A facile and effective hydrothermal method for the fabrication of the Ag 3 PO 4 -graphene (Ag 3 PO 4 -GR) visible light photocatalyst has been developed to improve the photocatalytic performance and stability of Ag 3 PO 4 , and also to reduce the high cost of Ag 3 PO 4 for practical uses. The size and morphology of Ag 3 PO 4 particles could be tailored by the electrostatically driven assembly of Ag + on graphene oxide (GO) sheets and by the controlled growth of Ag 3 PO 4 particles on the GO surface. The generation of Ag 3 PO 4 and the transformation of GO to GR can be achieved simultaneously in the hydrothermal process. The improved photocatalytic activity of Ag 3 PO 4 -GR composites under visible light irradiation is attributed to high-surface-area GR sheets, enhanced absorption of organic dyes, and more efficient separation of photogenerated electron−hole pairs. The transfer of photogenerated electrons from the surface of Ag 3 PO 4 to GR sheets also reduces the possibility of decomposing Ag + to metallic Ag, suggesting an improved stability of recyclable Ag 3 PO 4 -GR composite photocatalyst. Moreover, with the advances in the large-scale production of high-quality GO, the use of GO as the starting material can also reduce the cost for the synthesis of Ag 3 PO 4 -based photocatalysts without weakening their photocatalytic activities.

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The global burden of bacterial disease remains high and is set against a backdrop of increasing antimicrobial resistance. There is a pressing need for highly effective and natural antibacterial agents. In this work, the anti-biofilm effect of cinnamon oil on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated. Then, cinnamon oil was encapsulated in liposomes to enhance its chemical stability. The anti-biofilm activities of the liposome-encapsulated cinnamon oil against MRSA biofilms on stainless steel, gauze, nylon membrane and non-woven fabrics were evaluated by colony forming unit determination. Scanning electron microscopy and laser scanning confocal microscopy analyses were employed to observe the morphological changes in MRSA biofilms treated with the encapsulated cinnamon oil. As a natural and safe spice, the cinnamon oil exhibited a satisfactory antibacterial performance on MRSA and its biofilms. The application of liposomes further improves the stability of antimicrobial agents and extends the action time.

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BackgroundNowadays, essential oils are recognized as safe substances and can be used as antibacterial additives. Salvia sclarea is one of the most important aromatic plants cultivated world-wide as a source of essential oils. In addition to being flavoring foods, Salvia sclarea essential oil can also act as antimicrobials and preservatives against food spoilage. Understanding more about the antibacterial performance and possible mechanism of Salvia sclarea essential oil will be helpful for its application in the future. But so far few related researches have been reported.ResultsIn our study, Salvia sclarea oil showed obvious antibacterial activity against all tested bacterial strains. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericide concentration (MBC) of seven pathogens were 0.05 and 0.1 % respectively. In addition, Salvia sclarea oil also exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and meats. After treated with Salvia sclarea oil, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images can clearly see the damage of cell membrane; the intracellular ATP concentrations of E. coli and S. aureus reduced 98.27 and 69.61 % respectively, compared to the control groups; the nuclear DNA content of E. coli and S. aureus was significantly reduced to 48.32 and 50.77 % respectively. In addition, there was massive leakage of cellular material when E. coli and S. aureus were exposed to Salvia sclarea oil.Conclusions Salvia sclarea essential oil damaged the cell membrane and changed the cell membrane permeability, leading to the release of some cytoplasm such as macromolecular substances, ATP and DNA. In general, the antimicrobial action of Salvia sclarea essential oil is not only attributable to a unique pathway, but also involves a series of events both on the cell surface and within the cytoplasm. Therefore, more experiments need to be done to fully understand the antimicrobial mechanism of Salvia sclarea essential oil.