long-lasting, but slower-acting, passive antimicrobial surfaces based on heavy metal surfaces, or metallic nanoparticles. There is currently no surface that provides instant and persistent antimicrobial efficacy against a broad spectrum of bacteria and viruses.

Durable Liquid- and Solid-Repellent Elastomeric Coatings Infused with Partially Crosslinked Lubricants.

Surfaces that are resistant to both liquid fouling and solid fouling are critical for many industrial and biomedical applications. However, surfaces developed to address these challenges thus far have been generally susceptible to mechanical damage. Herein, we report the design and fabrication of robust solid- and liquid-repellent elastomeric coatings that incorporate partially crosslinked lubricating chains within a durable polymer matrix.