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In the last decades, the treatment of primary and secondary bone tumors has faced a slow-down in its development, being mainly based on chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical interventions. However, these conventional therapeutic strategies present a series of disadvantages (e.g., multidrug resistance, tumor recurrence, severe side effects, formation of large bone defects), which limit their application and efficacy. In recent years, these procedures were combined with several adjuvant therapies, with different degrees of success. To overcome the drawbacks of current therapies and improve treatment outcomes, other strategies started being investigated, like carrier-mediated drug delivery, bone substitutes for repairing bone defects, and multifunctional scaffolds with bone tissue regeneration and antitumor properties. Thus, this paper aims to present the types of bone tumors and their current treatment approaches, further focusing on the recent advances in new therapeutic alternatives.
Adrian Emilian Bădilă; Dragoș Mihai Rădulescu; Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu; Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu; Marius Rădulescu; Adrian Radu Rădulescu. Recent Advances in the Treatment of Bone Metastases and Primary Bone Tumors: An Up-to-Date Review. Cancers 2021, 13, 4229 .
AMA StyleAdrian Emilian Bădilă, Dragoș Mihai Rădulescu, Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu, Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu, Marius Rădulescu, Adrian Radu Rădulescu. Recent Advances in the Treatment of Bone Metastases and Primary Bone Tumors: An Up-to-Date Review. Cancers. 2021; 13 (16):4229.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAdrian Emilian Bădilă; Dragoș Mihai Rădulescu; Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu; Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu; Marius Rădulescu; Adrian Radu Rădulescu. 2021. "Recent Advances in the Treatment of Bone Metastases and Primary Bone Tumors: An Up-to-Date Review." Cancers 13, no. 16: 4229.
Otorhinolaryngology is a vast domain that requires the aid of many resources for optimal performance. The medical devices utilized in this branch share common problems, such as the formation of biofilms. These structured communities of microbes encased in a 3D matrix can develop antimicrobial resistance (AMR), thus making it a problem with challenging solutions. Therefore, it is of concern the introduction in the medical practice involving biomaterials for ear, nose and throat (ENT) devices, such as implants for the trachea (stents), ear (cochlear implants), and voice recovery (voice prosthetics). The surface of these materials must be biocompatible and limit the development of biofilm while still promoting regeneration. In this respect, several surface modification techniques and functionalization procedures can be utilized to facilitate the success of the implants and ensure a long time of use. On this note, this review provides information on the intricate underlying mechanisms of biofilm formation, the large specter of implants and prosthetics that are susceptible to microbial colonization and subsequently related infections. Specifically, the discussion is particularized on biofilm development on ENT devices, ways to reduce it, and recent approaches that have emerged in this field.
Dan Cristian Gheorghe; Andrei Ilie; Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu; Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu. Preventing Biofilm Formation and Development on Ear, Nose and Throat Medical Devices. Biomedicines 2021, 9, 1025 .
AMA StyleDan Cristian Gheorghe, Andrei Ilie, Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu, Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu. Preventing Biofilm Formation and Development on Ear, Nose and Throat Medical Devices. Biomedicines. 2021; 9 (8):1025.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDan Cristian Gheorghe; Andrei Ilie; Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu; Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu. 2021. "Preventing Biofilm Formation and Development on Ear, Nose and Throat Medical Devices." Biomedicines 9, no. 8: 1025.
The study of magnetism in materials without partially filled d or f bands has gained much attention in the past years. Even though it has challenged the understanding of traditional magnetism, there is a wide range of studies debating the nature of magnetism in such materials. Theories on whether the exhibited ferromagnetic behavior is due to sample impurities or intrinsic structural defects have been published throughout the years. Materials such as hexaborides, non-magnetic oxides, and carbon nanostructures have been of great interest due to their potential applications. For a better understanding, herein, we present a literature review combining past and up-to-date studies on these materials.
Iulia Lungu; Alexandru Grumezescu; Claudiu Fleaca. Unexpected Ferromagnetism—A Review. Applied Sciences 2021, 11, 6707 .
