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Persistence and misuse of antibiotics eventually give rise to the progression of resistance development in bacteria. Consequently, accurate, fast and cost-effective sensing devices are required to govern the presence of drugs. Herein, we design a microfluidic paper-based device (μPAD) for the detection of Rifampicin. We selected this analyte because of its persistent overuse for the treatment of tuberculosis, among the major causes of death around the world. In this work, we have integrated Fe-reinforced ZnS nanoparticles supported with rifampicin (RIF) imprinted material on the exterior of Whatman filter paper for the fabrication of paper-based microfluidic device (μPAD). In this fabricated μPAD colorimetric detection was performed, and the synergistic effect of Fe and ZnS was recorded as compared to individual nanomaterials. A distinct color indicator was used to quantify the concentration of the targeted substance by the naked eye. The fabricated paper-based sensor possessed high sensitivity for rifampicin detection, recorded linear calibration curve representing 0.1 µM LOD and excellent selectivity, in comparison to other inferring agents present in real samples. The practical application of this designed μPAD was validated by applying a real sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a sustainable 3D carbon aerogel (AO-WPC) is prepared from waste paper (WP), and used for efficient antibiotics removal from water. The AO-WPC aerogel shows good mechanical property and can recover after 100th of 30 % compression strain. The specific surface area of AO-WPC aerogel is up to 654.58 m2/g. More importantly, this aerogel reveals proper pore size distribution, including micro sized macropores between carbon fibers and intrinsic nano scale mesopores (11.86 nm), which is conducive to remove antibiotics from water. Taking tetracycline (Tc) as an example, the maximum adsorption capacity and adsorption rate of AO-WPC for Tc are as high as 384.6 mg/g and 0.510 g/(mg‧min), respectively, which exhibits significant advantages over most of the recent absorbents, and the adsorption toward Tc reveals good resistance to various environmental factors, including pH, various ions, and dissolved organic matter (DOM). Moreover, good thermal stability enables the AO-WPC aerogel to be regenerated through simple burning, and the adsorption capacity of Tc only decreases by 10.4 % after 10 cycles. Mechanism research shows that hydrogen bonding and π-π electron-donor-acceptor (EDA) interaction play the important role in the adsorption. The excellent mechanical property and adsorption performance imply good practical prospect of the AO-WPC aerogel. [Display omitted] • A compressible carbon aerogel is prepared from cheap waste paper. • The adsorption toward antibiotics reveals fast kinetics and high capacity. • The adsorption performance shows good resistance to various environmental factors. • This carbon aerogel can efficiently regenerate more than 10 times through burning. • The adsorption mechanisms are hydrogen bonds and π-π electron-donor-acceptor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of antibiotics without prescription (self-medication) is growing globally and is associated with increased bacterial resistance, ineffective treatment and adverse reactions. This study aimed at assessing the practice of antibiotic self-medication in the Iraqi population. A cross-sectional study design was adopted in this work. The sample was comprised of 303 staff members from the non-medical colleges in Iraq. An online questionnaire was distributed between the 29th of June to the 14th of September 2021 to collect data including socio-demographic characteristics and questions about antibiotic self-medication. Most of the participants had a university degree and a moderate monthly income. The majority (88%) have practiced self-medication at least once before. A “simple” condition and convenience were the main motivators behind self-medication, which was mainly used for sore throat, fever and cough. Own experience was the most reported determining factor for selecting an antibiotic, and community pharmacies were the main source for obtaining the antibiotics. About 40% of the participants admitted to switching the antibiotic or changing its dose during the treatment course. Self-medication with antibiotics is a major issue in our community and measures have to be taken to reduce its impact on public health through the development of bacterial resistance.

(1) Background: Many drugs possess poor bioavailability, and many strategies are available to overcome this issue. In this study, smartFilm technology, i.e., a porous cellulose matrix (paper), in which the active compound can be loaded onto in an amorphous state was utilised for oral administration to improve the solubility and bioactivity of a poorly soluble BSC class IV antibiotic. (2) Methods: Norfloxacin was used as the model drug and loaded into commercially available paper. The resulting norfloxacin-loaded smartFilms were transformed into smartFilm granules via wet granulation and the resulting norfloxacin-loaded smartFilm granules were transformed into norfloxacin-loaded tablets made from paper, i.e., smartFilm tablets. The crystalline state of norfloxacin was investigated, as well as the pharmaceutical properties of the granules and the tablets. The bioactivity of the smartFilm