Antibacterial Activity of Light-Activated Silicone Containing Methylene Blue and Gold Nanoparticles of Different Sizes

Methylene Blue and methylene blue-gold nanoparticle mixtures were encapsulated in a silicone polymer using a swell-encapsulation-shrink technique. The antibacterial properties of the materials, when tested against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis, and exposed to laser light (660 nm), were significantly affected by both the presence and size of Au nanoparticles. Bacterial inactivation data were analysed using the Weibull inactivation model. For both E. coli and S. epidermidis the value of the parameter, indicating the time required to achieve the first log₁₀ reduction in the viable count, decreased when Au nanoparticles of ca 2 nm diameter were present. Larger Au nanoparticles (diameters of 5 and 20 nm) in combination with methylene blue were also embedded in silicone. The values of these materials increased with nanoparticle diameter, indicating a reduction in antibacterial activity. In all cases E. coli had higher values than S. epidermidis.     

Photodynamic Action of Methylene Blue on the Paramecium Membrane

An electrophysiological study of photodynamic action on the Paramecium membrane was carried out. In the presence of methylene blue (MB), light-spot stimulation of an anterior and a posterior part induced a depolarization and a hyperpolarization of the membrane, respectively. Under voltage-clamping, the anterior stimulation induced an inward current, while the posterior stimulation induced an outward current. The amplitudes of these currents were dependent on the membrane potential. When K⁺ channels were blocked with Cs⁺ and tetraethylammonium (TEA⁺), the posterior outward current was inhibited, while the anterior inward current was not inhibited. Intracellular application of the Ca²⁺ chelator, 1,2 -bis (2-aminophenoxy) ethane- N,N,N',N' -tetraacetic acid (BAPTA) also inhibited the posterior outward current, but the anterior inward current was unaffected. These results suggest that photodynamic action on the Paramecium membrane primarily opens the Ca²⁺ channels and the following influx of Ca²⁺ activates the Ca²⁺-dependent K⁺ channels localized mainly on the posterior part of the membrane.     

Photodynamic Inactivation of Conidia of the Fungi Metarhizium anisopliae and Aspergillus nidulans with Methylene Blue and Toluidine Blue

Antimicrobial photodynamic treatment (PDT) is a promising method that can be used to control localized mycoses or kill fungi in the environment. A major objective of the current study was to compare the conidial photosensitization of two fungal species (Metarhizium anisopliae and Aspergillus nidulans) with methylene blue (MB) and toluidine blue (TBO) under different incubation and light conditions. Parameters examined were media, photosensitizer (PS) concentration and light source. PDT with MB and TBO resulted in an incomplete inactivation of the conidia of both fungal species. Conidial inactivation reached up to 99.7%, but none of the treatments was sufficient to achieve a 100% fungicidal effect using either MB or TBO. PDT delayed the germination of the surviving conidia. Washing the conidia to remove unbound PS before light exposure drastically reduced the photosensitization of A. nidulans. The reduction was much smaller in M. anisopliae conidia, indicating that the conidia of the two species interact differently with MB and TBO. Conidia of green and yellow M. anisopliae mutants were less affected by PDT than mutants with white and violet conidia. In contrast to what occurred in PBS, photosensitization of M. anisopliae and A. nidulans conidia was not observed when PDT was performed in potato dextrose media.     

Photoinduced Electron Transfer in Dry Gelatin Containing Bound Methylene Blue

Excited states of methylene blue bound to dry gelatin undergo electron-transfer quenching reactions with neighboring amino acid residues to give reduced, methylene blue-free radicals. At the low loadings of methylene blue bound to gelatin used in this work, the absorption spectra indicated that the methylene blue existed principally in its monomeric form. The rates of methylene blue fluorescence quenching depended on the temperature at which the gelatin was dried. There was no detectable fluorescence characteristic of the localized excited singlet state of methylene blue when the dye is bound to gelatin dried at 15°C, where a significant proportion of the protein exists in its a -helical form. Instead, weak emission with a maximum at 645 nm is observed. It is inferred from this that the rate of quenching of any localized excited singlet states of the dye bound to a -helical gelatin is very fast thereby competing efficiently with radiative relaxation. The weak emission at 645 nm is ascribed to a fluorescent exciplex formed between bound methylene blue and a neighboring electron/proton donor residue of the gelatin. While fluorescence characteristic of the localized methylene blue singlet state was observed from dyed gelatin dried at 50°C, i.e. in its random coil form, the triplet state is subject to rapid quenching by electron/proton transfer with protein moieties.     

