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Poloxamer block copolymers (also known as Pluronic®) are particularly useful for drug delivery and self-assembly techniques. These nanopolymers are generally considered to be biologically inert and they were used to generate only bacteria repellent surfaces but keeps bacteria alive and as a latent threat. However, the inherent capabilities of these nanopolymers to kill bacteria have been largely overlooked. Here, we report that Pluronic shaped as superstructures (self-organized array of micelles) in fact possess a broad-spectrum bactericidal activity (capability of killing bacteria) similar to that shown for some antibiotics. This further represents the first report that shows that appropriate control of superstructured mesophase architecture is a key parameter for bactericidal efficacy. Based on this finding, we have developed a highly bactericidal coating (>99.9% kill) against all tested Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative (Salmonella typhimurium LT2, Escherichia coli K12 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1) bacteria which moreover allows the adhesion and proliferation of mammalian cells. The inexpensiveness and ease of production make these versatile nanopolymer structures a powerful tool for the development of a new generation of highly effective antimicrobial coatings., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Bacteria attached to solid surfaces and encased in a self-synthesized matrix, so-called biofilms, are highly difficult to eradicate and present negative impact on industry and human health. The ability of supramolecularly templated mesoporous silica coatings to inhibit biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is shown here. Assays employing submerged and air-liquid interface biofilms demonstrated that mesoporous coatings with tuned pore size significantly reduce the number of attached bacteria and matrix production. Given its versatility, scalability, robustness and low cost, our proposal is attractive for the production of transparent, inert and permanent antibiofilm coatings that could be applied on multiple surfaces., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Evolution of fuel cells using metallic inorganic catalysts has led to the development of biofuel cells with potential applications in implantable devices. However, the main disadvantages in real world applications of enzymatic biofuel cells are short lifetime and low power density. Many efforts have been devoted to immobilize redox enzymes on surfaces to allow efficient electrical communication with electrodes and to provide an adequate habitat for biochemical activity. In this context, nanocavities of mesoporous materials offer a tailored environment for protein immobilization. Mesostructured platforms with high surface area and stability have been developed to enhance mass transport, charge transfer from biocatalysts to electrodes and enzyme stability, leading to biofuel cells with improved power density (up to 602 μW cm(-2) at physiological conditions) and overall performance (high stability after 30 h of continuous operation and after 10 days of storage). This review discusses recent developments using mesoporous materials as novel platforms for effective electronic charge transfer in the context of current and emerging technologies in enzymatic fuel cell research, emphasizing their practical implications and potential improvements leading to a major impact on medical science and portable electronics.