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The treatment of chronic wounds involves precise requirements and complex challenges, as the healing process cannot go beyond the inflammatory phase, therefore increasing the healing time and implying a higher risk of opportunistic infection. Following a better understanding of the healing process, oxygen supply has been validated as a therapeutic approach to improve and speed up wound healing. Moreover, the local implications of antimicrobial agents (such as silver-based nano-compounds) significantly support the normal healing process, by combating bacterial contamination and colonization. In this study, silver (S) and tannylated calcium peroxide (CaO 2 @TA) nanoparticles were obtained by adapted microfluidic and precipitation synthesis methods, respectively. After complementary physicochemical evaluation, both types of nanoparticles were loaded in (Alg) alginate-based gels that were further evaluated as possible dressings for wound healing. The obtained composites showed a porous structure and uniform distribution of nanoparticles through the polymeric matrix (evidenced by spectrophotometric analysis and electron microscopy studies), together with a good swelling capacity. The as-proposed gel dressings exhibited a constant and suitable concentration of released oxygen, as shown for up to eight hours (UV-Vis investigation). The biofilm modulation data indicated a synergistic antimicrobial effect between silver and tannylated calcium peroxide nanoparticles, with a prominent inhibitory action against the Gram-positive bacterial biofilm after 48 h. Beneficial effects in the human keratinocytes cultured in contact with the obtained materials were demonstrated by the performed tests, such as MTT, LDH, and NO.

The recognized antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles is a well-studied property, especially when designing and developing biomaterials with medical applications. As biological activity is closely related to the physicochemical characteristics of a material, aspects such as particle morphology and dimension should be considered. Microfluidic systems in continuous flow represent a promising method to control the size, shape, and size distribution of synthesized nanoparticles. Moreover, using microfluidics widens the synthesis options by creating and controlling parameters that are otherwise difficult to maintain in conventional batch procedures. This study used a microfluidic platform with a cross-shape design as an innovative method for synthesizing silver nanoparticles and varied the precursor concentration and the purging speed as experimental parameters. The compositional and microstructural characterization of the obtained samples was carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Four formulations of alginate-based hydrogels with the addition of hyaluronic acid and silver nanoparticles were obtained to highlight the antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles and the efficiency of such a composite in wound treatment. The porous structure, swelling capacity, and biological properties were evaluated through physicochemical analysis (FT-IR and SEM) and through contact with prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The results of the physicochemical and biological investigations revealed desirable characteristics for performant wound dressings (i.e., biocompatibility, appropriate porous structure, swelling rate, and degradation rate, ability to inhibit biofilm formation, and cell growth stimulation capacity), and the obtained materials are thus recommended for treating chronic and infected wounds.

Since cancer is a continuously increasing concern for the general population, more efficient treatment alternatives ought to be developed. In this regard, a promising direction is represented by the use of magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) to act both as a nanocarrier for the targeted release of antitumoral drugs and as hyperthermia agents. Thus, the present study focused on improving the control upon the outcome properties of MNPs by using two synthesis methods, namely the co-precipitation and microwave-assisted hydrothermal method, for the incorporation of usnic acid (UA), a natural lichen-derived metabolite with proven anticancer activity. The obtained UA-loaded MNPs were thoroughly characterized regarding their morpho-structural and physicochemical properties through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). Results demonstrated the formation of magnetite as the unique mineralogical phase through both types of synthesis, with increased uniformity regarding the drug loading efficiency, size, stability, and magnetic properties obtained through the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of the nanostructures against the HEK 293T cell line was investigated through the XTT assay, which further proved their potential for anticancer treatment applications.

Microfluidics provides a precise synthesis of micro-/nanostructures for various applications, including bioengineering and medicine. In this review article, traditional and microfluidic synthesis methods of zinc oxide (ZnO) are compared concerning particle size distribution, morphology, applications, reaction parameters, used reagents, and microfluidic device materials. Challenges of traditional synthesis methods are reviewed in a manner where microfluidic approaches may overcome difficulties related to synthesis precision, bulk materials, and reproducibility.

There has been a surge in interest in developing protective textiles and clothes to protect wearers from risks such as chemical, biological, heat, UV, pollution, and other environmental factors. Traditional protective textiles have strong water resistance but lack breathability and have a limited capacity to remove water vapor and moisture. Electrospun fibers and membranes have shown enormous promise in developing protective materials and garments. Textiles made up of electrospun fibers and membranes can provide thermal comfort and protection against a wide range of environmental threats. Because of their multifunctional properties, such as semi-conductivity, ultraviolet absorption, optical transparency, and photoluminescence, their low toxicity, biodegradability, low cost, and versatility in achieving diverse shapes, ZnO-based nanomaterials are a subject of increasing interest in the current review. The growing uses of electrospinning in the development of breathable and protective textiles are highlighted in this review.

The current trend in antimicrobial-agent development focuses on the use of natural compounds that limit the toxicity of conventional drugs and provide a potential solution to the antimicrobial resistance crisis. Curcumin represents a natural bioactive compound with well-known antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. However, its hydrophobicity considerably limits the possibility of body administration. Therefore, dextran-coated iron oxide nanoparticles can be used as efficient drug-delivery supports that could overcome this limitation. The iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized through the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method by varying the treatment parameters (pressure and reaction time). The nanoparticles were subsequently coated with dextran and used for the loading of curcumin (in various concentrations). The drug-delivery systems were characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD) coupled with Rietveld refinement, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM (HR-TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential, thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and UV-Vis spectrophotometry, as well as regarding their antimicrobial efficiency and biocompatibility using the appropriate assays. The results demonstrate a promising antimicrobial efficiency, as well as an increased possibility of controlling the properties of the resulted nanosystems. Thus, the present study represents an important step forward toward the development of highly efficient antimicrobial drug-delivery systems.

Recent years have witnessed a tremendous interest in the use of essential oils in biomedical applications due to their intrinsic antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. However, their low aqueous solubility and high volatility compromise their maximum potential, thus requiring the development of efficient supports for their delivery. Hence, this manuscript focuses on developing nanostructured systems based on Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 core-shell nanoparticles and three different types of essential oils, i.e., thyme, rosemary, and basil, to overcome these limitations. Specifically, this work represents a comparative study between co-precipitation and microwave-assisted hydrothermal methods for the synthesis of Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 core-shell nanoparticles. All magnetic samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) to study the impact of the synthesis method on the nanoparticle formation and properties, in terms of crystallinity, purity, size, morphology, stability, and magnetization. Moreover, the antimicrobial properties of the synthesized nanocomposites were assessed through in vitro tests on Staphylococcus aureus , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Escherichia coli , and Candida albicans . In this manner, this study demonstrated the efficiency of the core-shell nanostructured systems as potential applications in antimicrobial therapies.