tablets was assessed in vitro and ex vivo to determine the antibacterial activity of norfloxacin. The results were compared to a physical mixture tablet that contained non-loaded paper granules and equal amounts of norfloxacin as a crystalline powder. (3) Results: Norfloxacin-loaded smartFilm granules and norfloxacin-loaded smartFilm tablets contained norfloxacin in an amorphous state, which resulted in an improved and faster release of norfloxacin when compared to the physical mixture tablet. The bioactivity was up to three times higher when compared to the physical mixture tablet. The ex vivo model was demonstrated to be a useful tool that allows for a fast and cost-effective discrimination between "good" and "bad" formulations. It provides realistic physiological conditions and can therefore yield meaningful, additional biopharmaceutical information that cannot be assessed in classical in vitro experiments. (4) Conclusions: smartFilm tablets are a promising, universal, industrially feasible and cost-effective formulation strategy for improved solubility and enhanced bioactivity of poorly soluble drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent years, the issue of antibiotic residues in food has become an important topic. Most current methods of detecting antibiotics are time-consuming, laborious, and cannot meet the requirements of field testing. In this study, electro-filter paper spray ionization was coupled with a portable linear ion trap mass spectrometer for the rapid determination of four antibiotics (norfloxacin, tetracycline, oxytetracycline, and chlortetracycline) in pork and milk samples. The experimental setup is not only structurally simple but enables analysis of both solid and liquid samples. The samples require only a simple pretreatment and the complete analysis of a sample requires less than 1 min. The linear range for the determination of the four antibiotic standards was from 1 to 100 mg/L (R2≥0.960). The limits of detection (LOD) for the analytes were 0.100 mg/L, with recoveries from 72.4% to 11%. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) were between 2.70% and 16.5%. This study expands the capability for rapid field testing of antibiotics in meat using portable mass spectrometers, which is important for food safety, environmental protection, and criminal investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are emerging heterogeneous catalysts, which have been shown to be promising for a wide range of applications. Herein, we report the fabrication of single-atom Co sites with regulated Co-N 3 coordination supported on waste paper-derived active carbon (WPAC). The high specific surface area (535.2 m2 g−1) and active Co-N 3 single sites endowed the Co-N 3 /WPAC with high adsorption capacity and excellent catalytic performance. The maximum adsorption capacity of sulfisoxazole (SIZ) onto Co-N 3 /WPAC reached 274.5 mg g−1, and the removal percentage of SIZ reached ∼93.0 % within 1.0 min in the Co-N 3 /WPAC+PS system. The bifunctional properties of Co-N 3 /WPAC led to the efficient preconcentration of organic pollutants from aqueous solution as well as in-situ oxidation of them via the catalytic oxidation process. In addition, the Co-N 3 /WPAC+PS system exhibited a wide operating pH range (3−11), high mineralization capacity (∼89.3 %) and excellent reusability for the degradation of SIZ. Mechanism studies suggested that the Co-N 3 active sites were responsible for enhanced generation of the reactive oxygen species via PS activation, and both radical and non-radical processes contributed to the oxidation of SIZ. This work provides new insights into the resourceful disposal of waste paper and the application of SACs for environmental remediation. • The waste paper-derived active carbon (WPAC) supported Co-N 3 single sites were fabricated. • Co-N 3 /WPAC exhibited high SIZ removal efficiency via adsorption and catalytic degradation. • Co-N 3 /WPAC/PS system had a satisfactory adaptability, stability, and reusability. • Radical pathway and non-radical pathway were proposed in Co-N 3 /WPAC/PS system. • The introduction of Co-N 3 sites accelerated the electron transfer process for PS activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An enhanced ratiometric fluorescence sensor was built for on-site visual detection of doxycycline (DOX) through the interaction with bovine serum albumin on the surface of red emissive copper nanoclusters. Upon the addition of weakly fluorescent DOX, the red fluorescence from copper nanoclusters gradually decreased through the inner-filter effect (IFE), while a green fluorescence appears and significantly increases, forming an interesting fluorescent isosbestic point, which was assigned to DOX due to sensitization effect of bovine serum albumin. On the basis of this ratiometric fluorescence, the system possessed good limit of detection (LOD) of 45 nM and excellent selectivity for DOX over other tetracyclines. Based on these findings, a paper-based sensor has been fabricated for distinct visual detection of trace DOX and combined with smartphone color recognizer for quantitative detection of DOX (LOD = 83 nM). This method shows broad application prospects in environmental monitoring and food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance threatens to make currently treatable bacterial diseases deadly again. As drug resistance rises, antibiotic susceptibility testing needs to