Search

Biodegradable nanofilms from polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), citric acid (CA), glycerol (G), and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were prepared using different ZnO concentrations and different electron beam irradiation doses, enabling crosslinking formation. The prepared films were characterized by X-ray diffractometer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analyser, and transmission electron microscopy. The swelling percentage of PVP:CMC films was ordered in the sequence of composition ratio 1:2 > 1:1 > 2:1. Results showed decrease in swelling capacity accompanied by increase in gelation percentage of (PVP:CMC)/CA/G)/ZnO nanofilms as the irradiation dose increased up to 20 kGy. The tensile strength of (PVP:CMC) films increased by the incorporation of ZnO-NPs and increasing the irradiation dose. The thermal stability of the prepared (PVP:CMC)/CA/G/ZnO nanofilms was enhanced as the irradiation dosage increased. The water vapour transmission rate of the irradiated films was decreased. The biodegradability of the prepared nanofilms was monitored during 16 weeks and it exceeded 65% weight loss from the original blank weight. Moreover, the nanofilms exhibit antimicrobial activity against fungi, Gram-negative, and Gram-positive bacteria. The broad antimicrobial activity spectrum of the prepared nanofilms increased as the concentration of ZnO-NPs increased. These results suggested that (PVP:CMC)/CA/G/ZnO nanofilms can serve as biodegradable materials in various applications characterized by antimicrobial activity.

Background Trachoma, the worldwide leading infectious cause of blindness, is due to repeated conjunctival infection with Chlamydia trachomatis. The effects of control interventions on population levels of infection and active disease can be promptly measured, but the effects on severe ocular sequelae require long-term monitoring. We present an age-structured mathematical model of trachoma transmission and disease to predict the impact of interventions on the prevalence of blinding trachoma. Methodology/Principal Findings The model is based on the concept of multiple reinfections leading to progressive conjunctival scarring, trichiasis, corneal opacity and blindness. It also includes aspects of trachoma natural history, such as an increasing rate of recovery from infection and a decreasing chlamydial load with subsequent infections that depend upon a (presumed) acquired immunity that clears infection with age more rapidly. Parameters were estimated using maximum likelihood by fitting the model to pre-control infection prevalence data from hypo-, meso- and hyperendemic communities from The Gambia and Tanzania. The model reproduces key features of trachoma epidemiology: 1) the age-profile of infection prevalence, which increases to a peak at very young ages and declines at older ages; 2) a shift in this prevalence peak, toward younger ages in higher force of infection environments; 3) a raised overall profile of infection prevalence with higher force of infection; and 4) a rising profile, with age, of the prevalence of the ensuing severe sequelae (trachomatous scarring, trichiasis), as well as estimates of the number of infections that need to occur before these sequelae appear. Conclusions/Significance We present a framework that is sufficiently comprehensive to examine the outcomes of the A (antibiotic) component of the SAFE strategy on disease. The suitability of the model for representing population-level patterns of infection and disease sequelae is discussed in view of the individual processes leading to these patterns., Author Summary Trachoma is the worldwide leading infectious cause of blindness and is due to repeated conjunctival infection with Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria. The effects of control interventions on population levels of infection and active disease can be promptly measured, but the effects on severe ocular disease outcomes require long-term monitoring. We present a mathematical model of trachoma transmission and disease to predict the impact of interventions on blinding trachoma. The model is based on the concept of multiple re-infections leading to progressive scarring of the eye and the potentially blinding disease sequelae. It includes aspects of trachoma natural history such as an increasing rate of recovery from infection, and a decreasing chlamydial load with subsequent infections. The model reproduces key features of trachoma epidemiology such as the age-profile of infection prevalence; a shift in the prevalence peak toward younger ages in higher-transmission environments; and a rising profile of the prevalence of the severe sequelae (scarring, trichiasis), as well as estimates of the number of infections experienced before these sequelae appear. The model can be used to examine the outcomes of various control strategies on infection and disease and can help to plan treatment interventions for different endemic settings.