Low density polyethylene (LDPE) films were prepared with the incorporation of natural agents (carvacrol and trans-cinnamaldehyde) by the melting process. The co-precipitation method was used successfully to complex the carvacrol or trans-cinnamaldehyde with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). The active compounds encapsulated in β-CD achieved ca. 90% encapsulation efficiency (E.E.). The inclusion complex studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) found particles of different sizes, ca. 4 μm. The active compounds were added directly (1 and 5 wt %) into the polymer matrix, yielding LDPE + carvacrol and LDPE + cinnamaldehyde films. The active compounds encapsulated in β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) were added to LDPE, yielding LDPE + β-CD-carvacrol and LDPE + β-CD-cinnamaldehyde films. The incorporation of carvacrol and trans-cinnamaldehyde, and their corresponding inclusion complexes with β-cyclodextrin, did not affect the thermal properties of LDPE. The microcapsules distributed in all polymer matrices had sizes of 5–20 μm as shown by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In terms of mechanical properties, the polymers showed a slight decrease of Young’s modulus (12%) and yield stress compared (14%) to neat LDPE. This could be due to the essential oil acting as a plasticizer in the polymer matrix. The LDPE + carvacrol and LDPE + cinnamaldehyde films had the capacity to inhibit fungi by 99% compared to neat LDPE. The effectiveness against fungi of LDPE+β-CD + active agent was slower than by the direct incorporation of the essential oil in the LDPE in the same amount of active agent. The biocidal properties were related to the gradual release of active compound from the polymer. The results confirm the applicability of carvacrol, trans-cinnamaldehyde, and their corresponding inclusion complexes in active packaging, as well as their use in the food delivery industry.

Low-density polyethylene composites containing different sizes of calcium oxide (CaO) nanoparticles were obtained by melt mixing. The CaO nanoparticles were synthesized by either the sol-gel or sonication methods, obtaining two different sizes: ca. 55 nm and 25 nm. These nanoparticles were used either as-synthesized or were modified organically on the surface with oleic acid (Mod-CaO), at concentrations of 3, 5, and 10 wt% in the polymer. The Mod-CaO nanoparticles of 25 nm can act as nucleating agents, increasing the polymer’s crystallinity. The Young’s Modulus increased with the Mod-CaO nanoparticles, rendering higher reinforcement effects with an increase as high as 36%. The reduction in Escherichia coli bacteria in the nanocomposites increased with the amount of CaO nanoparticles, the size reduction, and the surface modification. The highest antimicrobial behavior was found in the composites with a Mod-CaO of 25 nm, presenting a reduction of 99.99%. This strong antimicrobial effect can be associated with the release of the Ca²⁺ from the composites, as studied for the composite with 10 wt% nanoparticles. The ion release was dependent on the size of the nanoparticles and their surface modification. These findings show that CaO nanoparticles are an excellent alternative as an antimicrobial filler in polymer nanocomposites to be applied for food packaging or medical devices.

Candida glabrata is one of the most prevalent pathogenic Candida species in dental plaque on tooth surfaces. Candida biofilms exhibit an enhanced resistance against most antifungal agents. Thus, the development of alternative more potent and effective antimicrobials is required to overcome this resistance. In this study, three novel fluorinated derivatives and nine selenoester compounds were screened as novel antifungal and antibiofilm agents against C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, and C. glabrata (N = 81 dental isolates). C. glabrata strains were susceptible only to fluorinated compounds while C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, and C. glabrata were susceptible to the action of the selenoesters. The evaluated symmetrical selenoester compounds presented very good antifungal activity against all the tested C. glabrata dental isolates (1–4 μg/mL of minimum inhibitory concentration-MIC). The most active compound (Se-5) was able to inhibit and disperse C. glabrata biofilms. These results demonstrated that selenoesters may be novel and promising biocide agents against C. glabrata clinical dental isolates.

Shigella sonnei gastroenteritis improves clinically and microbiologically with antibacterial treatment; however choosing a useful drug is a universal challenge because of in vitro susceptibility of S. sonnei frequently evolves to be resistant.

Telithromycin is a new ketolide antimicrobial, that can be useful for the treatment of respiratory infections. To compare in vitro activity of telithromycin against respiratory pathogens, isolated in outpatient clinics. Two hundred eighty strains isolated from patients with respiratory infections, were studied. The strains studied were S pneumoniae, penicillin sensitive (SPNS:57); intermediate (SPNI:35), resistant (SPNR:25); S pyogenes (SP:57); H influenzae (HIN 51); M catarrhalis (MC:25) and S aureus meticillin sensitive (SAUS:30). Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) by broth microdilution was studied for telitrhomycin and levofloxacin in all strains. Other antimicrobials studied, but not in all strains were erythromycin, clindamycin, trimetoprim sulphamethoxazole, oxacillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and cefuroxime. All strains were sensible to telithromycin at a concentration -4 microg/ml. MIC 90 and its range for SPNS was 0.03 microg/ml (-0.004-0.12), for SPNI was 0.03 microg/ml (-0.004-025), for SPNR was 0.06 microg/ml (-0.004-0.25), for HIN was 2 microg/ml (0.12-4), for SP was 0.5 microg/ml (-0.004-2), for MC was 0.5 microg/ml (0.06-2) and for SAU was 0.25 microg/ml (0.06-0.25). All studied pathogens were sensible to telithromycin in vitro. This antimicrobial is an alternative for the treatment of community acquired respiratory infections.

The emergence of carbapenemase mediated resistance in Enterobacteriaceae has a strong clinical impact. This study aimed to do a genotypic and phenotypic characterization of the enzymatic resistance to β-lactams in clinical Enterobacteriaceae isolates with decreased susceptibility to carbapenems in a university medical center in Santiago. During April-September 2010 at Hospital Clinico Universidad de Chile, 23 isolates of carbapenem non susceptible Enterobacteriaceae were collected. We used PCR for the detection of class A carbapenemases (SME, IMI, NMC, GES and KPC) and the modified Hodge with the boronic acid test to phenotypically assess the presence of serine-carbapenemases. To assess extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) the CLSI phenotypic tests were performed. Metallo-β-lactamases (MBL) and AmpC were assessed with commercial tablets. 18/23 were Klebsiellapneumoniae and 5/23 strains were Enterobacter cloacae. All PCR to class A carbapenemases were negative. 3/23 strains (all E. cloacae), were positive to the Hodge modified test and 1/23, a K.pneumoniae, was positive to the boronic acid test. ESBLs were detected in 14/23 os the strains and AmpC in 5/23. No MBL was detected. No class A serine-carbapenemasa was detected. The decreased susceptibility to carbapenems is probably explained by the β-lactamase activity and due to porin loss.