Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Simona Liliana Iconaru, Mihai Valentin Predoi, Patrick Chapon, Sofia Gaiaschi, Krzysztof Rokosz, Steinar Raaen, Mikael Motelica-Heino, Daniela Predoi
Summary: In this study, cerium-doped hydroxyapatite (10Ce-HAp) coatings were successfully obtained using the spin coating method for the first time. The coatings showed uniformity, high strength, and strong antifungal properties, effectively inhibiting the adherence and growth of fungal cells.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Adam Kerek, Matyas Sasvari, Akos Jerzsele, Zoltan Somogyi, Laszlo Janovak, Zsolt Abonyi-Toth, Imre Dekany
Summary: This study demonstrates the significant antibacterial effect of a polymer-based composite layer containing titanium dioxide and zinc oxide against animal-origin Escherichia coli. The efficacy of the coating was not affected by different light intensities and distances. However, the presence of organic contaminants reduced the antibacterial potential of the coating.
Review
Automation & Control Systems
Valantine Takwa Lukong, Kingsley Ukoba, Tien-Chien Jen
Summary: This paper reviews the deposition of self-cleaning TiO2 thin films using the spin coater. Solar panels, as the most common renewable energy devices, are prone to contamination, which affects their efficiency. The self-cleaning technology is a promising solution. The paper introduces the working principle and precautions of the spin coater, as well as the steps and influencing factors in the spin-coating process for self-cleaning TiO2 thin films. It also summarizes the existing self-cleaning materials and recent research on process improvements.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Patcharaporn Phuinthiang, Dang Trung Tri Trinh, Duangdao Channei, Khakhanang Ratananikom, Sirikasem Sirilak, Wilawan Khanitchaidecha, Auppatham Nakaruk
Summary: This study presents a novel method for depositing antibacterial TiO2 thin films on polymer substrates at room temperature, showing high efficiency in killing bacteria. The thin film consists of titanium, oxygen, and carbon, with an optical band gap of 3.35 eV. The photodegradation of bacteria under UV-A radiation was highly effective, leading to >97% bacterial death within 60 minutes of irradiation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuhao Chen, Meng Du, Zhen Yuan, Zhiyi Chen, Fei Yan
Summary: The authors designed an ultrasound-responsive bacterium to release the immune regulatory molecule IFN-γ at the tumor site, promoting anti-tumor immune responses. This approach solves the challenge of controlling gene expression in the tumor site and provides a new strategy for bacteria-mediated tumor immunotherapy.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Dalanda Hamdi, Lobna Mansouri, Varsha Srivastava, Mika Sillanpaa, Latifa Bousselmi
Summary: The addition of Eu to TiO2 photocatalysts showed the best enhancement in photoactivity performance for the removal of AB dye compared to Ce-TiO2 and pure TiO2 films. The optimal concentration for better electron/hole separation was found to be 1 wt% Ce or 0.1 wt% Eu doping in TiO2. EIS measurements demonstrated that Ce-TiO2(1 wt%) and Eu-TiO2(0.1 wt%) photocatalysts had lower electron transfer resistance than pure TiO2, leading to more effective separation of electron/hole pairs during photodegradation reactions.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Antudrika Sheryna Saepurahman, Antudrika Sheryna Mandala, Muhammad Eka Prastya, Keiichi N. Ishihara, Mohd Azmuddin Abdullah
Summary: This study aims to improve the performance of a UV-C disinfection unit by embedding supported photocatalysts in the system. The results show that the spray-coated composite material efficiently removes methylene blue within 30 minutes. The composite material containing both low and high tungsten loadings shows the most promising results in a commercial UV-C flow reactor. This study also demonstrates that embedding photocatalytic fiber can decolorize dyes while maintaining the disinfection effect on Escherichia coli.
WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yuliia Shlapa, Katarina Siposova, Katerina Veltruska, Valentin-Adrian Maraloiu, Ivana Garcarova, Michal Rajnak, Andrey Musatov, Anatolii Belous
Summary: This study reports the synthesis of core/shell nanocomposites based on magnetic magnetite and redox-active cerium dioxide nanoparticles. The nanocomposites demonstrate good stability in aqueous suspensions and retain the ability to heat efficiently in an alternating magnetic field. In addition, the nanocomposites exhibit excellent antioxidant and antiamyloidogenic activities, which make them promising for biomedical applications.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Valentina Nigro, Elena Buratti, Francesca Limosani, Roberta Angelini, Franco Dinelli, Silvia Franco, Enrico Nichelatti, Massimo Piccinini, Maria Aurora Vincenti, Rosa Maria Montereali, Barbara Ruzicka
Summary: In recent decades, smart surfaces and surface coatings have become a subject of increasing interest. Microgel thin films, particularly those assembled from Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) microgels, offer excellent control over morphology, elasticity, and hydrophobicity due to the high tunability of microgel properties. These systems have been widely studied in both theoretical and experimental research, and have shown potential for various nanotechnological applications.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
D. Mamedov, A. C. Asland, S. P. Cooil, H. I. Rost, J. Bakkelund, A. Allaniyazov, J. W. Wells, S. Karazhanov
Summary: To ensure the long-term efficiency of hydrophobic materials in real-world conditions, it is crucial for their surfaces to resist scratching, fouling, and misting. Additionally, for specific applications like photovoltaic systems, the water-repelling material must have a wide bandage to avoid absorbing light used by the photovoltaic cell. Cerium dioxide (CeO2) is a promising candidate for such applications. In this study, we propose a production framework for manufacturing tunable wetting behavior in CeO2-based thin films. By depositing ceria on substrates with varying roughness and treating the films with different hydrocarbons, we found that surface texturization, film morphology, and adsorbed organic molecules all influence the hydrophobicity. Comparison of water contact angles between ceria and silicon oxide SiOx confirms the importance of the surface material. It is demonstrated that by controlling various parameters, one can achieve a superhydrophobic state of the surface.