Effect of Glucose on Photodynamic Action of Methylene Blue in Escherichia coli Cells

The results of this work show that the resistance of Escherichia coli cells to the photodynamic action of methylene blue is increased by the addition of glucose to the media in which they are grown. It is postulated that the increased resistance may be due to lowered retention of the dye by cells grown in the presence of glucose, leading to the diminution in DNA damage revealed in the alkaline sucrose gradients. The role of cyclic adenosine-monophosphate in the protective action of glucose is discussed.     

Variation in Photodynamic Efficacy during the Cellular Uptake of Two Phthalocyanine Photosensitizers

A decrease in the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with phthalocyanine photosensitizers was observed for lymphoblastic murine and human cell lines as the time between the addition of the photosensitizer, aluminum phthalocyanine (AlPc), to the culture medium and exposure to light was increased from 4 h to 18 h. The total intracellular concentration of photosensitizer did not decrease significantly during this 18 h interval. For the murine cell lines, the maximum cytotoxic and mutagenic effects were observed when the time between addition of the photosensitizer and irradiation was between 1 and 4 h. The time course of the variations in efficacy did not vary greatly from one murine cell line to another, even though the cell lines differ markedly in the extent of their cytotoxic and mutagenic response. The time course of the variation was similar for cytotoxicity and mutagenicity, as well as for the induction of DNA fragmentation. The human lymphoblastic cell line, WTK1, showed less variation in survival and mutability with time than did the murine cell lines. With Pc 4 (HOSiPcOSi[CH3]2[CH2]3N[CH3]2) as the photosensitizer, the photocytotoxicity for murine L5178Y (LY)-Sl cells did not change significantly as the time between addition of Pc 4 and irradiation was increased from 2 to 18 h. However, the mutagenicity decreased by a factor of three during this interval. The mutagenicity of PDT with Pc 4 was much less in LY-Sl cells than that with AlPc. The results suggest that the variation in the efficacy observed for AIPc-induced photocytotoxicity is caused by changes in the intracellular distribution and/or the aggregation of the photosensitizer with time after its addition.     

The Photodynamic Action of Methylene Blue on the Ion Channels of Paramecium Causes Cell Damage

Abstract— The photodynamic effects of methylene blue (MB) on wild-type and mutant strains of Paramecium Were studied. From measurements of survival and cell motility under the continuous application of light in the presence of MB, the mutant strains remained alive for about three times longer than the wild-type strain. Although the resting potential of the mutant cells was similar to that of wild-type cells, the continuous photodynamic action shifted the membrane potentials of the mutant and wild-type cells to a depolarized level and a hyperpolarized level, respectively, from that before light application. Under voltage clamping, the mutant cells reduced not only the outward current elicited by the photodynamic action but also the outward tail current elicited by the preceding pulse of hyperpolarization. We conclude that the mutant strain is defective in the activation of Ca²+-dependent K+channels. This defect might cause a reduction in the Ca²+influx because of the suppression of the membrane hyperpolarization, which results in the elongation of survival time under the photodynamic action.     

Design of Photosensitizing Agents for Targeted Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic inactivation of microorganisms has gained substantial attention due to its unique mode of action, in which pathogens are unable to generate resistance, and due to the fact that it can be applied in a minimally invasive manner. In photodynamic therapy (PDT), a non-toxic photosensitizer (PS) is activated by a specific wavelength of light and generates highly cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide (O²⁻, type-I mechanism) or singlet oxygen (¹O₂*, type-II mechanism). Although it offers many advantages over conventional treatment methods, ROS-mediated microbial killing is often faced with the issues of accessibility, poor selectivity and off-target damage. Thus, several strategies have been employed to develop target-specific antimicrobial PDT (aPDT). This includes conjugation of known PS building-blocks to either non-specific cationic moieties or target-specific antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides, or combining them with targeting nanomaterials. In this review, we summarise these general strategies and related challenges, and highlight recent developments in targeted aPDT.     

基于光波导分光光谱技术研究蛋白质与亚甲基蓝的竞争吸附行为

通过利用时间分辨光波导分光光谱技术原位测量从蛋白质-亚甲基蓝(MB)混合水溶液吸附到亲水玻璃光波导表面的MB可见光吸收谱,观测到在溶液pH值低于蛋白质等电点时MB与牛血清蛋白(BSA)以及MB与血红蛋白(Hb)存在竞争吸附行为,进一步测得这种竞争吸附行为对蛋白质浓度十分敏感,可以用于简单测定溶液中的蛋白质含量.基于Langmuir等温吸附理论推导出了两种分子竞争吸附的动力学方程,并利用该动力学方程对实验测得的吸光度随时间变化曲线进行了最佳拟合,揭示了玻璃表面吸附的MB分子个数在达到最大值后随时间呈指数衰减,同时得出拟合参数与蛋白质浓度呈准线性关系.     