adapt to allow for widespread, individualized testing. Paper-based diagnostics offer low-cost, disposable alternatives to traditional time consuming and costly in-house methods. Here, we describe a paper-based microfluidic device, called the Bac-PAC, capable of categorizing the antibiotic susceptibly of individual strains of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales. Each chip provides a colored readout with actionable susceptibility classification of three antibiotics, thus maximizing the chances of identifying a viable therapy. We verified the technology on thirty bacterial strains with two dyes using six clinically relevant antibiotics. We demonstrated that the dried tests are stable for one month and can be incubated in a rechargeable coffee mug that reduces the need for external infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Tri-color fluorescence paper strip intelligent sensing platform was designed. • Visual fluorescence detection of TC, SMZ and Al3+ was achieved. • The dual-mode detection was realized under different excitation wavelengths. • The sensing strategy provides an alternative for the detection of multi-target. The toxicological effect between co-existed antibiotics and metal ions was dangerous to the ecological environment and public health. However, the rapid quantification tools with convenience, accuracy and low cost for the detection of multiple targets were still challenging. Herein, a portable tri-color ratiometric fluorescence paper sensor was constructed by coupling of blue carbon dots and fluorescence imprinted polymer for down/up conversion simultaneous detection of tetracycline and sulfamethazine. Interestingly, the cascade detection of aluminum ion was also realized based on the individual detection system of tetracycline without the assistance of complex coupling reagents. The detection limits of smartphone method for the visual detection of tetracycline, sulfamethazine and aluminum ion were calculated as 0.014 μM, 0.004 μM and 0.019 μM, respectively. The portable fluorescence paper sensor was applied for the visual detection of tetracycline, sulfamethazine and aluminum ion in actual samples successfully with satisfactory recoveries. With the advantages of rapidness, low cost, and portability, the developed portable fluorescence paper sensor provided a new strategy for the visual real-time detection of multiple targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • M-GQDs exhibit excellent performance in distinguishing and detecting antibiotics. • Special phenomena are presented when various kinds of antibiotics are added with different mechanisms. • The probe shows low LOD for DOX, PEF and LEV of 39.3 nM, 48.6 nM and 35.1 nM. • A 3D μPAD-based platform is proposed for real-time monitoring antibiotics. For antibiotics misuse since the global outbreak of COVID 19, a novel strategy for discriminating and detecting antibiotics is proposed based on the graphene quantum dots with multi-doped heteroatoms including F, N and P (M-GQDs), which exhibit blue emission (419.0 nm) under the excitation of 336.0 nm. Specifically, the fluorescence of M-GQDs is quenched by tetracyclines (TCs) owing to inner filter effect (IFE) and enhanced by alkane-modified fluoroquinolones (AFQs), which is attributed to restricted conformational rotation based on π-π stacking, hydrogen-bonding and electrostatic interactions. Meanwhile, the electron-accepting property of oxazine ring in oxazine-modified fluoroquinolones (OFQs) increases emission peak at 498.0 nm and decreases emission peak at 419.0 nm as the color changes from blue to cyan. Moreover, a cascade system integrated with 3D microfluidic paper‐based analytical device (3D-μPAD) is applied successfully for visually distinguishing three antibiotics, which shows great potential and versatility of M-GQDs for food safety monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional hydrophilic wound dressings, while common, fail to effectively drain wound exudate, creating conditions favorable for bacterial growth. Similarly, newer Janus‐type dressings with hydrophobic‐hydrophilic properties also fall short, as their hydrophobic side causes excessive dryness by pulling biofluids from the wound, disrupting moisture balance. Additionally, embedding antibiotics in dressings at fixed concentrations, regardless of the infection type, reduces effectiveness and contributes to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. In response, a single‐layered Janus paper wound dressing, designed for efficient exudate absorption and precise antibiotic delivery, is developed. The approach differs from traditional Janus‐type dressings; a hydrophilic layer is placed directly against the wound for better moisture management, while antibiotics are applied through the hydrophobic layer. To further enhance exudate management, the hydrophilic section with four extra absorbent pads is extended. The dressing's antibiotic efficacy and dosage are tailored based on antibiotic susceptibility testing, ensuring targeted treatment. The selected antibiotic is manually added but automatically delivered directly to the wound bed. The in vitro and ex vivo evaluations, using bacterial cultures on agar and porcine skin assays, respectively, confirm the dressing's superior exudate drainage and its ability to inhibit pathogen growth and reproduction, marking a significant advancement in wound