MATERIALS TODAY COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Afida Jemat, Masfueh Razali, Yuichi Otsuka, Mariyam Jameelah Ghazali
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of different surface porosity and roughness of titanium alloy coatings on cellular attachment, as well as the effects of different types of TiO2-coated YZP on cellular migration and attachment. The results showed that the YZP/TiO2 surface coating exhibited excellent adhesion with fibroblast cells and TiO2 reinforcement promoted rapid cell growth and reproduction.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Narges Anvar, Leila Nateghi, Nabi Shariatifar, Seyed Abdolmajid Mousavi
Summary: This study evaluated the effect of gallic acid and essential oil from Anethum graveolens L. seed on minced meat. The results showed that treatment with nanoliposomes had a better antimicrobial effect, and nanocapsulated essential oil and gallic acid could increase the shelf life of minced meat.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
K. Albaidani, A. Timoumi, W. Belhadj, S. N. Alamri, Saleh A. Ahmed
Summary: Sol-gel spin coating was used to deposit Cu-doped TiO2 composites, and the characteristics of the samples were evaluated. The addition of Cu resulted in a decrease in particle size, lattice expansion, formation of Ti-O-Ti bonds, an increase in bandgap, and the formation of nanoparticles.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Pei-Ru Chen, Peng-Fei Xia
Summary: Carbon dioxide plays a crucial role in mitigating global climate change and supporting life on Earth. Synthetic biology and metabolic engineering offer a promising approach to enhance CO2 fixation by combining the advantages of autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms. This article reviews the current progress in constructing synthetic CO2 fixation pathways, discusses the underlying design principles and challenges, and provides insights into the future of carbon recycling through engineered synthetic carbon fixation pathways.
CURRENT OPINION IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Akshana Parameswaran Sreekala, Bindu Krishnan, Rene Fabian Cienfuegos Pelaes, David Avellaneda Avellaneda, Maria Isabel Mendivil Palma, Sadasivan Shaji
Summary: SnS nanoparticle colloids were obtained using pulsed laser ablation in liquid, and thin films were fabricated via spin-coating and annealing. The nanoparticles exhibited higher energy bandgap values compared to the thin films, but the films showed broader wavelength response in photodetection.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Melania Onea, Mihaela Bacalum, Andreea Luminita Radulescu, Mina Raileanu, Liviu Craciun, Tiberiu Relu Esanu, Teodor Adrian Enache
Summary: The interaction between radiation and matter involves energy transfer through ionized atoms or molecules. The effect of radiation on biological systems includes various physical, chemical, and biological processes. Direct effects result in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) both within and outside the cells, leading to oxidative stress. Indirect effects refer to the alteration of normal biological processes and cellular components induced by the ROS generated by radiation. This study used an electrochemical three-electrodes system to analyze the effects of proton beam radiation on melanoma B16 cell line. The cells were grown on the system's surface and irradiated to investigate the impact of proton radiation. The effect of proton beam irradiation on the cells was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry and measuring the open circuit potential between the working and reference electrodes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Cristina Busuioc, Andrada-Elena Alecu, Claudiu-Constantin Costea, Mihaela Beregoi, Mihaela Bacalum, Mina Raileanu, Sorin-Ion Jinga, Iuliana-Mihaela Deleanu
Summary: This study reports the synthesis and characterization of polycaprolactone fibers loaded with particulate calcium magnesium silicates, which form composite materials with bioresorbable and bioactive properties. The fibrous composites were fabricated by electrospinning and showed a significant reduction in fiber diameter after the loading stage. The silicate phases exhibited high bioactivity and enriched the potential of the polymeric host, providing both biocompatibility and bioresorbability.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
George Necula, Mihaela Bacalum, Mihai Radu
Summary: Using molecular dynamics simulations, the interaction between a short antimicrobial peptide (AMP) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from two models of E. coli outer membrane (OM) was investigated. The results showed that AMP insertion in the LPS layer was facilitated by the gap created by OmpF, forming hydrogen bonds with the inner core oligosaccharides. OM proteins, such as OmpF, may play a crucial role in the permeation of short AMPs across the OM by exposing the LPS binding site or facilitating direct translocation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gabriela Isopencu, Iuliana Deleanu, Cristina Busuioc, Ovidiu Oprea, Vasile-Adrian Surdu, Mihaela Bacalum, Roberta Stoica, Anicuta Stoica-Guzun