AMA StyleIulia Lungu, Alexandru Grumezescu, Claudiu Fleaca. Unexpected Ferromagnetism—A Review. Applied Sciences. 2021; 11 (15):6707.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIulia Lungu; Alexandru Grumezescu; Claudiu Fleaca. 2021. "Unexpected Ferromagnetism—A Review." Applied Sciences 11, no. 15: 6707.
Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is an effective bioelectrochemical procedure that uses controlled electrical pulses to facilitate the increase of intracellular concentration of certain substances (electropermeabilization/ reversible electroporation). ECT using antitumor drugs such as bleomycin and cisplatin is a minimally invasive targeted therapy that can be used as an alternative for oncologic patients not eligible for surgery or other standard therapies. Even though ECT is mainly applied as palliative care for metastases, it may also be used for primary tumors that are unresectable due to size and location. Skin neoplasms are the main clinical indication of ECT, the procedure reporting good curative results and high efficiency across all tumor types, including melanoma. In daily practice, there are many cases in which the patient’s quality of life can be significantly improved by a safe procedure such as ECT. Its popularity must be increased because it has a safe profile and minor local adverse reactions. The method can be used by dermatologists, oncologists, and surgeons. The aim of this paper is to review recent literature concerning electrochemotherapy and other clinical applications of electroporation for the targeted therapy of metastatic melanoma.
Corina Cucu; Călin Giurcăneanu; Liliana Popa; Olguța Orzan; Cristina Beiu; Alina Holban; Alexandru Grumezescu; Bogdan Matei; Marius Popescu; Constantin Căruntu; Mara Mihai. Electrochemotherapy and Other Clinical Applications of Electroporation for the Targeted Therapy of Metastatic Melanoma. Materials 2021, 14, 3985 .
AMA StyleCorina Cucu, Călin Giurcăneanu, Liliana Popa, Olguța Orzan, Cristina Beiu, Alina Holban, Alexandru Grumezescu, Bogdan Matei, Marius Popescu, Constantin Căruntu, Mara Mihai. Electrochemotherapy and Other Clinical Applications of Electroporation for the Targeted Therapy of Metastatic Melanoma. Materials. 2021; 14 (14):3985.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCorina Cucu; Călin Giurcăneanu; Liliana Popa; Olguța Orzan; Cristina Beiu; Alina Holban; Alexandru Grumezescu; Bogdan Matei; Marius Popescu; Constantin Căruntu; Mara Mihai. 2021. "Electrochemotherapy and Other Clinical Applications of Electroporation for the Targeted Therapy of Metastatic Melanoma." Materials 14, no. 14: 3985.
The beneficial synergy between antimicrobial silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and essential oils (EOs), with therapeutic effects that have been acknowledged and explored for a long time, opens the way towards developing new and promising alternatives for anti-infective therapies. With the aim to improve the cytocompatibility and stability of AgNPs and to overcome the volatilization of EOs, AgNPs conjugated with sage (Salvia officinalis) and cinnamon (Cinnamomum aromaticum) EOs were obtained in our study. The synthesis process was realized either by classical or ultrasound-assisted chemical reduction. Compositional and microstructural characterization of the as-obtained [email protected] NPs was performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The biodistribution of [email protected] NPs was evaluated on a mouse animal model.
Oana Gherasim; Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu; George Dan Mogoşanu; Bogdan Ştefan Vasile; Cornelia Bejenaru; Ludovic Everard Bejenaru; Ecaterina Andronescu; Laurenţiu Mogoantă. Biodistribution of essential oil-conjugated silver nanoparticles. Romanian journal of morphology and embryology = Revue roumaine de morphologie et embryologie 2021, 61, 1099 -1109.
AMA StyleOana Gherasim, Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu, George Dan Mogoşanu, Bogdan Ştefan Vasile, Cornelia Bejenaru, Ludovic Everard Bejenaru, Ecaterina Andronescu, Laurenţiu Mogoantă. Biodistribution of essential oil-conjugated silver nanoparticles. Romanian journal of morphology and embryology = Revue roumaine de morphologie et embryologie. 2021; 61 (4):1099-1109.
