The increasing threat from antibiotic-resistant bacteria has necessitated the development of novel methods to counter bacterial infections. In this context, the application of metallic nanoparticles (NPs), especially gold (Au) and silver (Ag), has emerged as a promising strategy due to their remarkable antibacterial properties. This review examines research published between 2006 and 2023, focusing on leading journals in nanotechnology, materials science, and biomedical research. The primary applications explored are the efficacy of Ag and Au NPs as antibacterial agents, their synthesis methods, morphological properties, and mechanisms of action. An extensive review of the literature on NPs synthesis, morphology, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and effectiveness against various Gram(+/−) bacteria confirms the antibacterial efficacy of Au and Ag NPs. The synthesis methods and characteristics of NPs, such as size, shape, and surface charge, are crucial in determining their antibacterial activity, as these factors influence their interactions with bacterial cells. Furthermore, this review underscores the urgent necessity of standardizing synthesis techniques, MICs, and reporting protocols to enhance the comparability and reproducibility of future studies. Standardization is essential for ensuring the reliability of research findings and accelerating the clinical application of NP-based antimicrobial approaches. This review aims to propel NP-based antimicrobial strategies by elucidating the properties that enhance the antibacterial activity of Ag and Au NPs. By highlighting their inhibitory effects against various bacterial strains and relatively low cytotoxicity, this work positions Ag and Au NPs as promising materials for developing antibacterial agents, making a significant contribution to global efforts to combat antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

This research provides a baseline tool to detect, predict and scientifically evaluate the toxic environmental impact generated by chemical substances that are categorized as emerging contaminants (ECs) with endocrine disruptive action. The present study was carried out in five effluents of wastewater produced by urban and rural settlements of the coastal zone of Cihuatlan, Jalisco. Five compounds, considered ECs and that act as endocrine disruptors, were analyzed: Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Ketorolac, Pentachlorophenol (PCP), and Estradiol. The toxicity level (TEQ) of the ECs is estimated by a Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) analysis, evaluating their concentration and assessing the risk involved in the incorporation of each one into the environment. The presence of the ECs was confirmed in all the studied sites. It was attested that the concentrations of pollutants Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Ketorolac, and Pentachlorophenol were within the toxic range, whereas the compound Estradiol was found in concentrations that represent a high toxicity in the same effluents. This research recognizes that the analysis of the physicochemical properties of substances allows for predicting whether a contaminant is likely to act and persist in the environment and, in turn, bioaccumulate in organisms.

A choline chloride/urea natural deep eutectic solvent (ChCl NADES) was prepared via a green chemistry method and used to leach Zn and Mn oxides from conventional Zn–C scrap batteries. FTIR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy were used to characterize the NADES. The leaching kinetics of the Zn and Mn oxides was monitored at isothermal conditions (80, 100, 125, and 150 °C) and at two solid/NADES ratios: 3.3 and 10 g dm⁻³. It was possible to dissolve Zn and Mn oxides under all of tested conditions, reaching more than a 95% recovery for both metals at 150 °C after 90 min, whereas, at 25 °C, it was possible to leach up to 90% of the Zn and 30% of the Mn after 4320 min (72 h). Furthermore, the leaching kinetics was controlled by the boundary layer, coincident with a shrinking core model. According to the Arrhenius plot, the activation energy for Zn ranges from 49.13 to 52.21 kJ mol⁻¹, and that for Mn ranges from 46.97 to 66.77 kJ mol⁻¹.

There are few reports that demonstrate the antigenotoxic potential of cranberries. Although the types of berry fruits consumed worldwide are many, this paper focuses on cranberries that are commonly consumed in Mexico (Vaccinium macrocarpon species). The purpose of the present study is to determine whether cranberry ethanolic extract (CEE) can prevent the DNA damage produced by benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) using an in vivo mouse peripheral blood micronucleus assay. The experimental groups were organized as follows: a negative control group (without treatment), a positive group treated with B[a]P (200 mg/kg), a group administered with 800 mg/kg of CEE, and three groups treated with B[a]P and CEE (200, 400, and 800 mg/kg) respectively. The CEE and benzo[a]pyrene were administered orally for a week, on a daily basis. During this period the body weight, the feed intake, and the determination of antigenotoxic potential were quantified. At the end of this period, we continued with the same determinations for one week more (recovery period) but anymore administration of the substances. The animals treated with B[a]P showed a weight increase after the first week of administration. The same phenomenon was observed in the lots combined with B[a]P and CEE (low and medium doses). The dose of 800 mg/kg of CEE showed similar values to the control group at the end of the treatment period. In the second part of the assay, when the substances were not administered, these experimental groups regained their normal weight. The dose of CEE (800 mg/kg) was not genotoxic nor cytotoxic. On the contrary, the B[a]P increases the frequency of micronucleated normochromatic erythrocytes (MNNE) and reduces the rate of polychromatic erythrocytes (PE) at the end of the treatment period. With respect to the combined lots, a significant decrease in the MN rate was observed from the sixth to the eighth day of treatment with the two high doses applied; the highest protection (60%) was obtained with 800 mg/kg of CEE. The same dose showed an anticytotoxic effect which corresponded to an improvement of 62.5% in relation to the animals administered with the B[a]P. In the second period, all groups reached values that have been seen in the control group animals. Our results suggest that the inhibition of clastogenicity of the cranberry ethanolic extract against B[a]P is related to the antioxidant capacity of the combination of phytochemicals present in its chemical composition.

This research proposes an environmental quality indicator to detect, predict and scientifically evaluate the environmental impact generated by chemical substances within the pollutant group of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are categorized as emerging contaminants (ECs) with endocrine disruptive action. The present study was carried out in two coastal lagoons affected by wastewater produced by urban and rural settlements in the states of Colima and Jalisco. Four pharmaceutical compounds were analyzed: diclofenac, ibuprofen, ketorolac and naproxen. The muscle tissues of 14 fish species were analyzed; all had measurable concentrations of the four contaminants. The presence of the ECs was confirmed in all the samples collected. The bioaccumulative potential risk (BPR) of the ECs is estimated by calculating the environmental risk factors and the potential risks to human health, evaluating the concentration and assessing the risk involved in the incorporation of the pollutants into the environment. The BPR indicates the potential impact of NSAIDs on the ecology of these coastal lagoons, and predicts whether a contaminant is likely to act and persist in the environment and bioaccumulate in organisms. Additionally, it estimates the possibility of contamination and risks to human health caused by residues of the chemical contaminants.