Sort by
Rhodamine B Dye–Coupled Hydrophobic Carbon Quantum Dots with Dual-Emission for White-Light Optoelectronic Applications
Alaa Y. Mahmoud
,Walaa Al-masri
Posted: 06 March 2026
Between Surprises and Novelties: Benzyl Triphenyl Phosphonium Bromide Is Bactericidal Against MRSA and Inhibits Biofilm Formation with Minimal Cytotoxicity
Silvana Alfei
,Gabriella Piatti
,Guendalina Zuccari
,Caterina Reggio
,Anna Maria Schito
Background. Quaternary phosphonium salts (QPSs) are extensively researched since represent new promising weapons to counteract critical superbugs, regardless their robust pattern of resistance. Methods. Here, dynamic light scattering analysis was carried out on QPSs 1, 3 and 4 recently reported and already found active against cancer cells, and phosphine 2 unveiling particles of 700-800 nm for 2, 3 and 4 and positive Zeta-potential (ζ-p ) for all (+4.2-+38.1 mV). 1, 3 and 4 plus 2, were microbiologically evaluated, assessing minimum inhibitory concentration values (MICs) (1-4), time-killing curves (1), and anti-biofilm capacity (1). Results. MICs on a total of 23 Gram-positive and Gram-negative clinically isolated superbugs, evidenced that, poorly soluble 2, 3 and 4 exhibited not reproducible MICs, while 1 provided interesting MICs, which made it worthy of further investigations. In fact, 1 was active against clinically relevant multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-positive species and not active against MDR Gram-negative species including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Specifically, MICs = 16-32 µg/mL and 16-64 µg/mL were determined against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and S. epidermidis (MRSE) respectively. MICs = 32-64 µg/mL were observed against teicoplanin- and vancomycin-resistant (VRE) Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium and no activity against P. aeruginosa (> 128 µg/mL). Notably, time-kill experiments established that 1 was bactericidal against MRSA, while strongly inhibited (up to 100%) the formation of biofilm produced by the strongest biofilm-producers S. epidermidis and S. aureus isolates of our collection, at MICs and 2.5 × MIC concentrations, depending on isolates considered. Interestingly, if used against Staphylococci, and mainly MRSA, 1 was softly haemolytic. It was no cytotoxic against not tumorigenic human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and murine embryonic fibroblasts (3T3) in all cases. Structure-activity relationships have been studied, leading to outcomes which could be of great help for designing optimized new QPSs. Conclusions. Findings of this study overturn previous antimicrobial reports on compound 1, suggesting it as a new excellent weapon to counteract bacterial resistance and biofilm production by MRSA and MRSE superbugs, as well as thinkable for future in vivo experiments and clinical development.
Background. Quaternary phosphonium salts (QPSs) are extensively researched since represent new promising weapons to counteract critical superbugs, regardless their robust pattern of resistance. Methods. Here, dynamic light scattering analysis was carried out on QPSs 1, 3 and 4 recently reported and already found active against cancer cells, and phosphine 2 unveiling particles of 700-800 nm for 2, 3 and 4 and positive Zeta-potential (ζ-p ) for all (+4.2-+38.1 mV). 1, 3 and 4 plus 2, were microbiologically evaluated, assessing minimum inhibitory concentration values (MICs) (1-4), time-killing curves (1), and anti-biofilm capacity (1). Results. MICs on a total of 23 Gram-positive and Gram-negative clinically isolated superbugs, evidenced that, poorly soluble 2, 3 and 4 exhibited not reproducible MICs, while 1 provided interesting MICs, which made it worthy of further investigations. In fact, 1 was active against clinically relevant multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-positive species and not active against MDR Gram-negative species including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Specifically, MICs = 16-32 µg/mL and 16-64 µg/mL were determined against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and S. epidermidis (MRSE) respectively. MICs = 32-64 µg/mL were observed against teicoplanin- and vancomycin-resistant (VRE) Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium and no activity against P. aeruginosa (> 128 µg/mL). Notably, time-kill experiments established that 1 was bactericidal against MRSA, while strongly inhibited (up to 100%) the formation of biofilm produced by the strongest biofilm-producers S. epidermidis and S. aureus isolates of our collection, at MICs and 2.5 × MIC concentrations, depending on isolates considered. Interestingly, if used against Staphylococci, and mainly MRSA, 1 was softly haemolytic. It was no cytotoxic against not tumorigenic human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and murine embryonic fibroblasts (3T3) in all cases. Structure-activity relationships have been studied, leading to outcomes which could be of great help for designing optimized new QPSs. Conclusions. Findings of this study overturn previous antimicrobial reports on compound 1, suggesting it as a new excellent weapon to counteract bacterial resistance and biofilm production by MRSA and MRSE superbugs, as well as thinkable for future in vivo experiments and clinical development.