care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic residues accumulation in the environment endangers ecosystems and human health. There is an urgent need for a facile and efficient strategy to detect antibiotics. Here, we report a photoluminescent sensor array based on protein-stabilized gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) for the detection of two families of antibiotics, tetracyclines and quinolones. The nanoclusters were synthesized with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and ovalbumin (OVA), respectively. They had different interactions with seven kinds of antibiotics and exhibited diverse photoluminescence (PL) responses, which were analyzed by linear discriminant analysis and ExtraTrees algorithms. The sensor array performed well in both classification and quantification of seven antibiotics. And the quantitative results of all antibiotics obtained R2 of no less than 0.99 at 0–100 μM when using suitable regression models. Additionally, the sensor array was able to distinguish antibiotic mixtures and multiple interfering substances, and it also kept 100% classification accuracy in river water samples. Moreover, test paper assisted by a smartphone was applied for quick detection of antibiotics, with good performance in both HEPES buffer and river water. These studies reveal great potential for the point-of-use analysis of antibiotics in environmental monitoring. [Display omitted] • The first nanoclusters-based photoluminescent sensor array for quinolones is developed. • Seven antibiotics of tetracyclines and quinolones are successfully identified. • ExtraTrees algorithm is first employed for antibiotics detection. • Test paper assisted by a smartphone is used to identify antibiotics in river water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overuse of empirical intravenous antibiotics in neonates in high-income countries (HICs) is well documented. The Kaiser Permanente neonatal early-onset sepsis (EOS) calculator is an evidence-based sepsis risk assessment tool that has demonstrated potential to reduce antibiotic usage in this population. The incidence of early-onset sepsis in most HICs is 0.4–0.8 per 1000 live births. The objective was to evaluate the calculator's impact on antibiotic rates and length of stay in a regional level II Special Care Nursery. A single-centre retrospective cohort study compared antibiotic administration rates in the first 72 h in neonates ≥35 weeks gestation born during two 6-month periods in 2019 (pre-EOS calculator) and 2021 (post-EOS calculator). Electronic and paper case records were accessed to capture data. Continuous data were summarised using mean and standard deviation, and categorical data were summarized using frequency distributions. There were 951 (2019) and 1129 (2021) infants born during the study periods. Following implementation of the calculator, antibiotic exposure decreased from 13.7% to 4.7% of all neonates without reported negative outcomes. Mean length of stay for neonates born across the two periods decreased from 2.38 to 2.13 days. Indications for antibiotic use shifted more towards clinical condition and away from obstetric risk factors. There were no culture-proven cases of sepsis or readmissions with EOS in either period. Implementation of the EOS calculator significantly reduced exposure to antibiotics, without adverse outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The utilization of antibiotic adjuvants presents a promising strategy for addressing bacterial resistance. Recently, the development of antibiotic adjuvants has attracted considerable attention from researchers in academia and industry. This study aimed to identify the most influential publications on antibiotic adjuvants and elucidate the hotspots and research trends in this field. Method: Original articles and reviews related to antibiotic adjuvants were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. The top 100 highly cited publications were selected and the visual analyses of publication outputs, countries, institutions, authors, journals, and keywords were conducted using Excel, VOSviewer, or CtieSpace software tools. Results: The top 100 cited publications concerning antibiotic adjuvants spanned the years 1977-2020, with citation counts ranging from 174 to 2,735. These publications encompassed 49 original articles and 51 reviews. The journal "Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy" accounted for the highest number of publications (12%). The top 100 cited publications emanated from 39 countries, with the United States leading in production. Institutions in Canada and the United States exhibited the most substantial contributions to these highly cited publications. A total of 526 authors participated in these studies, with Robert E. W. Hancock, Laura J. V. Piddock, Xian-Zhi Li, Hiroshi Nikaido, and Olga Lomovskaya emerging as the most frequently nominated authors. The most common keywords included "E. coli", "P. aeruginosa", "S. aureus", "in-vitro activity", "antimicrobial peptide", "efflux pump inhibitor" "efflux pump", "MexAB-OprM" and "mechanism". These keywords underscored the hotspots of bacterial resistance mechanisms and the development of novel antibiotic adjuvants. Conclusion: Through the bibliometric analysis, this study identified the top 100 highly cited publications on antibiotic adjuvants. Moreover, the findings offered a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics and frontiers in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, cellulose filter paper (CFP) was used to create three-dimensional ZnO nanoflowers coated with three-layered plasmonic metals (Ag@Au@Ag) by using an in situ generated method. The substrate was created as a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) paper chip with dual functions for quick enrichment and ultrasensitive antibiotic detection. It was possible to detect amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, and tetracycline quantitatively with good linear responses at low detection limits of 1, 10, and 10 nM, respectively, thanks to the characteristics of three-dimensional nanostructures, the charge transfer effect of ZnO–plasmonic metal, and electromagnetic coupling of Ag@Au@Ag. Even with a paper chip and a mobile phone–Raman spectrometer integrated system, it was possible to identify human urine antibiotics at ppb levels with high accuracy. Meanwhile, 10 min detection of the antibiotics was accomplished by merely soaking them in their analyte solutions due to CFP wicking. With the help of PCA-LDA analysis, the multiplexed SERS spectral data of the three antibiotics could be successfully separated. Additionally, the paper chip's exceptional mechanical endurance even against 30-fold and strong ultrasonication was made possible by the in situ growing method. The bifunctional, affordable, and long-lasting SERS paper chip has a lot of potential for on-site and point-of-care drug detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The gut microbiome is an important determinant of health and disease in preterm infants. Objectives: The objective of this article was to share our current protocol for other neonatal intensive care units to potentially expand their existing protocols, aiming to characterize the relationship between the intestinal microbiome and health outcomes in preterm infants. Methods : This prospective, longitudinal study planned to recruit 160 preterm infants born <32 weeks gestational age or weighing <1,500 g and admitted to one of two Level III/IV neonatal intensive care units. During the neonatal intensive care unit period, the primary measures included events of early life pain/stress, gut microbiome, host genetic variations, and neurobehavioral assessment. During follow-up visits, gut microbiome; pain sensitivity; and medical, growth, and developmental outcomes at 4, 8-12, and 18-24 months corrected age were measured. Discussion : As of February 14, 2020, 214 preterm infants have been recruited. We hypothesize that infants who experience greater levels of pain/stress will have altered gut microbiome, including potential adverse outcomes such as necrotizing enterocolitis and host genetic variations, feeding intolerance, and/or neurodevelopmental impairments. These will differ from the intestinal microbiome of preterm infants who do not develop these adverse outcomes. To test this hypothesis, we will determine how alterations in the intestinal microbiome affect the risk of developing necrotizing enterocolitis, feeding intolerance, and neurodevelopmental impairments in preterm infants. In addition, we will examine the interaction between the intestinal microbiome and host genetics in the regulation of intestinal health and neurodevelopmental outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A paper-based polymeric ionic liquid (p-Poly-(MMA-IL)) was successfully developed by grafting the polymeric ionic liquid on the surface of commercial filter paper (FP) by using the dipping method, presenting a new cost-effective film. The newly developed p-Poly-(MMA-IL) FP was then applied as a paper-based thin-film microextraction (p-TFME) analytical device to extract 14 compounds as representative of five groups of antibiotic drugs, which were sulfonamides, tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, penicillin and macrolides in environmental water samples. Besides, p-Poly-(MMA-IL) FP, p-Poly-(MMA) FP, and unmodified filter paper were successfully characterised by FTIR, NMR, FESEM, TGA, and XRD techniques. They underwent significant parameters optimisation, which affected the extraction efficiency. Under optimal conditions, the proposed (p-Poly-(MMA-IL) FP-TFME) device method was evaluated and applied to analyse multi-class antibiotic drugs in environmental water samples by using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The validation method showed that a good linearity (0.1 μg L−1 - 500 μg L−1) was noted (R2 > 0.993, n = 3). Detection and quantification limits were within 0.05 μg L−1 – 4.52 μg L−1 and 0.15 μg L−1 – 13.6 μg L−1, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) values ranged at 1.4%–12.2% (intra-day, n = 15) and 4.4%–11.0% (inter-day, n = 10). The extraction recoveries of environmental water samples ranged from 79.1% to 126.8%, with an RSD of less than 15.4% (n = 3). The newly developed paper-based polymeric ionic liquid (p-Poly-(MMA-IL) FP) for analysis of multi-class antibiotic drugs under the p-TFME analytical device procedure was successfully achieved with limited sample volume and organic solvent, fast extraction, and feasible in daily analysis. The detection concentration and relative RSD of multi-class antibiotics determined in various environmental water samples by the proposed method (n = 5) were within 0.44 μg L−1 – 54.41 μg L−1 and 0.69%–15.56%, respectively. These results signified the