scholarly journals Disinfection and Sterilization Using Plasma Technology: Fundamentals and Future Perspectives for Biological Applications

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (20) ◽  
pp. 5216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akikazu Sakudo ◽  
Yoshihito Yagyu ◽  
Takashi Onodera

Recent studies have shown that plasma can efficiently inactivate microbial pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses in addition to degrading toxins. Moreover, this technology is effective at inactivating pathogens on the surface of medical and dental devices, as well as agricultural products. The current practical applications of plasma technology range from sterilizing therapeutic medical devices to improving crop yields, as well as the area of food preservation. This review introduces recent advances and future perspectives in plasma technology, especially in applications related to disinfection and sterilization. We also introduce the latest studies, mainly focusing on the potential applications of plasma technology for the inactivation of microorganisms and the degradation of toxins.

Processes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nhat-Khuong Nguyen ◽  
Chin Hong Ooi ◽  
Pradip Singha ◽  
Jing Jin ◽  
Kamalalayam Rajan Sreejith ◽  
...  

The need for miniaturised reaction systems has led to the development of various microreactor platforms, such as droplet-based microreactors. However, these microreactors possess inherent drawbacks, such as rapid evaporation and difficult handling, that limit their use in practical applications. Liquid marbles are droplets covered with hydrophobic particles and are a potential platform that can overcome the weaknesses of bare droplets. The coating particles completely isolate the interior liquids from the surrounding environment, thus conveniently encapsulating the reactions. Great efforts have been made over the past decade to demonstrate the feasibility of liquid marble-based microreactors for chemical and biological applications. This review systemically summarises state-of-the-art implementations of liquid marbles as microreactors. This paper also discusses the various aspects of liquid marble-based microreactors, such as the formation, manipulation, and future perspectives.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Bilal Tahir ◽  
Aleena Shoukat ◽  
Tahir Iqbal ◽  
Asma Ayub ◽  
Saff-e Awal ◽  
...  

: The field of nanosensors has been gaining a lot of attention due to its properties such as mechanical and electrical ever since its first discovery by Dr. Wolter and first mechanical sensor in 1994. The rapidly growing demand of nanosensors has become profitable for a multidisciplinary approach in designing and fabrication of materials and strategies for potential applications. Frequent stimulating advancements are being suggested and established in recent years and thus heading towards multiple applications including food safety, healthcare, environmental monitoring, and biomedical research. Nanofabrication being an efficient method has been used in different industries like medical pharmaceutical for their complex functional geometry at a lower scale. These nanofabrications apply through different methods. There are five most commonly known methods which are frequently used, including top-down lithography, molecular self-assembly, bottom-up assembly, heat and pull method for fabrication of biosensors, etching for fabrication of nanosensors etc. Nanofabrication help at the nanoscale to design and work with small models. But these models due to their small size and being sensitive need more care for use as well as more training and experience to do work with. All methods used for nanofabrication are good and helpful. But more preferred is molecular self-assembly as it is helpful in mass production. Nanofabrication has become an emerging and developing field and it assumed that in near future our world is known by the new devices of nanofabrication.


Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 259
Author(s):  
Arne Schwelm ◽  
Jutta Ludwig-Müller

Here we review the usefulness of the currently available genomic information for the molecular identification of pathotypes. We focused on effector candidates and genes implied to be pathotype specific and tried to connect reported marker genes to Plasmodiophora brassicae genome information. The potentials for practical applications, current obstacles and future perspectives are discussed.


Environments ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 32
Author(s):  
María J. Carpio ◽  
María J. Sánchez-Martín ◽  
M. Sonia Rodríguez-Cruz ◽  
Jesús M. Marín-Benito

The management of large volumes of organic residues generated in different livestock, urban, agricultural and industrial activities is a topic of environmental and social interest. The high organic matter content of these residues means that their application as soil organic amendments in agriculture is considered one of the more sustainable options, as it could solve the problem of the accumulation of uncontrolled wastes while improving soil quality and avoiding its irreversible degradation. However, the behavior of pesticides applied to increase crop yields could be modified in the presence of these amendments in the soil. This review article addresses how the adsorption–desorption, dissipation and leaching of pesticides in soils is affected by different organic residues usually applied as organic amendments. Based on the results reported from laboratory studies, the influence on these processes has been evaluated of multiple factors related to organic residues (e.g., origin, nature, composition, rates, and incubation time of the amended soils), pesticides (e.g., with different use, structure, characteristics, and application method), and soils with different physicochemical properties. Future perspectives on this topic are also included for highlighting the need to extend these laboratory studies to field and modelling scale to better assess and predict pesticide fate in amended soil scenarios.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (24) ◽  
pp. 2068-2079 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Ciulla ◽  
Antonio Di Stefano ◽  
Lisa Marinelli ◽  
Ivana Cacciatore ◽  
Giuseppe Di Biase

