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The aim of this study is to describe the features, the outcomes, and the clinical issues related to Remdesivir administration of a cohort of 220 patients (pts) with COVID-19 hospitalized throughout the last two pandemic waves in Italy. One hundred and nine pts were enrolled from 1 September 2020, to 28 February 2021 (Group A) and 111 from 1 March to 30 September 2021 (Group B). Notably, no differences were reported between the two groups neither in the timing of hospitalization. nor in the timing of Remdesivir administration from symptoms onset. Remarkably, a higher proportion of pts with severe COVID-19 was observed in Group B (25% vs. 10%, p < 0.001). At univariate and multivariate analysis, rather than the timing of Remdesivir administration, age, presence of coexisting conditions, D-dimers, and O2 flow at admission correlated positively to progression to non-invasive ventilation, especially for patients in Group B. However, the rate of admission in the Intensive Care Unit and/or death was comparable in the two groups (7% vs. 4%). Negligible variations in serum GOT, GPT, GGT, and eGFR levels were detected. A mean reduction in heart rate was noticed within the first three days of antiviral treatment (p < 0.001). Low rate of ICU admission, high rate of clinical recovery, and good drug safety were observed in COVID-19 patients treated with Remdesivir during two diverse pandemic waves.

A four component system consisting of two water-soluble calix[5]arenes (1 and 2) with differently substituted upper-rims and two α,ω-alkanediyldiammonium ions of different lengths (NC8N and NC10N) was found to assemble in a high-fidelity fashion providing exclusively the two homocalixarene capsules 1⊃NC8N⊂1 and 2⊃NC10N⊂2, irrespective of the order of guest addition. When the longer linker (NC10N) was left out from the mixture altogether, however, 1⊃NC8N⊂2 heterocapsules were formed.

Nanosized supramolecular assemblies were observed in diluted solutions (below the cmc) of amphiphilic p-tert-butylcalix[5]arene penta-O-butylsulfonato 1 and in mixtures of 1 and bola-type α,ω-alkanediyldiammonium ions of different lengths. SEM analyses and light scattering experiments revealed that these dications are able to modulate the size and the superficial charge of the colloidal systems under investigation. Comparison with NMR data unveiled the nature of the host/guest recognition events taking place, disclosing the formation of supra-amphiphilic surfactant species. The stoichiometry of the calixarene/diammonium ion inclusion complexes was found to be strongly dependent on the length and the number of equivalents of the guest used. The selective formation of endo-cavity “supramolecular bola-amphiphiles” and the additional interplay of electrostatic/hydrophobic interactions yielded “NMR-visible” and “NMR-invisible” supramolecular assemblies of different natures. The supramolecular bola-amphiphile derived from 1 and the hexadecanediyldiammmonium ion was seen to act as a promising solubilising agent, by significantly increasing the solubility of anticancer drug tamoxifen in water (>1000 fold).

A new type of coating, based on carboxylato-pillar[5]arene/poly(allylamine hydrochloride) multilayer films, for the sustained release of antibiotics with in vitro antiadhesive and antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria is described.

Amphiphilic PEGylated calix[5]arenes 1 and 2 were obtained in one step from the parent p-tert-butylcalix[5]arene and p-methylcalix[5]arene. Very low critical micellar concentrations (0.5 and 4.5 μM for 1 and 2 respectively) were determined by the Rose Bengal micellization method. Aggregation features were studied by means of 1H and DOSY NMR as well as by AFM. Release of Rose Bengal from the micellar environment was accomplished by increasing the temperature.

The remarkable affinity of deca-carboxylatopillar[5]arene WP5 towards the aminoglycoside antibiotic, amikacin, in aqueous media is reported; in vitro studies on Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) show that drug entrapment inside WP5 also takes place in the presence of the microrganisms, thus pointing to WP5 as an appealing carrier for amikacin targeted delivery.

Supramolecular aggregates formed through the association of an amphiphilic tetra-O-butylsulfonate calix[4]arene 1 were investigated in aqueous solution by a combination of different techniques (NMR, DLS and AFM). The ability of the micellar aggregates of calixarene 1 to increase the solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs was studied.