Chicago/Turabian StyleOana Gherasim; Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu; George Dan Mogoşanu; Bogdan Ştefan Vasile; Cornelia Bejenaru; Ludovic Everard Bejenaru; Ecaterina Andronescu; Laurenţiu Mogoantă. 2021. "Biodistribution of essential oil-conjugated silver nanoparticles." Romanian journal of morphology and embryology = Revue roumaine de morphologie et embryologie 61, no. 4: 1099-1109.
Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative) bacteria represent major infectious threats in the hospital environment due to their wide distribution, opportunistic behavior, and increasing antibiotic resistance. This study reports on the deposition of polyvinylpyrrolidone/antibiotic/isoflavonoid thin films by the matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) method as anti-adhesion barrier coatings, on biomedical surfaces for improved resistance to microbial colonization. The thin films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, infrared microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. In vitro biological assay tests were performed to evaluate the influence of the thin films on the development of biofilms formed by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. In vitro biocompatibility tests were assessed on human endothelial cells examined for up to five days of incubation, via qualitative and quantitative methods. The results of this study revealed that the laser-fabricated coatings are biocompatible and resistant to microbial colonization and biofilm formation, making them successful candidates for biomedical devices and contact surfaces that would otherwise be amenable to contact transmission.
Valentina Grumezescu; Irina Negut; Rodica Cristescu; Alexandru Grumezescu; Alina Holban; Florin Iordache; Mariana Chifiriuc; Roger Narayan; Douglas Chrisey. Isoflavonoid-Antibiotic Thin Films Fabricated by MAPLE with Improved Resistance to Microbial Colonization. Molecules 2021, 26, 3634 .
AMA StyleValentina Grumezescu, Irina Negut, Rodica Cristescu, Alexandru Grumezescu, Alina Holban, Florin Iordache, Mariana Chifiriuc, Roger Narayan, Douglas Chrisey. Isoflavonoid-Antibiotic Thin Films Fabricated by MAPLE with Improved Resistance to Microbial Colonization. Molecules. 2021; 26 (12):3634.
Chicago/Turabian StyleValentina Grumezescu; Irina Negut; Rodica Cristescu; Alexandru Grumezescu; Alina Holban; Florin Iordache; Mariana Chifiriuc; Roger Narayan; Douglas Chrisey. 2021. "Isoflavonoid-Antibiotic Thin Films Fabricated by MAPLE with Improved Resistance to Microbial Colonization." Molecules 26, no. 12: 3634.
Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) have been investigated for various skin therapies in recent years. These NPs can improve the healing and modulate inflammation in the wounds, but the mechanisms involved in such changes are yet to be known. In this study, we have designed a facile ZnO nano-coated dressing with improved antimicrobial efficiency against typical wound pathogens involved in biofilm and chronic infections. ZnO NPs were obtained by hydrothermal method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Antibacterial and antibiofilm effects were evaluated against laboratory and clinical isolates of significant Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis) opportunistic pathogens, by quantitative methods. Our results have shown that the developed dressings have a high antibacterial efficiency after 6–24 h of contact when containing 0.6 and 0.9% ZnO NPs and this effect is similar against reference and clinical isolates. Moreover, biofilm development is significantly impaired for up to three days of contact, depending on the NPs load and microbial species. These results show that ZnO-coated dressings prevent biofilm development of main wound pathogens and represent efficient candidates for developing bioactive dressings to fight chronic wounds.
Sajjad Rayyif; Hamzah Mohammed; Carmen Curuțiu; Alexandra Bîrcă; Alexandru Grumezescu; Bogdan Vasile; Lia Dițu; Veronica Lazăr; Mariana Chifiriuc; Grigore Mihăescu; Alina Holban. ZnO Nanoparticles-Modified Dressings to Inhibit Wound Pathogens. Materials 2021, 14, 3084 .