Polymer Dots with Delayed Fluorescence and Tunable Cellular Uptake for Photodynamic Therapy and Time-Gated Imaging

By combining bioimaging and photodynamic therapy (PDT), it is possible to treat cancer through a theranostic approach with targeted action for minimum invasiveness and side effects. Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) probes have gained recent interest in theranostics due to their ability to generate singlet oxygen (¹O₂) while providing delayed emission that can be used in time-gated imaging. However, it is still challenging to design systems that simultaneously show (1) high contrast for imaging, (2) low dark toxicity but high phototoxicity and (3) tunable biological uptake. Here, we circumvent shortcomings of TADF systems by designing block copolymers and their corresponding semiconducting polymer dots (Pdots) that encapsulate a TADF dye in the core and expose an additional boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) oxygen sensitizer in the corona. This architecture provides orange-red luminescent particles (Φ_PL up to 18 %) that can efficiently promote PDT (¹O₂ QY=42 %) of HeLa cells with very low photosensitizer loading (IC₅₀ ~0.05–0.13 μg/mL after 30 min). Additionally, we design Pdots with tunable cellular uptake but similar PDT efficiencies using either polyethylene glycol or guanidinium-based coronas. Finally, we demonstrate that these Pdots can be used for time-gated imaging to effectively filter out background fluorescence from biological samples and improve image contrast.     

Methylene Blue/Carbon Dots Composite with Photothermal and Photodynamic Properties: Synthesis,Characterization, and Antibacterial Application

Photodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy provide new ways to combat antibiotic resistance. In this research, methylene blue (MB) as an effective photosensitizer was conjugated with carbon quantum dots (CQDs), the composite product not only possessed good antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) due to excellent singlet oxygen (¹O₂) production rate and light heat transfer performance, but also showed good biocompatibility. Combined with 808 nm and 660 nm laser irradiation, the minimum bactericidal concentration of CQDs-MB towards S. aureus and E. coli was 5 μm . Therefore, this study provides a potential candidate material based on CQDs for clinical applications.     

Adsorption of Methylene Blue on Montmorillonite

ABSTRACT

Adsorption of Methylene Blue ( MB) on Na-, Fe- and Al-montmorillonite suspensions at 298.15 K were studied. The effect of different exchangeable cation on the adsorption amount of MB was determined. The results show that methylene blue cations( MB⁺ ) replace Na? more easily than they do Fe³⁺ and Al^{3 +} The adsorption isotherms on the three montraorillonites were all of Langmuir type, except that the isouHerm of MB on Na-montmorillonite presents nonmonotonic curve at low surface coverage. The specific surface areas in suspension were calculated by( MB ^{3 +} )method, and Na^? is more effective to determine the specific surface area by MB method in suspension than Fe^{3 +} and A^{3 +} The discrepancy of the specific surface area measured by MB and BET method was discussed.     

Surface Charge Convertible and Biodegradable Synthetic Zwitterionic Nanoparticles for Enhancing Cellular Drug Uptake

To enhance drug cellular uptake, a biodegradable terpolymer is synthesized using taurine, N,N‐Bis (acryloyl) cystamine, and dodecylamine as raw materials by Michael addition terpolymerization. The terpolymer is transformed to zwitterionic nanoparticles (NPs) through self‐assembly. The surface charge of the NPs is convertible from negative at pH 7.4 to positive at pH 6.5, which endows the NPs’ excellent nonfouling feature in bloodstream and effective uptake in tumor cells. The NPs display varied morphologies from solid micelles to polymersomes and nanorods depending on molar ratios of the structural units involved. The NPs can be biodegraded in l ‐glutathione (GSH) solution due to the split of disulfide bonds in main chains of the terpolymers. The NPs demonstrate good pH/reducing responsiveness in drug delivery and can be potentially used as anticancer drug vehicles for enhancement of cellular uptake of anticancer drug.

