A simple, eco-friendly, and biomimetic approach using Thymus vulgaris ( T . vulgaris ) leaf extract was developed for the formation of ZnO-Ag nanocomposites (NCs) without employing any stabilizer and a chemical surfactant. T . vulgaris leaf extract was used for the first time, in a novel approach, for green fabrication of ZnO-Ag NCs as a size based reducing agent via the hydrothermal method in a single step. Presence of phenols in T . vulgaris leaf extract has served as both reducing and capping agents that play a critical role in the production of ZnO-Ag NCs. The effect of silver nitrate concentration in the formation of ZnO-Ag NCs was studied. The in-vitro Antimicrobial activity of NCs displayed high antimicrobial potency on selective gram negative and positive foodborne pathogens. Antioxidant activity of ZnO-Ag NCs was evaluated via (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) DPPH method. Photocatalytic performance of ZnO-Ag NCs was appraised by degradation of phenol under natural sunlight, which exhibited efficient photocatalytic activity on phenol. Cytotoxicity of the NCs was evaluated using the haemolysis assay. Results of this study reveal that T . vulgaris leaf extract, containing phytochemicals, possess reducing property for ZnO-Ag NCs fabrication and the obtained ZnO-Ag NCs could be employed effectively for biological applications in food science. Therefore, the present study offers a promising way to achieve high-efficiency photocatalysis based on the hybrid structure of semiconductor/metal.

Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) as a biomaterial with excellent biocompatibility and cytocompatibility elicits a minimal immunological response from host tissue making it desirable for different biomedical applications. This article seeks to provide an in-depth overview of the properties and biomedical applications of pHEMA for bone tissue regeneration, wound healing, cancer therapy (stimuli and non-stimuli responsive systems), and ophthalmic applications (contact lenses and ocular drug delivery). As this polymer has been widely applied in ophthalmic applications, a specific consideration has been devoted to this field. Pure pHEMA does not possess antimicrobial properties and the site where the biomedical device is employed may be susceptible to microbial infections. Therefore, antimicrobial strategies such as the use of silver nanoparticles, antibiotics, and antimicrobial agents can be utilized to protect against infections. Therefore, the antimicrobial strategies besides the drug delivery applications of pHEMA were covered. With continuous research and advancement in science and technology, the outlook of pHEMA is promising as it will most certainly be utilized in more biomedical applications in the near future. The aim of this review was to bring together state-of-the-art research on pHEMA and their applications.

One of the major complications associated with the implantation of biomedical devices regardless of their function is biomaterial associated infection. Infections are generally initiated by opportunistic bacterial colonization and biofilm development on the surface of implanted biomaterials, rendering the infection impervious to host defenses and antimicrobials. Moreover, the infection around soft tissues also has a significant role in biomaterial-associated infections. It is well documented that the nature of an implant infection is influenced by the design and composition of the implant biomaterial, host environment, clinical procedure and patient hygiene. Herein, we explore the adhesion mechanisms of bacteria to the biomaterials and review systematic antimicrobial strategies to reduce the contamination of biomaterials and underlying implant infection using Staphylococcus aureus as a model bacterial pathogen. Also, we discuss the preventive and therapeutic strategies and explain the future perspectives for the development of nanoscience-based strategies for the engineering of antimicrobial surfaces, including nanostructure surface, microbe-surface interactions, synthetic nanostructured surfaces, dynamic surfaces with antifouling agents, coated surfaces with antimicrobial properties (polymer coating, surface release active coating).

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Background:To compare the efficacy of subconjunctival administration of bevacizumab and different doses of sunitinib malate in reducing corneal neovascularization (CNV).Materials and Methods:In this experimental study, central corneal cauterization was created in the right eye of fifty male Sprague–Dawley rats. On day 1 (1 week after cauterization), rats were randomly assigned into five treatment groups. Group control (n = 10) received subconjunctival injection of 0.02 ml of base saline solution. Group 1 (n = 10) received 0.02 ml of bevacizumab (25 mg/ml). Group 2, 3, and 4 (n = 10 for each group) were treated with 0.02 ml of sunitinib malate (10, 20, and 50 μg/ml, respectively). On days 1, 7, and 14, digital photographs of the cornea were taken, and the area of CNV was measured.Results:During the 2-week follow-up, CNV area in treatment groups was less than in control group (P < 0.05). On day 7, corneal avascular area was highest in Group 3 at 63%. On day 14, the area of CNV in Groups 2 and 3 was less than in Group 1 (P = 0.031 and 0.011, respectively), but the difference between Groups 2 and 3 was not statistically significant (P = 0.552). The decreased CNV area on day 14 in Group 4 was significant in comparison to bevacizumab, but it was not significant on day 7 (P = 0.25 on day 7 and 0.002 on day 14).Conclusion:Subconjunctival sunitinib malate is more effective than bevacizumab in regressing CNV. This effect is more prominent on day 14.