AMA StyleSajjad Rayyif, Hamzah Mohammed, Carmen Curuțiu, Alexandra Bîrcă, Alexandru Grumezescu, Bogdan Vasile, Lia Dițu, Veronica Lazăr, Mariana Chifiriuc, Grigore Mihăescu, Alina Holban. ZnO Nanoparticles-Modified Dressings to Inhibit Wound Pathogens. Materials. 2021; 14 (11):3084.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSajjad Rayyif; Hamzah Mohammed; Carmen Curuțiu; Alexandra Bîrcă; Alexandru Grumezescu; Bogdan Vasile; Lia Dițu; Veronica Lazăr; Mariana Chifiriuc; Grigore Mihăescu; Alina Holban. 2021. "ZnO Nanoparticles-Modified Dressings to Inhibit Wound Pathogens." Materials 14, no. 11: 3084.
Thousands of microorganisms coexist within the human microbiota. However, certain conditions can predispose the organism to the overgrowth of specific pathogens that further lead to opportunistic infections. One of the most common such imbalances in the normal oral flora is the excessive growth of Candida spp., which produces oral candidiasis. In immunocompromised individuals, this fungal infection can reach the systemic level and become life-threatening. Hence, prompt and efficient treatment must be administered. Traditional antifungal agents, such as polyenes, azoles, and echinocandins, may often result in severe adverse effects, regardless of the administration form. Therefore, novel treatments have to be developed and implemented in clinical practice. In this regard, the present paper focuses on the newest therapeutic options against oral Candida infections, reviewing compounds and biomaterials with inherent antifungal properties, improved materials for dental prostheses and denture adhesives, drug delivery systems, and combined approaches towards developing the optimum treatment.
Dan Gheorghe; Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu; Alexandra Bîrcă; Alexandru Grumezescu. Biomaterials for the Prevention of Oral Candidiasis Development. Pharmaceutics 2021, 13, 803 .
AMA StyleDan Gheorghe, Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu, Alexandra Bîrcă, Alexandru Grumezescu. Biomaterials for the Prevention of Oral Candidiasis Development. Pharmaceutics. 2021; 13 (6):803.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDan Gheorghe; Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu; Alexandra Bîrcă; Alexandru Grumezescu. 2021. "Biomaterials for the Prevention of Oral Candidiasis Development." Pharmaceutics 13, no. 6: 803.
The inner ear is sensitive to various infections of viral, bacterial, or fungal origin, which, if left untreated, may lead to hearing loss or progress through the temporal bone and cause intracranial infectious complications. Due to its isolated location, the inner ear is difficult to treat, imposing an acute need for improving current therapeutic approaches. A solution for enhancing antimicrobial treatment performance is the use of nanoparticles. Different inorganic, lipidic, and polymeric-based such particles have been designed, tested, and proven successful in the controlled delivery of medication, improving drug internalization by the targeted cells while reducing the systemic side effects. This paper makes a general presentation of common inner ear infections and therapeutics administration routes, further focusing on newly developed nanoparticle-mediated treatments.
Dan Gheorghe; Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu; Alexandra Bîrcă; Alexandru Grumezescu. Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Inner Ear Infections. Nanomaterials 2021, 11, 1311 .
AMA StyleDan Gheorghe, Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu, Alexandra Bîrcă, Alexandru Grumezescu. Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Inner Ear Infections. Nanomaterials. 2021; 11 (5):1311.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDan Gheorghe; Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu; Alexandra Bîrcă; Alexandru Grumezescu. 2021. "Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Inner Ear Infections." Nanomaterials 11, no. 5: 1311.
Muscular disorders are mainly characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness. There are several aspects that can be monitored, which are used to differentiate between the types of muscular disorders, ranging from the targeted muscle up to the mutated gene. An aspect that holds critical importance when managing muscular dystrophies is that most of them exhibit cardiac abnormalities. Therefore, cardiac imaging is an essential part of muscular disorder monitoring and management. In the first section of the review, several cardiac abnormalities are introduced; afterward, different muscular dystrophies’ pathogenesis is presented. Not all muscular dystrophies necessarily present cardiac involvement; however, the ones that do are linked with the cardiac abnormalities described in the first section. Moreover, studies from the last 3 years on muscular disorders are presented alongside imaging techniques used to determine cardiac abnormalities.