Summary: Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a biopolymer studied intensively for biomedical applications. However, it lacks antimicrobial activity and has limited water retention capacity. To address these limitations, BC composites with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and turmeric extract (TE) were developed using citric acid (CA) as the crosslinking agent. These composites showed high swelling degrees, adsorbing exudate from chronic wounds, and exhibited potential antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. The composites were also found to be non-toxic to fibroblast cells, making them promising candidates for wound dressing applications.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cristina Busuioc, Gabriela Olimpia Isopencu, Iuliana-Mihaela Deleanu
Summary: The developed composite membranes showed potential as sustainable drug delivery systems (transdermal patches). Mathematical modeling was used to assess the drug release phenomena and make valuable predictions. The composites, based on biocompatible and biodegradable materials, were characterized in terms of drug diffusivity and mass transfer factors. The study found that bacterial cellulose nanofibrils played a key role in achieving suitable drug release profiles. The sustained release of the antibiotic was obtained for several days using the multilayer composites.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mina Raileanu, Raluca Borlan, Andreea Campu, Lorant Janosi, Ioan Turcu, Monica Focsan, Mihaela Bacalum
Summary: In recent years, the treatment of skin infections and chronic wounds has become challenging due to the unprecedented rise of bacterial antibiotic resistance and lack of adequate therapies. In this review, the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is discussed as a potential new treatment strategy. The appropriate selection of AMPs based on their characteristics and physicochemical properties is emphasized to maximize their antibacterial efficacy against multi-drug resistant pathogens. Clinical trials investigating the efficacy of AMPs in skin and soft tissue infections are comprehensively assessed, and two strategies using AMPs to overcome antibiotic resistance are presented.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Petronela L. Matei, Iuliana Deleanu, Ana M. Brezoiu, Nicoleta A. Chira, Cristina Busuioc, Gabriela Isopencu, Mihaela Ciltea-Udrescu, Elvira Alexandrescu, Anicuta Stoica-Guzun
Summary: Ultrasound-assisted extraction was used to extract oil from blackberry seeds. The effects of extraction conditions on oil recovery and quality were studied. Response surface methodology and Box-Behnken design were employed to determine the optimal conditions, resulting in an extraction efficiency of 87 +/- 0.34%. Compared to Soxhlet extraction, UAE preserved the oil composition and increased the antioxidant values in blackberry seed oil.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cristiana Plocon, Alexandru Evanghelidis, Monica Enculescu, Gabriela Isopencu, Ovidiu Oprea, Mihaela Bacalum, Mina Raileanu, Sorin Jinga, Cristina Busuioc
Summary: This study focuses on the fabrication and characterization of composite scaffolds based on polycaprolactone (PCL) and cerium (Ce)-containing powders. The composite scaffolds showed good biological activity and antibacterial effect. The scaffolds were composed of either dimensionally homogeneous fibers or mixtures of fibers with a wide size distribution and beads of different shapes. The immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) triggered the degradation of PCL, mainly through cracks and gaps. The composite scaffolds exhibited excellent biocompatibility, with the samples consisting of PCL and Ce-doped calcium phosphates showing superior performance.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Adina-Nicoleta Trandas, Andreea Trifan, Andreea-Denisa Ungureanu, Andreea Dusciuc, Monica Opris, Oana-Cristina Milea, Adela Banciu, Izabela Constantinoiu, Cristina Busuioc, Gabriela-Olimpia Isopencu
Summary: This research aims to produce sol-gel-derived quaternary bioactive glass thin films co-doped with europium and silver using pulsed laser deposition and spin coating techniques. Various methods were employed to assess the thermal, compositional, structural, and morphological characteristics of the samples, as well as their biological response.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
N. M. Florea, C. R. Nita, C. Sotty, R. M. Marginean, M. Bacalum, M. Enculescu, N. Marginean, E. Matei, P. Mereuta, C. Mihai, S. Vasilca
Summary: This study presents a new method of producing and characterizing enriched isotopic selenium-82 (82Se) thin films with trigonal hexagonal crystal structure (t-82Se), which is the most thermodynamically stable form of the element. The obtained t-82Se thin films were used as targets in accelerator-based nuclear structure experiments. The microstructure, morphology, and composition of the 82Se films were evaluated using various techniques, and an in-beam γ-spectroscopy experiment confirmed the high durability and purity of the thermally treated t-82Se films.
Review
Plant Sciences
Gabriela Olimpia Isopencu, Cristina-Ileana Covaliu-Mierla, Iuliana-Mihaela Deleanu
Summary: Transdermal delivery devices and wound dressing materials are continuously improved to enhance their beneficial effects. Researchers are increasingly interested in using natural compounds from plants as constituents for these systems. Plant-based primary compounds, contained in gums and mucilages, are now being explored as valuable and cost-effective components in the biomedical field. Additionally, secondary metabolites are intensively investigated for their pharmacological and toxicological effects.