Posted: 06 March 2026
Sodium-Ion Batteries: Advances, Challenges, and Roadmap to Commercialization
Abniel Machín
,Francisco Márquez
Posted: 06 March 2026
Advanced Silica-Based Catalysts from Rice Husk Ash for CO2 Fixation: Synergistic Effects of Metal Oxides and Ionic Liquids in Glycerol Carbonate Production
Adriele Todero
,Paloma Reatto
,Fabiana Pereira
,Alexander Junges
,Rogério Dal Lago
,Marcelo Mignoni
Posted: 06 March 2026
Antimicrobial Effect of Cellulose Nanofibrils (CNFs) and Biobased Additives in Polyvinyl Alcohol Nanocomposite Materials for Sustainable Food Packaging Application
F Valdebenito
,CP Quezada
,D Parra
,Valentina Rivera Concha
,Elizabeth Elgueta
,Rodrigo Cáceres
,R Cabezas
,C Farkas
,M Pereira
,L Azocar
+1 authors
Posted: 06 March 2026
10-(3,5-Di-tert-butylphenyl)-9-Mesitylacridinium Tetrafluoroborate
Yuki Itabashi
,Kei Ohkubo
Posted: 06 March 2026
Gas-Phase Phosphate Surface Modification of Iron Powders: Microstructural Evolution and Coating Formation Mechanisms
Mirzokhid A. Tukhtabayev
,Abdukayum R. Normirzaev
,Olga F. Minchukova
,Aliaksandr L. Zhaludkevich
Posted: 05 March 2026
Heat and Photon Energy Phenomena: Dealing with Matter at the Atomic and Electronic Levels
Mubarak Ali
Posted: 05 March 2026
Triple-Cation Perovskite Photoanodes for Solar Water Splitting: From Photovoltaic-Assisted to Immersed Photoelectrochemical Operation
Vera La Ferrara
,Marco Martino
,Antonio Marino
,Giovanni Landi
,Silvano Del Gobbo
,Nicola Lisi
,Rosanna Viscardi
,Alberto Giaconia
,Giulia Monteleone
Posted: 05 March 2026
Plant-Based Biomaterials as Bioinstructive Immunomodulators: Design Principles, Mechanisms, and Translational Challenges
Stefania Lamponi
Posted: 04 March 2026
Accurate Density Determination of Various Natural Stones Employing Archimedes’ Principle and a New Non-Destructive Liquid Pycnometer for Solids
Eriketi Loizidou
,Deepshikha Deepshikha
,Constantinos D. Zeinalipour-Yazdi
Posted: 04 March 2026
Enhanced Antibacterial Performance of PANI–CdS/Au Nanocomposites Synthesized by Chemical Routes
Raad Al-Kilabi
,Abdulameer H. Ali
,Hude Al-Allaq
,Elias F. Muhammed
,Sahib Alkulaibi
,Adel Alkhayatt
,Hussein Al-Shabani
,Thmr Ihsan
,Haider Al-Hello
Posted: 04 March 2026
Network Silsesquioxane-Based Organogel/Silicone Composites for the Long-Lasting Delivery of Nitric Oxide
Kyle D. Hallowell
,Fatima Naser Aldine
,Hope N. Vonder Brink
,Ashley K. Mockensturm
,Hitesh Handa
,Elizabeth J. Brisbois
,Alexis D. Ostrowski
,Joseph C. Furgal
Posted: 03 March 2026
Sequential Electrospinning of Asymmetric PDLLA/PVP-HA Scaffolds Functionalized with Glycine for Medical Device
Antonio Laezza
,Francesca Armiento
,Luigi Fabiano
,Serena Munaò
,Paola Campione
,Matteo Carrozzino
,Ileana Ielo
,Katja Schenke-Layland
,Giovanna De Luca
,Grazia Maria Lucia Messina
+3 authors
Posted: 03 March 2026
Strontium Substitution, Coordination Chemistry and Crystallisation Behaviour of Fluorapatite Glass-Ceramics in the SiO₂–Al₂O₃–P₂O₅–CaO/SrO–CaF₂ System
Tomas Duminis
Posted: 03 March 2026
Correlation Between Theoretical Permanganate Index Method and Electrochemical Responses of Cyclic Voltammetry for the Detection of Organic Matter
Paolo Yammine
,Nouha Sari-Chmayssem
,Hanna El-Nakat
,Darine Chahine
,Moomen Baroudi
,Farouk Jaber
,Ayman Chmayssem
Posted: 03 March 2026
Preparation and Properties Study of One-Part Additive Curing Silicone Composites Applying in Advanced Packaging
Yuwen Xu
,Liangjun Liu
,Wenfei Wang
,Minghua Jiang
,Haibing Yang
,Tingxin Chen
,Kun Jia
Posted: 03 March 2026
PPO Inhibitors as a Key Focus in Herbicide Discovery
Min Zhao
,Baojian Li
,Ying Gao
,Rui Zhang
,Subinur Ahmattohti
,Jie Li
,Xinbo Shi
Posted: 03 March 2026
Porous Organic Polymers with Azo, Azoxy and Azodioxy Linkages: Design, Synthesis and CO2 Adsorption Properties
Ivan Kodrin
,Ivana Biljan
Posted: 02 March 2026
pH and Temperature-Dependent Dissolution Kinetics of Commercial Lightly-Burned Magnesia: Bridging Methodological Gaps for Cement Applications
Xiaowen Zhang
,Juan Pablo Gevaudan
Posted: 02 March 2026
of 420