Antifungal activity of silver nanoparticle-encapsulated β-cyclodextrin against human opportunistic pathogens

Silver nanoparticles were synthesised by reducing silver acetate with a long-chain aliphatic amine. β-Cyclodextrin (CD)-stabilised silver nanoparticles were successfully synthesised and characterised by the UV–vis spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy analysis. This system was examined for their antifungal activity against opportunistic human pathogens such as Aspergillus fumigatus, Mucor ramosissimus and Chrysosporium species. This study clearly demonstrates that the present system is a powerful antifungal agent against human opportunistic pathogenic fungi.     

Synthesis,characterisation and antibacterial applications of water-soluble,silver nanoparticle-encapsulated β-cyclodextrin

This paper describes a simple method for the synthesis of water-soluble, silver nanoparticle-encapsulated β-cyclodextrin by phase transfer of silver nanoparticles from organic to aqueous phase using β-cyclodextrin as a capping agent. β-Cyclodextrin–silver nanoparticle inclusion complex was purified, characterised by spectroscopic and microscopic analyses and tested in vitro against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia marcescens, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The silver nanoparticle-encapsulated β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex displayed considerable antimicrobial activity and stability.

     

Encapsulation of Phenolphthalein pH-Indicator into a Sol-Gel Matrix

Transparent monolithic silica doping with phenolphthalein has been prepared via the acid-catalyzed sol-gel reactions of tetraethylorthosilicate in the presence of phenolphthalein. The immobilized phenolphthalein pH-indicator shows similar behavior as its solution counterpart. The UV/Vis spectra indicate that the phenolphthalein retains its structure during the sol-gel reactions in terms of response to pH. The phenolphthalein can be regarded as uniformly distributed in the silica matrix. This observation has been confirmed using polarized microscopy.     

Small‐Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) Study of Magneto‐Vesicles

Small‐angle neutron scattering from magneto‐vesicles (MVs) prepared by extrusion was studied. Contrast variation allowed the determination of structure and sizes of the vesicles and the encapsulated magnetic nanoparticles, respectively. The results from MVs synthesized with a 0.3% volume fraction of citrate‐coated magnetic nanoparticles are compared to those of similarly prepared vesicles of the neutral lipid 1,2‐Dioleoyl‐sn‐Glycero‐3‐Phosphocholine (DOPC) (without magnetic particles), and magnetic particles not encapsulated in vesicles. It is observed that the bilayers of the as‐prepared MVs, and the encapsulated nanoparticles retain their structural properties, highlighting the suitability of the MVs for applications.     

Development of Phosphatidylethanolamine Liposomes That Efficiently Retain Encapsulated Vinorelbine Bitartrate

A hydrophilic and temperature-induced degradation drug, vinorelbine bitartrate (VB)-loaded phosphatidylethanolamin sterically stabilized liposomes (PSLs) were prepared by the thin film hydration method. Liposomes were made of phosphatidylethanolamine: cholesteryl: oleic acid (PE: CHOL: OA, 6:4:3 mass/mass). The mean particle size of the PSLs ranged from 600 to 650 nm. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) images displayed that the shape of the PSLs was multilamellar vesicles with smooth surface. The highest entrapment efficiency (EE) and drug loading capacity (DL) could reach up to 81.2 and 16.6%, respectively. The studies of drug release showed that the drug release could last for much more than 48 hours. The PSLs was evaluated by comparing the rate of release of encapsulated VB in different phosphate buffer solution (PBS).     

Stable Encapsulation of Acrylate Esters in Networked Molecular Capsules

Reactive acrylate esters were encapsulated in the cavity of networked molecular capsules in a single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal fashion. Owing to the encapsulation effect, acrylates inside the capsules do not undergo polymerization upon irradiation with UV light or heating, while the guest molecules can be quantitatively extracted by treatment with toluene.     

Comparison of Loading Efficiency between Hyperbranched Polymers and Cross‐Linked Nanogels at Various Branching Densities

The effect of branching point structures and densities is studied between azido‐containing hyperbranched polymers and cross‐linked nanogels on their loading efficiency of alkynyl‐containing dendron molecules. Hyperbranched polymers that contained “T”‐shaped branching linkage from which three chains radiated out and cross‐linked nanogels that contained “X”‐shaped branching linkage with four radiating chains are synthesized in microemulsion using either atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) or conventional radical polymerization (RP) technique. Both polymers have similar density of azido groups in the structure and exhibit similar hydrodynamic diameter in latexes before purification. Subsequent copper‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition reactions between these polymers and alkynyl‐containing dendrons in various sizes (G1–G3) demonstrate an order of dendron loading efficiencies (i.e., final conversion of alkynyl‐containing dendron) as hyperbranched polymers > nanogels synthesized by ATRP > nanogels synthesized by RP. Decreasing the branching density or using smaller dendron molecules increases the click efficiency of both polymers. When G2 dendrons with a molecular weight of 627 Da are used to click with the hyperbranched polymers composed of 100% inimer, a maximum loading efficiency of G2 in the loaded hyperbranched polymer is 58% of G2 by weight. These results represent the first comparison between hyperbranched polymers and cross‐linked nanogels to explore the effect of branching structures on their loading efficiencies.

     

Injectable,Interconnected, High‐Porosity Macroporous Biocompatible Gelatin Scaffolds Made by Surfactant‐Free Emulsion Templating

High‐porosity interconnected, thermoresponsive macroporous hydrogels are prepared from oil‐in‐water high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) stabilized by gelatin‐graft‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide). PolyHIPEs are obtained by gelling HIPEs utilizing the thermoresponsiveness of the copolymer components. PolyHIPEs properties can be controlled by varying the aqueous phase composition, internal phase volume ratio, and gelation temperature. PolyHIPEs respond to temperature changes experienced during cell seeding, allowing fibroblasts to spread, proliferate, and penetrate into the scaffold. Encapsulated cells survive ejection of cell‐laden hydrogels through a hypodermic needle. This system provides a new strategy for the fabrication of safe injectable biocompatible tissue engineering scaffolds.

     

Nitrile Oxide‐Norbornene Cycloaddition as a Bioorthogonal Crosslinking Reaction for the Preparation of Hydrogels

This communication describes the first application of cycloaddition between an in situ generated nitrile oxide with norbornene leading to a polymer crosslinking reaction for the preparation of poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels under physiological conditions. Hydrogels with high water content and robust physical strength are readily formed within 2–5 min by a simple two‐solution mixing method which allows 3D encapsulation of neuronal cells. This bioorthogonal crosslinking reaction provides a simple yet highly effective method for preparation of hydrogels to be used in bioengineering.