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- Antimicrobial functionalization of wool: assessment of the effect of Cecropin-B and [Ala5]-Tritrp7 antimicrobial peptidesPublication . Mouro, Cláudia; Gouveia, Isabel C.This investigation provides a new strategy to impart antimicrobial properties into wool-based materials using Cecropin-B and [Ala5]-Tritrp7 antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). The process was conducted using exhaustion method at 40 °C for 1–3 h. The presence of the AMPs in the modified-wool samples was confirmed by colorimetric assay of Bradford reagent and possible changes in the morphology of the fibers and damage to its surface were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that 1 h were long enough for the functionalization to occur effectively and that the morphology of the fibers was not influenced by the functionalization process. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of the AMPs applied on wool was assessment by JIS L 1902-2002 against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 4352). The results showed that both AMPs have a high reduction in bacterial growth (Cecropin-B resulting in 71.67% reduction against S. aureus and 85.95% against K. pneumoniae. While [Ala5]-Tritrp7 resulting in 66.74% reduction against S. aureus and 88.65% against K. pneumoniae).
- Emulsion Electrospun Fiber Mats of PCL/PVA/Chitosan and Eugenol for Wound Dressing ApplicationsPublication . Mouro, Cláudia; Simões, Manuel; Gouveia, Isabel C.In recent years, the damaging e ects of antimicrobial resistance relating to wound management and infections have driven the ongoing development of composite wound dressing mats containing natural compounds, such as plant extracts and their derivatives. e present research reports the fabrication of novel electrospun Polycaprolactone (PCL)/Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)/Chitosan (CS) ber mats loaded with Eugenol (EUG), an essential oil, known for its therapeutic properties. e electrospun ber mats were prepared via electrospinning from either water-in-oil (W/O) or oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), total porosity measurements, and water contact angle. e in vitro EUG release pro le and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were also evaluated. e obtained results proved that the EUG was loaded e ciently into electrospun PCL/PVA/CS ber mats and the two W/O and O/W emulsions prepared from the PCL/PVA/CS (7 : 3 : 1) and PCL/PVA/CS (3 : 7 : 1) revealed porosity within the ideal range of 60–90%, even when EUG was loaded. e measured contact angle values showed that the O/W emulsion exhibited a more hydrophilic character and the wettability noticeably decreased a¢er adding EUG in both emulsion blends. Furthermore, the electrospun PCL/PVA/CS ber mats demonstrated a rapid release of EUG during the rst 8 hours, which enhanced gradually a¢erward (up to 120 hours). Moreover, an e cient antibacterial activity against S. aureus (inhibition ratios of 92.43% and 83.08%) and P. aeruginosa (inhibition ratios of 94.68% and 87.85%) was displayed and the in vitro cytotoxic assay demonstrated that the normal human dermal broblasts (NHDF) remained viable for at least 7 days, a¢er direct contact with the produced electrospun ber mats. erefore, such ndings support the biocompatibility and suitability of using these EUG-loaded electrospun PCL/PVA/CS ber mats as a new innovative wound dressing material with potential for preventing and treating microbial wound infections.
- Advances in the Production of Biomaterials through Kombucha Using Food Waste: Concepts, Challenges, and PotentialPublication . Cubas, Anelise Leal Vieira; Provin, A. P.; Dutra, Ana; Mouro, Cláudia; Gouveia, I.C.In recent years, several researchers have focused their studies on the development of sustainable biomaterials using renewable sources, including the incorporation of living biological systems. One of the best biomaterials is bacterial cellulose (BC). There are several ways to produce BC, from using a pure strain to producing the fermented drink kombucha, which has a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts (SCOBY). Studies have shown that the use of agricultural waste can be a low-cost and sustainable way to create BC. This article conducts a literature review to analyze issues related to the creation of BC through kombucha production. The databases used were ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, and SpringerLink. A total of 42 articles, dated from 2018 to 2022, were referenced to write this review. The findings contributed to the discussion of three topics: (1) The production of BC through food waste (including patents in addition to the scientific literature); (2) Areas of research, sectors, and products that use BC (including research that did not use the kombucha drink, but used food waste as a source of carbon and nitrogen); and (3) Production, sustainability, and circular economy: perspectives, challenges, and trends in the use of BC (including some advantages and disadvantages of BC production through the kombucha drink).
- Antimicrobial and antioxidant surface modification toward a new silk-fibroin (SF)-l-Cysteine material for skin disease managementPublication . Nogueira, Frederico; Granadeiro, Luiza Breitenfeld ; Mouro, Cláudia; Gouveia, Isabel C.A novel dressing material – silk fibroin fabric (SF)-l-Cysteine (l-Cys) – is here developed to be used asstandard treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD), which combines comfort, thermic, and tensile strengthproperties of silk materials with antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of l-Cys. A careful understand-ing about the linking strategies is needed in order not to compromise the bioavailability of l-Cys anddeplenish its bioactivity. Durability was also addressed through washing cycles and compared with hos-pital requirements, according to international Standard EN ISO 105-C06:2010. The present research alsoanalyze the interactions between Staphylococcus aureus and SF-l-Cys under simulating conditions of ADand demonstrated the effectiveness of a double covalent grafting, with the importance of SF tyrosine(Tyr) covalent linkage with l-Cys (SF-g-l-Cys/Tyr-g-l-Cys) even after several washing cycles, twenty five,whereas for a disposable application a single covalent mechanism of grafting l-Cys proved to be suffi-cient (SF-g-l-Cys). Results showed effective antimicrobial activities exhibiting higher inhibition ratios of98.65% for SF-g-l-Cys after 5 washing cycles, whereas 97.55% for SF-g-l-Cys/Tyr-g-l-Cys after 25 washingcycles, both at pH 9.5 grafting strategy. Furthermore, it is also reported a non-protumoral effect of l-Cys. Anew advance is herein achieved at the world of medical antimicrobial textiles tailored to address woundmoisture environment and exudate self-cleaning, which may open novel applications as complementarytherapy for AD disease.