Bioremediation is a promising technique for the removal and recovery of contaminated areas, which is based on the ability of organisms to convert toxic substances into less harmful or inert compounds. Here, we evaluate the capacity of the Bacillus subtilis (BS) bacteria to bioadsorved heavy metals such as lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) in water samples. Water samples were laboratory contaminated Pb at 500 ppm, Cu and Cd at 100 ppm. First, the growth curve of BS was plotted using Tryptone Soy Broth (TSB) at 100% (TSB₁₀₀) and 33% (TSB₃₃). Later, BS was studied in water containing all three metals separately and simultaneously. All solutions were stirred at 150 rpm, 35 ℃ for periods that ranged from 1 to 144 h. The heavy metal analyses were performed by X-ray fluorescence and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. The results showed that BS was resistant to Cu, Cd and Pb in water, with active multiplication and reduction in the concentration of the metals. The highest removal efficiency, in the presence of each heavy metal, reached 100% with Pb, 92.3% with Cd and 89% with Cu. In the solution with the mixture of heavy metals, Cd and Pb levels reduced significantly. However, the mixture of metals negatively affected the removal of Cu. In conclusion, the implement using Bacillus-type bacteria can be efficient in the biosorption of heavy metals from aqueous solutions and can be employed as a cost-effective treatment for the bioremediation of industrial effluents and contaminated areas.

In the last years, the landscape of anti-aging cosmetics has been marked by significant advances in cosmeceutical delivery systems. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review of these technological innovations, with a focus on anti-aging effects, from 2018 to 2023. The methodology included a thorough search on PubMed and through gray literature, applying rigorous exclusion criteria. The descriptors were selected based on the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). A total of 265 articles were found. Exclusion criteria were applied, and 90 of them were selected for full reading. After reading the full 90 articles, 52 were excluded, leaving 38 articles for final evaluation composing this review. The key findings highlighted a clear prevalence of studies exploring nanotechnology, including nanoparticles, niosomes, and liposomes. Most of the formulations analyzed in this review emphasize antioxidant activities, which play a crucial role in preventing premature aging caused by free radicals. The reviewed studies revealed specific activities, such as the reduction in melanin synthesis, the inhibition of enzymes involved in the skin aging process, and the prevention of morphological changes typical of aging.

The growing threat of antimicrobial resistance drives the need for innovative and multifunctional therapeutic systems. In this study, a controlled-release system based on a bioactive film composed of gelatin, bacterial cellulose (BC), sericin, citric acid, PEG 400, and nisin was developed for topical applications in infected wound treatment. BC membranes were produced using Komagataeibacter xylinus and enzymatically treated to optimize dispersion within the polymer matrix. The resulting system exhibited a semi-rigid, homogeneous morphology with appropriate visual characteristics for dermatological use. Microbiological assays demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and resistant Gram-negative strains (Escherichia coli and Enterobacter cloacae), attributed to the synergistic action of nisin and citric acid, which enhanced bacterial outer membrane permeability. The antioxidant capacity was confirmed through DPPH radical scavenging assays, indicating a progressive release of bioactive compounds over time. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses revealed good integration of biopolymers within the matrix. These results suggest that the strategic combination of natural biopolymers and antimicrobial agents produced a functional system with improved mechanical properties, a broadened antimicrobial spectrum, and promising potential as a bioactive wound dressing for the treatment of infected skin lesions.

A Caesalpinia ferrea (Libidibia ferrea), pertence à família Fabaceae, e popularmente conhecida como “Jucá”, vem sendo amplamente empregada para a cicatrização de feridas, devido indicação como anti-inflamatória e analgésica. A otimização da liberação dos compostos bioativos encontrados na Caesalpinia ferrea (C. ferrea) pode ser obtida por meio da aplicação da nanocelulose bacteriana (NCB). O presente estudo buscou avaliar a ação antimicrobiana do sistema nanocelulose bacteriana e extrato de C. ferrea (CAE). O extrato de C. ferrea foi incorporada às NCB’s por imersão. Após a incorporação foram avaliadas as concentrações de proteínas na solução de CAE, assim como, foram também avaliadas diferentes concentrações da C. ferrea quanto a sua atividade antimicrobiana utilizando a metodologia de difusão em ágar e concentração inibitória mínima com os seguintes microrganismos: Staphylococus aureus ATCC 10390 (Gram-positivo); Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeuroginosa ATCC 9721 (Gram-negativos). De acordo com os resultados da análise de proteínas o maior pico de liberação feita pela NCB foi no período de 30 h, com um total de 218 μg/mL. Com relação a inibição do crescimento dos microrganismos testados, a CAE liberada pela NCB, seja em períodos de 2 h a 40 h, se demonstrou eficaz. O extrato de CAE reconstituído em PBS e CAE incorporado em NCB apresentaram atividade antimicrobiana para os patógenos Gram-positivos e Gram-negativos. Além disso foi observado que as características da NCB podem representar um novo e promissor sistema de entrega de biomoléculas.