Elisabeta Bădilă; Iulia Lungu; Alexandru Grumezescu; Alexandru Scafa Udriște. Diagnosis of Cardiac Abnormalities in Muscular Dystrophies. Medicina 2021, 57, 488 .
AMA StyleElisabeta Bădilă, Iulia Lungu, Alexandru Grumezescu, Alexandru Scafa Udriște. Diagnosis of Cardiac Abnormalities in Muscular Dystrophies. Medicina. 2021; 57 (5):488.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElisabeta Bădilă; Iulia Lungu; Alexandru Grumezescu; Alexandru Scafa Udriște. 2021. "Diagnosis of Cardiac Abnormalities in Muscular Dystrophies." Medicina 57, no. 5: 488.
One of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide is coronary artery disease, a condition characterized by the narrowing of the artery due to plaque deposits. The standard of care for treating this disease is the introduction of a stent at the lesion site. This life-saving tubular device ensures vessel support, keeping the blood-flow path open so that the cardiac muscle receives its vital nutrients and oxygen supply. Several generations of stents have been iteratively developed towards improving patient outcomes and diminishing adverse side effects following the implanting procedure. Moving from bare-metal stents to drug-eluting stents, and recently reaching bioresorbable stents, this research field is under continuous development. To keep up with how stent technology has advanced in the past few decades, this paper reviews the evolution of these devices, focusing on how they can be further optimized towards creating an ideal vascular scaffold.
Alexandru Scafa Udriște; Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu; Alexandru Grumezescu; Elisabeta Bădilă. Cardiovascular Stents: A Review of Past, Current, and Emerging Devices. Materials 2021, 14, 2498 .
AMA StyleAlexandru Scafa Udriște, Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu, Alexandru Grumezescu, Elisabeta Bădilă. Cardiovascular Stents: A Review of Past, Current, and Emerging Devices. Materials. 2021; 14 (10):2498.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlexandru Scafa Udriște; Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu; Alexandru Grumezescu; Elisabeta Bădilă. 2021. "Cardiovascular Stents: A Review of Past, Current, and Emerging Devices." Materials 14, no. 10: 2498.
Iron oxide-based nanoparticles have gathered tremendous scientific interest towards their application in a variety of fields. Magnetite has been particularly investigated due to its readily availability, versatility, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and special magnetic properties. As the behavior of nano-scale magnetite is in direct relation to its shape, size, and surface chemistry, accurate control over the nanoparticle synthesis process is essential in obtaining quality products for the intended end uses. Several chemical, physical, and biological methods are found in the literature and implemented in the laboratory or industrial practice. However, non-conventional methods emerged in recent years to bring unprecedented synthesis performances in terms of better-controlled morphologies, sizes, and size distribution. Particularly, microfluidic methods represent a promising technology towards smaller reagent volume use, waste reduction, precise control of fluid mixing, and ease of automation, overcoming some of the major drawbacks of conventional bulk methods. This review aims to present the main properties, applications, and synthesis methods of magnetite, together with the newest advancements in this field.
Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu; Cristina Chircov; Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu. Magnetite nanoparticles: synthesis methods – a comparative review. Methods 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleAdelina-Gabriela Niculescu, Cristina Chircov, Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu. Magnetite nanoparticles: synthesis methods – a comparative review. Methods. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAdelina-Gabriela Niculescu; Cristina Chircov; Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu. 2021. "Magnetite nanoparticles: synthesis methods – a comparative review." Methods , no. : 1.
The development of drug-resistant microorganisms has become a critical issue for modern medicine and drug discovery and development with severe socio-economic and ecological implications. Since standard and conventional treatment options are generally inefficient, leading to infection persistence and spreading, novel strategies are fundamentally necessary in order to avoid serious global health problems. In this regard, both metal and metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) demonstrated increased effectiveness as nanobiocides due to intrinsic antimicrobial properties and as nanocarriers for antimicrobial drugs. Among them, gold, silver, copper, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, magnesium oxide, and iron oxide NPs are the most preferred, owing to their proven antimicrobial mechanisms and bio/cytocompatibility. Furthermore, inorganic NPs can be incorporated or attached to organic/inorganic films, thus broadening their application within implant or catheter coatings and wound dressings. In this context, this paper aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the most recent studies investigating inorganic NPs and their integration into composite films designed for antimicrobial therapies.
