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Resuspendable Powders of Lyophilized Chalcogen Particles with Activity against Microorganisms

Authors :
Shashank Reddy Pinnapireddy
Steffen F. Hartmann
Muhammad Jawad Nasim
Udo Bakowsky
Sharoon Griffin
Muhammad Sarfraz
Cornelia M. Keck
Claus Jacob
Source :
Antioxidants, Antioxidants; Volume 7; Issue 2; Pages: 23
Publication Year :
2018
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2018.

Abstract

Many organic sulfur, selenium and tellurium compounds show considerable activity against microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. This pronounced activity is often due to the specific, oxidizing redox behavior of the chalcogen-chalcogen bond present in such molecules. Interestingly, similar chalcogen-chalcogen motifs are also found in the elemental forms of these elements, and while those materials are insoluble in aqueous media, it has recently been possible to unlock their biological activities using naturally produced or homogenized suspensions of respective chalcogen nanoparticles. Those suspensions can be employed readily and often effectively against common pathogenic microorganisms, still their practical uses are limited as such suspensions are difficult to transport, store and apply. Using mannitol as stabilizer, it is now possible to lyophilize such suspensions to produce solid forms of the nanoparticles, which upon resuspension in water essentially retain their initial size and exhibit considerable biological activity. The sequence of Nanosizing, Lyophilization and Resuspension (NaLyRe) eventually provides access to a range of lyophilized materials which may be considered as easy-to-handle, ready-to-use and at the same time as bioavailable, active forms of otherwise insoluble or sparingly substances. In the case of elemental sulfur, selenium and tellurium, this approach promises wider practical applications, for instance in the medical or agricultural arena.

Details

ISSN :
20763921
Volume :
7
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Antioxidants
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....c5d329b78eb7ea02062d55c816f2ca74
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox7020023