Textile materials can be easily used as a support for the nano-decoration with active particles in order to gain new features such as self-cleaning, antimicrobial efficiency, water repellency, mechanical strength, color change and protection against ultraviolet radiations. In this context, our present research reports the fabrication and characterization (physico-chemical analysis and surface morphology) of cotton fabrics treated with reduced graphene oxide decorated with two types of TiO₂ nanoparticles co-doped with 1% iron and nitrogen atoms (TiO₂/rGO NPs) and synthesized in different hydrothermal conditions by a simultaneous precipitation of Ti³⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions to achieve their uniform distribution or after a sequential precipitation of these two cations for obtaining a higher concentration of iron on the surface of Ti⁴⁺ oxyhydroxide. Further, the antimicrobial efficiency of these TiO₂/rGO-treated textiles and their influence on human cells were assessed. We demonstrated the successful development of TiO₂/rGO coating of cotton fabrics which are harmless for human skin cells and inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. These findings confirm their great potential as novel graphene-based materials for biomedical and photocatalytic applications and this approach could be used for the large-scale fabrication of innovative self-cleaning and antimicrobial textiles.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represents a group of chronic autoimmune and idiopathic disorders that are characteristic of industrialized countries. In contrast to drug therapies, which exert several side effects, herbal remedies have constantly attracted the attention of researchers. Therefore, in the present study, a mother tincture (MT) from fresh, young, non-woody Thuja occidentalis L. branches with leaves was obtained using distillation-based techniques. Further, this was used to assess its in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities and anti-inflammatory properties, and to validate it as a potential phytotherapeutic treatment for IBD. The characterization of the tincture included common phytochemical screening assays for antioxidant capacity measurement, cell viability assays on Caco-2 colon cells, and in vivo assessment of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects by histopathological and ultrastructural analysis of the intestinal mucosa, measurement of reduced glutathione, lipid peroxidation, and gene expression of the inflammation markers (interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α) in intestine after oral administration to an experimental mouse model of colon inflammation (colitis) developed by intrarectal administration of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS). Our study proved that administration of 25 or 50 mg T. occidentalis MT/kg of body weight/day by gavage for 7 days succeeded in inhibiting the inflammatory process induced by TNBS in the intestine, most probably because of its rich contents of flavonoids and phenolic compounds. These data could contribute to the formulation of therapeutic products based on T. occidentalis that could come to the aid of IBD patients.

Due to its excellent bone-like mechanical properties and non-toxicity, magnesium (Mg) and its alloys have attracted great interest as biomaterials for orthopaedic applications. However, their fast degradation rate in physiological environments leads to an acute inflammatory response, restricting their use as biodegradable metallic implants. Endowing Mg-based biomaterials with immunomodulatory properties can help trigger a desired immune response capable of supporting a favorable healing process. In this study, electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) fibers loaded with coumarin (CM) and/or zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO) were used to coat the commercial AZ31 Mg alloy as single and combined formulas, and their effects on the macrophage inflammatory response and osteoclastogenic process were investigated by indirect contact studies. Likewise, the capacity of the analyzed samples to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been investigated. The data obtained by attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR-ATR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses indicate that AZ31 alloy was perfectly coated with the PCL fibers loaded with CM and ZnO, which had an important influence on tuning the release of the active ingredient. Furthermore, in terms of degradation in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution, the PCL-ZnO- and secondary PCL-CM-ZnO-coated samples exhibited the best corrosion behaviour. The in vitro results showed the PCL-CM-ZnO and, to a lower extent, PCL-ZnO coated sample exhibited the best behaviour in terms of inflammatory response and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL)-mediated differentiation of RAW 264.7 macrophages into osteoclasts. Altogether, the results obtained suggest that the coating of Mg alloys with fibrous PCL containing CM and/or ZnO can constitute a feasible strategy for biomedical applications.

Globally, cancer is the second most common cause of death, and Europe accounts for almost 25% of the global cancer burden, although its people make up only 10% of the world’s population. Conventional systemically administered anti-cancer drugs come with important drawbacks such as inefficiency due to poor bioavailability and improper biodistribution, severe side effects associated with low therapeutic indices, and the development of multidrug resistance. Therefore, smart nano-engineered targeted drug-delivery systems with tailored pharmacokinetics and biodistribution which can selectively deliver anti-cancer agents directly to the tumor site are the solution to most difficulties encountered with conventional therapeutic tools. Here, we report on the synthesis, physicochemical characterization, and in vitro evaluation of biocompatibility and anti-tumor activity of novel magnetically targetable SPIONs based on magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles’ surface modified with β-cyclodextrin (CD) and paclitaxel (PTX)–guest–host inclusion complexes (Fe₃O₄@β-CD/PTX). Both pristine Fe₃O₄@β-CD nanopowders and PTX-loaded thin films fabricated by MAPLE technique were investigated. Pristine Fe₃O₄@β-CD and Fe₃O₄@β-CD/PTX thin films were physicochemically characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The biocompatibility of bare magnetic nanocomposite thin films was evaluated by MTT cell viability assay on a normal 3T3 osteoblast cell line culture and by measuring the level of NO in the culture medium. No significant modifications, neither in cell viability nor in NO level, could be observed, thereby demonstrating the excellent biocompatibility of the SPIONs thin films. Inverted phase-contrast microscopy showed no evident adverse effect on the morphology of normal osteoblasts. On the other hand, Fe₃O₄@β-CD/PTX films decreased the cell viability of the MG-63 osteosarcoma cell line by 85%, demonstrating excellent anti-tumor activity. The obtained results recommend these magnetic hybrid films as promising candidates for future delivery, and hyperthermia applications in cancer treatment.

In the context of inefficient antibiotics, antibacterial alternatives are urgently needed to stop the increasing resistance rates in pathogens. This study reports the fabrication and characterization of four promising magnetite-based antibiotic delivery systems for ENT (ear, nose and throat) applications. Magnetite nanoparticles were functionalized with streptomycin and neomycin and some were entrapped in polymeric spheres. The obtained nanomaterials are stable, with spherical morphology, their size ranging from ~2.8 to ~4.7 nm for antibiotic-coated magnetite nanoparticles, and from submicron sizes up to several microns for polymer-coated magnetite–antibiotic composites. Cell viability and antimicrobial tests demonstrated their biocompatibility on human diploid cells and their antibacterial effect against Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) opportunistic bacteria. The presence of the polymeric coat proved an enhancement in biocompatibility and a slight reduction in the antimicrobial efficiency of the spheres. Our results support the idea that functional NPs and polymeric microsystems containing functional NPs could be tailored to achieve more biocompatibility or more antimicrobial effect, depending on the bioactive compounds they incorporate and their intended application.

The implant-related infection as a consequence of bacterial adherence and biofilm formation remains one of the main causes of implant failure. Grace to recent advances in materials science, their great mechanical properties and their biocompatibility (both in vitro and in vivo), antibacterial coatings have gradually become a primary component of the global strategy for preventing microbial colonization. In the present work, novel antibacterial coatings containing hydroxyapatite nanoparticles doped with two different concentrations of samarium (5SmHAp and 10SmHAp) were obtained on Si substrates using the dip coating method. The morphology and physicochemical properties of these modified surfaces were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In addition, their antimicrobial effects and biocompatibility were assessed. The results showed a continuous and homogeneous layer, uniformly deposited, with no cracks or impurities. 5SmHAp and 10SmHAp surfaces exhibited significant antibiofilm activity and good biocompatibility without inducing cytotoxic effects in human gingival fibroblasts. All these findings indicate that samarium doped hydroxyapatite coatings could be great candidates for the development of new antimicrobial strategies.