Vera Spirescu; Cristina Chircov; Alexandru Grumezescu; Bogdan Vasile; Ecaterina Andronescu. Inorganic Nanoparticles and Composite Films for Antimicrobial Therapies. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2021, 22, 4595 .
AMA StyleVera Spirescu, Cristina Chircov, Alexandru Grumezescu, Bogdan Vasile, Ecaterina Andronescu. Inorganic Nanoparticles and Composite Films for Antimicrobial Therapies. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2021; 22 (9):4595.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVera Spirescu; Cristina Chircov; Alexandru Grumezescu; Bogdan Vasile; Ecaterina Andronescu. 2021. "Inorganic Nanoparticles and Composite Films for Antimicrobial Therapies." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22, no. 9: 4595.
Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu; Cristina Chircov; Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu. Magnetite nanoparticles: synthesis methods - a comparative review. 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleAdelina-Gabriela Niculescu, Cristina Chircov, Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu. Magnetite nanoparticles: synthesis methods - a comparative review. . 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAdelina-Gabriela Niculescu; Cristina Chircov; Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu. 2021. "Magnetite nanoparticles: synthesis methods - a comparative review." , no. : 1.
The healing power of light has attracted interest for thousands of years. Scientific discoveries and technological advancements in the field have eventually led to the emergence of photodynamic therapy, which soon became a promising approach in treating a broad range of diseases. Based on the interaction between light, molecular oxygen, and various photosensitizers, photodynamic therapy represents a non-invasive, non-toxic, repeatable procedure for tumor treatment, wound healing, and pathogens inactivation. However, classic photosensitizing compounds impose limitations on their clinical applications. Aiming to overcome these drawbacks, nanotechnology came as a solution for improving targeting efficiency, release control, and solubility of traditional photosensitizers. This paper proposes a comprehensive path, starting with the photodynamic therapy mechanism, evolution over the years, integration of nanotechnology, and ending with a detailed review of the most important applications of this therapeutic approach.
Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu; Alexandru Grumezescu. Photodynamic Therapy—An Up-to-Date Review. Applied Sciences 2021, 11, 3626 .
AMA StyleAdelina-Gabriela Niculescu, Alexandru Grumezescu. Photodynamic Therapy—An Up-to-Date Review. Applied Sciences. 2021; 11 (8):3626.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAdelina-Gabriela Niculescu; Alexandru Grumezescu. 2021. "Photodynamic Therapy—An Up-to-Date Review." Applied Sciences 11, no. 8: 3626.
Efficient antibiotics to cure Pseudomonas aeruginosa persistent infections are currently insufficient and alternative options are needed. A promising lead is to design therapeutics able to modulate key phenotypes in microbial virulence and thus control the progression of the infectious process without selecting resistant mutants. In this study, we developed a nanostructured system based on Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) and eugenol, a natural plant-compound which has been previously shown to interfere with microbial virulence when utilized in subinhibitory concentrations. The obtained functional NPs are crystalline, with a spherical shape and 10–15 nm in size. The subinhibitory concentrations (MIC 1/2) of the eugenol embedded magnetite NPs ([email protected]) modulate key virulence phenotypes, such as attachment, biofilm formation, persister selection by ciprofloxacin, and the production of soluble enzymes. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the ability of functional magnetite NPs to modulate P. aeruginosa virulence and phenotypic resistance; our data highlights the potential of these bioactive nanostructures to be used as anti-pathogenic agents.
Hamzah Mohammed; Sajjad Rayyif; Carmen Curutiu; Alexandra Birca; Ovidiu-Cristian Oprea; Alexandru Grumezescu; Lia-Mara Ditu; Irina Gheorghe; Mariana Chifiriuc; Grigore Mihaescu; Alina-Maria Holban. Eugenol-Functionalized Magnetite Nanoparticles Modulate Virulence and Persistence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Clinical Strains. Molecules 2021, 26, 2189 .