potential of the p-Poly-(MMA-IL) FP-TFME device as an efficient, sensitive and environmentally friendly approach for analysing antibiotics. Schematic illustration of p-Poly-(MMA-IL) FP-TFME analytical device procedure for multi-class antibiotic drugs analysis. [Display omitted] • New promising paper-based polymer ionic liquid adsorbent for multi-class of antibiotic drugs analysis. • The sample preparation of the p-TFME analytical device method compliance with green analytical chemistry. • Extraction of multi-class antibiotics in the environmental water samples prior to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 65% of bacterial infections are caused by biofilms. However, standard biofilm susceptibility tests are not available for clinical use. All conventional biofilm models suffer from a long formation time and fail to mimic in vivo microbial biofilm conditions. Moreover, biofilms make it difficult to monitor the effectiveness of antibiotics. This work creates a powerful yet simple method to form a target biofilm and develops an innovative approach to monitoring the antibiotic's efficacy against a biofilm-associated infection. A paper-based culture platform can provide a new strategy for rapid microbial biofilm formation through capillary action. A combined electrical-electrochemical technique monitors bacterial metabolism rapidly and reliably by measuring microbial extracellular electron transfer (EET) and using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) across a microbe-electrode interface. Three representative pathogens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, form their biofilms controllably within an hour. Within another hour their susceptibilities to three frontline antibiotics with different action modes (gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, and ceftazidime) are examined. Our antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) technique provides a quantifiable minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of those antibiotics against the in vitro biofilm models and characterizes their action mechanisms. The results will have an important positive effect because they provide immediately actionable healthcare information at a reduced cost, revolutionizing public healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, cobalt oxyhydroxide (CoOOH) nanosheets were applied for establishing a dual fluorometric and smartphone‐paper‐based colorimetric method to detect isoniazid. CoOOH nanosheets quenched the fluorescence emission of sulfur and nitrogen co‐doped carbon dots (S,N‐CDs) due to inner filter effect (IFE). The quenched fluorescence intensity of S,N‐CDs restored in the presence of isoniazid due to destroying CoOOH nanosheets by this drug. Moreover, with adding isoniazid the solution color of CoOOH nanosheets altered from brownish yellow to pale yellow. We exploited these facts to design a turn off–on fluorometric and paper‐based colorimetric sensor for isoniazid measurement at the range 0.5–5 and 5–100 μM with detection limits of 0.28 μM and 4.0 μM, respectively. The introduced dual sensor was used for pharmaceutical, environmental and biological analysis of isoniazid with satisfactory results. The paper‐based colorimetric sensor can be applied for isoniazid portable monitoring using a smartphone as a detector or even the naked eye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic residues in aquatic environments have attracted wide attention. Considering the impacts on the ecosystem and human health, it is urgent to develop a rapid method for detecting antibiotic residues in the environment. In this work, a nanoscale lanthanide metal-organic framework Eu(TATB) with a stable red luminescence in aqueous solution is synthesized by the microemulsion method. Sulfamethazine (SMZ) is frequently most used in veterinary medicine as one of sulfonamides. Eu(TATB) can be used for sensitively and rapidly specific recognition of SMZ with low detection limit (0.67 μM) and eminent recyclability. In addition, a paper-based visual system for point-of-care (POC) monitoring SMZ is devised by both using filter paper embedded with Eu(TATB) and our developed portable smartphone-involved imaging cassette. The naked eyes can observe that the red luminescence of the paper sensor gradually fades away at the presence of SMZ. This provides a reliable and effective method for on-site detection of sulfonamide antibiotics in the field of environmental monitoring. In our work, a novel lanthanide metal-organic framework, Eu(TATB), was rationally designed and prepared for the effective recognition of sulfonamide (SMZ). Moreover, a paper-based visual system for point-of-care (POC) monitoring of SMZ was devised by both using filter paper embedded with Eu(TATB) and our developed portable smartphone-involved imaging cassette. [Display omitted] • A nanoscale Eu(TATB) with remarkable luminescence performance is successfully synthesized. • Eu(TATB) shows rapid and excellent sensing ability towards sulfamethazine with high selectivity. • A smartphone-based POC monitoring platform with paper strip has constructed to complete the visual detection of sulfamethazine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, it is presented a simple and affordable method for the paper-based electrodes (PBE) manufacturing using a filter paper and conductive ink based on graphite and nail polish. Additionally, the disposable sensors