Hybrid antimicrobial films containing a polyoxometalate-ionic liquid

The increasing resistance of pathogenic microorganisms against common treatments requires innovative concepts to prevent infection and avoid long-term microbe viability on commonly used surfaces. Here, we report the preparation of a hybrid antimicrobial material based on the combination of microbiocidal polyoxometalate-ionic liquids (POM-ILs) and a biocompatible polymeric support, which enables the development of surface coatings that prevent microbial adhesion. The composite material is based on an antibacterial and antifungal room-temperature POM-IL composed of guanidinium cations (N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-N″, N″-dioctylguanidinum) combined with lacunary Keggin-type polyoxotungstate anions, [α-SiW11O39]8–. Integration of the antimicrobial POM-IL into the biocompatible, flexible, and stable polymer poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) results in processable films, which are suitable as surface coatings or packaging materials to limit the proliferation and spread of pathogenic microorganisms (e.g., on public transport and hospital surfaces, or in ready-to-eat-food packaging).This research was supported by Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst DAAD (A.G.E.); Ministerio de Ciencia Innovación y Universidades (Spain) Proyectos I + D + I, PID2019-109333RB-I00 (S.G.M & R.M.-R.); CSIC i-Link + 2019 project LINK20270 (S.G.M & R.M.-R.); European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 845427) (E.A.B. and S.G.M); Programa Operativo Aragón de Fondo Social Europeo 2014–2020 (I.F.C.); Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica, Argentina (National Agency for Scientific and Technological Promotion, ANPCYT): PICT 2017-3767 (M.B.) and PICT 2017-0340 (M.J.C); the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (National Scientific and Technical Research Council); and the Universidad Nacional del Litoral, CAI + D 50620190100020LI (M.J.C) and Gobierno de Aragón (Project LMP49-18).Peer reviewe

Falsified medicines in Africa: all talk, no action.

Poor-quality medicines and medical products, both substandard and falsified, cause avoidable morbidity, mortality, drug resistance, and loss of faith in health systems, especially in low-income and middle-income countries.1–3 We report the analysis of two falsifi ed medicines from Angola and discuss what lessons such a discovery could hold.Fil: Newton, Paul N. . Mahosot Hospital. Microbiology Laboratory. Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit; Laos. Oxford University. Churchill Hospital. Nuffield Department of Medicine. Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health; Reino Unido. Oxford University. Churchill Hospital. Worldwide Antimalarial Resistance Network; Reino UnidoFil: Tabernero, Patricia. Mahosot Hospital. Microbiology Laboratory. Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit; Laos. Oxford University. Churchill Hospital. Nuffield Department of Medicine. Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health; Reino Unido. Oxford University. Churchill Hospital. Worldwide Antimalarial Resistance Network; Reino UnidoFil: Dwivedi, Prabha. Georgia Institute of Technology. School of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Estados UnidosFil: Culzoni, Maria Julia. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas. Departamento de Química. Cátedra de Química Analítica; Argentina. Georgia Institute of Technology. School of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Monge, Maria Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Centro de Investigaciones en Bionanociencias "Elizabeth Jares Erijman"; Argentina. Georgia Institute of Technology. School of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Estados UnidosFil: Swamidoss, Isabel. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Estados UnidosFil: Mildenhall, Dallas. GNS Science; Nueva ZelandaFil: Green, Michael D.. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Estados UnidosFil: Jähnke, Richard. Global Pharma Health Fund; AlemaniaFil: de Oliveira, Miguel dos Santos. Inspecção Geral de Saúde; AngolaFil: Simao, Julia. Inspecção Geral de Saúde; AngolaFil: White, Nicholas J.. Oxford University. Churchill Hospital. Nuffield Department of Medicine. Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health; Reino Unido. Oxford University. Churchill Hospital. Worldwide Antimalarial Resistance Network; Reino Unido. Mahidol University. Faculty of Tropical Medicine. Mahidol Oxford Research Unit; TailandiaFil: Fernández, Facundo M.. Georgia Institute of Technology. School of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Estados Unido

Science based calibration for the extraction of 'analyte-specific' HPLC-DAD chromatograms in environmental analysis

Multivariate science based calibration (SBC) has been applied to the resolution of overlapped peaks in liquid chromatography with diode array detection (LC-DAD). Complex river water samples spiked with 11 pharmaceutical substances resulted in poorly resolved chromatograms containing additional peaks from interfering matrix compounds and a change in the background absorbance due to the mobile phase gradient. Applying the present multivariate approach it was possible to resolve all 11 analytes from overlapping peaks, obtaining linear calibration lines (R2 > 0.96). Recovery percentages on spiked samples ranged between 74.6 and 113.5%, which are quite satisfactory taking into account the low concentration ranges considered to 1-7 μg L-1.Fil: Kuligowski, J.. Universidad de Valencia; EspañaFil: Martínez Galera, M.. Universidad de Almería; EspañaFil: Gil García, M. D.. Universidad de Almería; EspañaFil: Culzoni, Maria Julia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Goicoechea, Hector Casimiro. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; ArgentinaFil: Garrigues, S.. Universidad de Valencia; EspañaFil: Quintás, G.. Universidad de Valencia; EspañaFil: de la Guardia, Miguel. Universidad de Valencia; Españ