AMA StyleHamzah Mohammed, Sajjad Rayyif, Carmen Curutiu, Alexandra Birca, Ovidiu-Cristian Oprea, Alexandru Grumezescu, Lia-Mara Ditu, Irina Gheorghe, Mariana Chifiriuc, Grigore Mihaescu, Alina-Maria Holban. Eugenol-Functionalized Magnetite Nanoparticles Modulate Virulence and Persistence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Clinical Strains. Molecules. 2021; 26 (8):2189.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHamzah Mohammed; Sajjad Rayyif; Carmen Curutiu; Alexandra Birca; Ovidiu-Cristian Oprea; Alexandru Grumezescu; Lia-Mara Ditu; Irina Gheorghe; Mariana Chifiriuc; Grigore Mihaescu; Alina-Maria Holban. 2021. "Eugenol-Functionalized Magnetite Nanoparticles Modulate Virulence and Persistence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Clinical Strains." Molecules 26, no. 8: 2189.
Although bone possesses a remarkable capacity for self-remodeling and self-healing of small defects, the continuously increasing growth of bone diseases in the elderly population is becoming a significant burden, affecting individual life quality and society. Conventional treatment options involve surgical procedures for repair and reconstruction, local debridement, autografts or allografts, bone transport, Masquelet’s two-stage reconstructions, and vascularized bone transplants. However, as such approaches often lead to disruptions of bone-regeneration processes and microbial contaminations and are often inefficient, researchers focus on developing bone-regenerative strategies and identifying novel therapeutic agents that could aid the bone-healing process. In this regard, plant-derived biocompounds, especially essential oils (EOs), have received great scientific attention in recent years, owing to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. Current studies focus on either the direct application of EOs on bone tissue or the introduction of EOs as bioactive compounds in bone scaffolds or as coatings for bone implants. Some of the EOs investigated involve St. John’s wort, rosemary, thyme, ylang, white poplar, eucalyptus, lavender, and grape seed. In this context, the present paper aims to provide an overview of the main mechanisms involved in bone repair and regeneration and the potential of EOs to address and enhance these mechanisms.
Cristina Chircov; Ion Miclea; Valentina Grumezescu; Alexandru Grumezescu. Essential Oils for Bone Repair and Regeneration—Mechanisms and Applications. Materials 2021, 14, 1867 .
AMA StyleCristina Chircov, Ion Miclea, Valentina Grumezescu, Alexandru Grumezescu. Essential Oils for Bone Repair and Regeneration—Mechanisms and Applications. Materials. 2021; 14 (8):1867.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCristina Chircov; Ion Miclea; Valentina Grumezescu; Alexandru Grumezescu. 2021. "Essential Oils for Bone Repair and Regeneration—Mechanisms and Applications." Materials 14, no. 8: 1867.
Microfluidic devices emerged due to an interdisciplinary “collision” between chemistry, physics, biology, fluid dynamics, microelectronics, and material science. Such devices can act as reaction vessels for many chemical and biological processes, reducing the occupied space, equipment costs, and reaction times while enhancing the quality of the synthesized products. Due to this series of advantages compared to classical synthesis methods, microfluidic technology managed to gather considerable scientific interest towards nanomaterials production. Thus, a new era of possibilities regarding the design and development of numerous applications within the pharmaceutical and medical fields has emerged. In this context, the present review provides a thorough comparison between conventional methods and microfluidic approaches for nanomaterials synthesis, presenting the most recent research advancements within the field.
Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu; Cristina Chircov; Alexandra Bîrcă; Alexandru Grumezescu. Nanomaterials Synthesis through Microfluidic Methods: An Updated Overview. Nanomaterials 2021, 11, 864 .
AMA StyleAdelina-Gabriela Niculescu, Cristina Chircov, Alexandra Bîrcă, Alexandru Grumezescu. Nanomaterials Synthesis through Microfluidic Methods: An Updated Overview. Nanomaterials. 2021; 11 (4):864.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAdelina-Gabriela Niculescu; Cristina Chircov; Alexandra Bîrcă; Alexandru Grumezescu. 2021. "Nanomaterials Synthesis through Microfluidic Methods: An Updated Overview." Nanomaterials 11, no. 4: 864.