were applied to the best of knowledge, in the first time for the electrochemical monitoring of amoxicillin (AMX) in complex samples as milk, pharmaceutical formulations, and synthetic urine by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Under optimized conductive ink composition, the AMX showed excellent electrochemical behavior on PBE surface with oxidation peak potential at +0.69 V (vs Ag|AgCl|KCl (sat.)) in phosphate buffer solution. Moreover, the proposed method presented a wide linear working range from 29.8 to 126.7 μmol L−1 and adequate detectability (detection limit of 8 μmol L−1). The electroanalytical measurements presented excellent precision with relative standard deviation less than 3% and good accuracy for the spiked samples ranging from 90 to 103%. In addition, the sensor did not undergo significant interference toward other commonly evaluated drugs, which demonstrates the potential of these electrodes for implementation in routine analysis and quality control. [Display omitted] • Amoxicillin monitoring using paper-based electrode. • An accessible device for amoxicillin determination in milk samples. • Conductive ink based on graphite and nail polish. • Filter paper, an economical platform for sensors manufacturing. • First report of amoxicillin determination on a paper-based electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The recently developed DOT-MGA (direct-on-target microdroplet growth assay) has shown the desirability of direct application of this approach in positive blood cultures and its good performance in detection. This study selected 44 Enterobacteriaceae strains and implemented a DOT-MGA assay on blood cultures to detect their resistance to seven antibiotics. The results of DOT-MGA were compared with the other two antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methods to analyze the detection performance of DOT-MGA. Methods: We adopted the differential centrifugation to process positive blood-culture (BC). Processed BC broth was directly used for rapid AST using DOT-MGA. Droplets of 6 μL with and without antibiotics at the EUCAST breakpoint concentration were spotted in triplicates onto the surface of a MALDI target. The plates were incubated in a wet box for 4 h before the broth was removed with filter paper. Bruker Biotyper software was used to analyze the test results compared with standard database, and the scores were used to quantify and determine the results. Results: DOT-MGA results were compared with the direct-from-BC disk-diffusion method and results were reported by broth microdilution method, respectively. The comparison demonstrated a 100% growth efficiency in DOT-MGA, a 100% classification consistency for ampicillin, ceftriaxone, and gentamicin, and > 93% classification consistency for tobramycin, aztreonam, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), and ceftazidime. Discussion: These study results have shown that DOT-MGA is suitable for directly identifying bacterial resistance to positive blood cultures in clinical microbiology laboratories. Furthermore, it is conducive for early diagnosis and treatment of patients with bloodstream infection due to its convenience, time efficiency, and good performance in identifying multiple antibiotic-insensitive bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a sorbent was prepared from wastepaper samples enriched with iron oxide particles and graphene oxide and used in the solid phase extraction of antibiotics. The precursor underwent a carbothermal reduction to promote the formation of paramagnetic phases useful for the recovery of the sorbent during the analysis, and to disperse and fix graphene and the iron oxide in a durable way throughout the cellulose structure. Characterizations were carried out to evaluate the composition (Raman, XRD and EDX) and the morphological structure (SEM) of the material. A UHPLC-PDA method was developed for the simultaneous determination of antibiotics from different drug families (carbapenems, fluoroquinolones, β-lactams) using a 120 SB-C 18 poroshell column (50 × 2.1 mm I.D., 2.7 um particle size) and a mobile phase consisting of 10 mM acetate buffer at pH 5 (Line A) and acetonitrile (Line B) both containing 0.1% of triethylamine. A gradient elution was used for the separation of the analytes, while for the quantitative analysis each analyte was determined at its maximum wavelength. Several experiments were carried out to evaluate the influence of different parameters involving the dispersive magnetic solid phase extraction of these analytes. Samples were extracted using 25 mg of sorbent at pH 5 and desorbed in 5 min using methanol. We report herein on some of the outstanding advantages of using carbon-based sorbent, such as lower toxicity, scalability, improved absorption capacity, target selectivity and stability in acidic medium. Moreover, from the results obtained it is evident that, despite the use of some recycled materials, the performances obtained were comparable or even superior to the methods reported in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotics are used largely in agriculture and animal farming. As a result, antibiotic residues are found in food products as well as pharmaceutical industries and farming wastes. Since consumption of food products contaminated with antibiotic in excessive residuals causes severe environmental risks, our study here aims to detect the residues