     

Photocatalytic Activity of Titanium Dioxide in the Degradation of Methylene Blue and Tetrachlorofluorescein in Aqueous Solutions

It was shown that the rate of the phototransformations of methylene blue and tetrachlorofluorescein at titanium dioxide is determined by the crystal structure and specific surface area of the titanium dioxide. Rutile has the highest specific photoactivity. In spite of the difference in the mechanisms both reactions have common limiting stages, as shown by correlation of the respective specific rate constants.     

Synthesis of Starch-Grafted Polymethyl Methacrylate via Free Radical Polymerization Reaction and Its Application for the Uptake of Methylene Blue

In this research, a new biodegradable and eco-friendly adsorbent, starch-grafted polymethyl methacrylate (St-g-PMMA) was synthesized. The St-g-PMMA was synthesized by a free radical polymerization reaction in which methyl methacrylate (MMA) was grafted onto a starch polymer chain. The reaction was performed in water in the presence of a potassium persulfate (KPS) initiator. The structure and different properties of the St-g-PMMA was explored by FT-IR, 1H NMR, TGA, SEM and XRD. After characterization, the St-g-PMMA was used for the removal of MB dye. Different adsorption parameters, such as effect of adsorbent dose, effect of pH, effect of initial concentration of dye solution, effect of contact time and comparative adsorption study were investigated. The St-g-PMMA showed a maximum removal percentage (R%) of 97% towards MB. The other parameters, such as the isothermal and kinetic models, were fitted to the experimental data. The results showed that the Langmuir adsorption and pseudo second order kinetic models were best fitted to experimental data with a regression coefficient of R² = 0.93 and 0.99, respectively.     

Facile Synthesis of Uniform Zinc-blende ZnS Nanospheres with Excellent Photocatalytic Activity toward Methylene Blue Degradation

Uniform and well-dispersed Zn S nanospheres have been successfully synthesized via a facile chemical route. The crystal structure, morphology, surface area and photocatalytic properties of the sample were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller(BET) and ultraviolet-visible(UV-vis) spectrum. The results of characterizations indicate that the products are identified as mesoporous zinc-blende ZnS nanospheres with an average diameter of 200 nm, which are comprised of nanoparticles with the crystallite size of about 3.2 nm calculated by XRD. Very importantly, photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue(MB) shows that the as-prepared Zn S nanospheres exhibit excellent photocatalytic activity with nearly 100% of MB decomposed after UV-light irradiation for 25 min. The excellent photocatalytic activity of ZnS nanospheres can be ascribed to the large specific surface area and hierarchical mesoporous structure.     

亚甲基蓝在云母表面吸附状态的研究

利用XPS测定吸附前后亚甲基蓝（MB）各原子的电子结合能的变化,以判断原子化学环境的改变,从而确定MB在云母表面的吸附位点是二甲胺基上的氮原子.通过AFM测量得到吸附于云母表面的MB分子的平均高度为0.820 nm,这证实了Hähner吸附模型的正确性,即MB分子的最大横截面以65～70°倾斜在云母的（001）表面上.     

BiVO4-MCM-41复合催化剂的制备及其对亚甲基蓝降解的光催化活性

将单斜白钨矿结构的BiVO4固载于中孔MCM-41分子筛上,制备了BiVO4-MCM-41复合催化剂,并对催化剂进行了表征,考察了催化剂在光催化亚甲基蓝降解反应中的催化活性.结果表明,BiVO4首先在MCM-41分子筛上形成锆石结构或四面体白钨矿结构的结晶,通过水热处理之后转变为单斜结构的结晶.BiVO4-MCM-41催化剂不仅保持了BiVO4较高的光催化活性,而且提高了对亚甲基蓝的吸附性能,从而提高了对亚甲基蓝降解反应的光催化活性.     

The Interaction of Methylene Blue with DNA

The binding of small molecules to DNA is useful in clarifying the protein-nucleic acid interaction, drug-DNA interaction, structure and function of nucleic acids, and in rational drug design. Methylene blue (MB) is one of a number of tricyclic heteroaromatic compounds that are known to interact with DNA.     

Environmental Effect on the Laser-Excited Fluorescence Spectra of Methylene Blue and Methylene Green Dyes

A laser-induced fluorescence investigation of the phenothiazine dyes Methylene Blue (MB⁺) and Methylene Green (MG⁺) is reported. To study the effect of environment, fluorescence spectra of these molecules in a variety of solvents with different polarity and various concentrations of an anionic surfactant were measured. The polarization and anisotropy analysis showed that there is no abrupt behavior except at the surfactant concentrations corresponding to the critical micellar concentration.