The present study reports on the development and evaluation of nanostructured composite coatings of polylactic acid (PLA) embedded with iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4) modified with Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) essential oil. The co-precipitation method was employed to synthesize the magnetite particles conjugated with Eucalyptus natural antibiotic ([email protected]), while their composition and microstructure were investigated using grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) technique was further employed to obtain PLA/[email protected] thin films. Optimal experimental conditions for laser processing were established by complementary infrared microscopy (IRM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations. The in vitro biocompatibility with eukaryote cells was proven using mesenchymal stem cells, while the anti-biofilm efficiency of composite PLA/[email protected] coatings was assessed against Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens.
Oana Gherasim; Roxana Popescu; Valentina Grumezescu; George Mogoșanu; Laurențiu Mogoantă; Florin Iordache; Alina Holban; Bogdan Vasile; Alexandra Bîrcă; Ovidiu-Cristian Oprea; Alexandru Grumezescu; Ecaterina Andronescu. MAPLE Coatings Embedded with Essential Oil-Conjugated Magnetite for Anti-Biofilm Applications. Materials 2021, 14, 1612 .
AMA StyleOana Gherasim, Roxana Popescu, Valentina Grumezescu, George Mogoșanu, Laurențiu Mogoantă, Florin Iordache, Alina Holban, Bogdan Vasile, Alexandra Bîrcă, Ovidiu-Cristian Oprea, Alexandru Grumezescu, Ecaterina Andronescu. MAPLE Coatings Embedded with Essential Oil-Conjugated Magnetite for Anti-Biofilm Applications. Materials. 2021; 14 (7):1612.
Chicago/Turabian StyleOana Gherasim; Roxana Popescu; Valentina Grumezescu; George Mogoșanu; Laurențiu Mogoantă; Florin Iordache; Alina Holban; Bogdan Vasile; Alexandra Bîrcă; Ovidiu-Cristian Oprea; Alexandru Grumezescu; Ecaterina Andronescu. 2021. "MAPLE Coatings Embedded with Essential Oil-Conjugated Magnetite for Anti-Biofilm Applications." Materials 14, no. 7: 1612.
Natural-derived biopolymers are suitable candidates for developing specific and selective performance-enhanced antimicrobial formulations. Composite polymeric particles based on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and chitosan, P(3HB-3HV)-CS, are herein proposed as biocompatible and biodegradable delivery systems for bioproduced antibiotics: bacitracin (Bac), neomycin (Neo) and kanamycin (Kan). The stimuli-responsive spheres proved efficient platforms for boosting the antibiotic efficiency and antibacterial susceptibility, as evidenced against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. Absent or reduced proinflammatory effects were evidenced on macrophages in the case of Bac-/Neo- and Kan-loaded spheres, respectively. Moreover, these systems showed superior ability to sustain and promote the proliferation of dermal fibroblasts, as well as to preserve their ultrastructure (membrane and cytoskeleton integrity) and to exhibit anti-oxidant activity. The antibiotic-loaded P(3HB-3HV)-CS spheres proved efficient alternatives for antibacterial strategies.
Oana Gherasim; Alexandru Grumezescu; Anton Ficai; Valentina Grumezescu; Alina Holban; Bianca Gălățeanu; Ariana Hudiță. Composite P(3HB-3HV)-CS Spheres for Enhanced Antibiotic Efficiency. Polymers 2021, 13, 989 .
AMA StyleOana Gherasim, Alexandru Grumezescu, Anton Ficai, Valentina Grumezescu, Alina Holban, Bianca Gălățeanu, Ariana Hudiță. Composite P(3HB-3HV)-CS Spheres for Enhanced Antibiotic Efficiency. Polymers. 2021; 13 (6):989.
Chicago/Turabian StyleOana Gherasim; Alexandru Grumezescu; Anton Ficai; Valentina Grumezescu; Alina Holban; Bianca Gălățeanu; Ariana Hudiță. 2021. "Composite P(3HB-3HV)-CS Spheres for Enhanced Antibiotic Efficiency." Polymers 13, no. 6: 989.