level of selected antibiotics in milk and egg. For monitoring of the antibiotic residues in various food diaries, low-cost, simple and rapid methods are required. This paper reports fabricating a disposable microfluidic paper-based analytical device for detection and discrimination of 8 antibiotics. This small but efficient device works based on combination of paper microfluidics, sensor array concept (an array of metallochromic complexes, which provides an optical tongue, and chemometrics data analysis. The discrimination is based on differential interaction of the antibiotics with 5 metal-indicator complexes and displacing the chromogenic indicators. This resulted in specific color changes for each antibiotic. The discriminant models obtained by employing linear discriminant analysis could discriminate antibiotics in real samples of milk and egg white and yolk at concentrations of as low as 5.0 mg L−1 with 100% accuracy. Also, semi-quantitative analysis was provided to detect trace amounts of the antibiotics (1.0 mg L−1). [Display omitted] • A μPAD in an array format of metallochromic complexes to provide an opto-electronic tongue. • The discrimination is based on differential interaction of the antibiotics with 5 metal-indicator complexes. • The μPAD results in specific color changes (colorimetric signature) for each antibiotic. • LDA could discriminate antibiotics in real samples of milk and egg white and yolk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight patients did not require medical evaluation nor antibiotic treatment as fever resolved spontaneously, 8 cases were managed with an oral antimicrobial therapy and 1 patient required hospitalization and intravenous antimicrobial therapy. Between 2018 and 2019, we prospectively evaluated the incidence of infectious complications in 39 patients undergoing routine office nephrostomy tube replacement performed without any antimicrobial prophylaxis. [Extracted from the article]

Paper spray mass spectrometry is an ambient ionization technique capable of the direct ionization of analyte from a bio-fluid spot on a paper substrate. Different solvents and types of paper can have different interactions with the analytes of interest; therefore, they can significantly impact the analyte signal and the assay as a whole. In this study, we examined the effects of substrate-solvent composition on signal intensity, blank signal intensity, and signal-to-blank ratio for a variety of pharmaceutical drugs, illicit drugs, chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulants, and CWA hydrolysis products. The analytes were prepared either neat or spiked into human plasma and deposited on a variety of modified paper substrates. Extraction occurred with a range of different solvents. Optimizing the substrate-solvent combination improved the signal-to-blank ratio for all compounds ranging from 1 to 7,964 factor improvement, with the substrate providing a more impactful improvement. Aprotic solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran and ethyl acetate, tended to produce optimal signal-to-blank ratios, while carbon sputtered and glass fiber substrates were the top paper substrates. The research presented herein illustrates the need for systematic optimization of substrate and spray solvent combinations to achieve the best detection limits for paper spray analysis. [Display omitted] • Paper spray enables rapid MS detection from dried biofluid spots. • Sensitivity depends on the choice of the ionization substrate and the solvent. • Four ionization substrates and six solvents were tested for a diverse set of molecules. • Analyte detection was found to improve by more than 1000 fold in some cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid detection of bacterial metabolites responsible for cell communication is important for the early diagnosis of bacterial infection and treatment with appropriate antibiotics. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has provided amplified molecular fingerprints, serving as one of the most promising nondestructive and label-free direct detection methods. However, direct analysis of complex bacterial cultures using the conventional SERS approach is difficult. Here, we design a new paper-based 3D SERS substrate and establish a facile one-pot Au electrodeposition protocol to directly detect pyocyanin, a signaling molecule of Pseudomonas aeruginosa , secreted in the culture medium, without pretreatment steps. During one-pot Au electrodeposition in the presence of an Au precursor and culture medium, the bacterial pathogen molecule (i.e. , pyocyanin) is captured in the interstitial voids of the 3D hydrogel matrix among growing Au grains, resulting in high amplification of the Raman signal intensity. Because the hydrogel skin excludes macromolecules (i.e. , proteins) in the culture medium, thereby maintaining an uncontaminated surface, our approach achieves the direct and rapid detection of pyocyanin in a complex bacteria culture sample without any purification steps. Therefore, the pyocyanin concentration during bacterial culturing is easily and directly monitored, which is important for the early diagnosis of infection and in-depth studies of bacterial cell communication. • One-pot Au electrodeposition is important for enhancing the SERS sensitivity. • Hydrogel-coated 3D Au nanostructure can detect pyocyanin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]