S. aureus under the biofilm mode of growth is often related to several nosocomial infections, more frequently associated with indwelling medical devices (catheters, prostheses, portacaths or heart valves). As a biofilm, the biopolymer matrix provides an excellent growth medium, increasing the tolerance to antibiotics and host immune system. To date, the antimicrobial therapy alone is not effective. A novel strategy to prevent biofilm formation is based on the interference with the bacterial cell–cell communication, a process known as quorum sensing (QS) and mediated by the RNA-III-activating peptide (RAP) and its target protein TRAP (Target of RAP). The RNAIII inhibiting peptide (RIP) is able to inhibit S. aureus pathogenesis by disrupting QS mechanism competing with RAP, thus inhibiting the phosphorylation of TRAP. This alteration leads to a reduced adhesion and to the inhibition of RNAIII synthesis, with the subsequent suppression of toxins synthesis. The present paper will provide an overview on the activity and potential applications of RIP as biofilm inhibiting compound, useful in the management of S. aureus biofilm infections. Moreover, medicinal chemistry strategies have been examined to better understand which modifications and/or structure alterations were able to produce new derivatives of this QS inhibitor with an improved antibiofilm activity.


Author(s):  
Vassya Bankova ◽  
Milena Popova ◽  
Boryana Trusheva

Propolis (bee glue) is a sticky resinous material applied by honey bees Apis mellifera L. as a building material in their hives and as a defensive substance against infections. Propolis has been used as a remedy in traditional medicine systems all over the world, mainly to treat wounds and burns, sore throat, stomach ulcer, etc. Modern science has confirmed the antimicrobial and antiviral action of propolis, and has discovered numerous other beneficial pharmacological properties of bee glue: immunomodulating, anti-inflammatory, antiobesity, antitumor, and many others. For this reason, significant number of products containing propolis have been developed and commercialised: medical devices, over-the-counter preparations, health foods and beverages, cosmetics. This review is not dealing with propolis applications in improvement and protection of human health. Instead, it is focused on some new and promising areas of propolis use and innovative propolis containing products, emerging in the last few years: improving growth performance of livestock, food preservation, food packaging, textile materials for biomedical application, etc.


2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Le Thi Hien ◽  
Nguyen Tuong Van

Recently, metal and other nanoparticles have been widely used to improve crop growth and development, reduce used chemical amount, increase safety of agricultural products and prevent soil and water pollution. Seed treatment technology with metal nanoparticles to stimulate seed germination and improve crop yields has been reported in several studies. In order to assess the safety of the use of metal nanoparticles in agriculture production, in this study the effect and safety of seed treatment with nanoparticles (nCu) prior to sowing on the germination, growth, development, productivity and quality of maize (Zea mays L.) were evaluated in the field conditions. Seeds of maize cultivar LVN 092 were treated with nCu at different concentrations before planting. Germination and plant growth rates, plants yield and grain nutrition were monitored and evaluated. The obtained results showed that treatment of maize seed with nCu at a concentration of 20 mg/kg seed increased germination after 7 days of sowing as well as the theoretical and actual yields compared to the control and the treatment of 1000 mg nCu/1 kg seeds. Other agricultural characteristics, such as the development rate, plant height, grain nutritional content including moisture, ash, total fiber, crude protein, minerals were not significantly between treatments and the control. Therefore, the seed treatments with metal nanoparticles can be contribute to improve agriculture production without impact to quality of crops. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng Zhang ◽  
Romain Grossier ◽  
Nadine Candoni ◽  
Stéphane Veesler

AbstractThis review examines the preparation of alginate hydrogel microparticles by using droplet-based microfluidics, a technique widely employed for its ease of use and excellent control of physicochemical properties, with narrow size distribution. The gelation of alginate is realized “on-chip” and/or “off-chip”, depending on where cross-linkers are introduced. Various strategies are described and compared. Microparticle properties such as size, shape, concentration, stability and mechanical properties are discussed. Finally, we consider future perspectives for the preparation of hydrogel microparticles and their potential applications.


Author(s):  
Alberto Mangano ◽  
Valentina Valle ◽  
Nicolas Dreifuss ◽  
Gabriela Aguiluz ◽  
Mario Masrur

AI (Artificial intelligence) is an interdisciplinary field aimed at the development of algorithms to endow machines with the capability of executing cognitive tasks. The number of publications regarding AI and surgery has increased dramatically over the last two decades. This phenomenon can partly be explained by the exponential growth in computing power available to the largest AI training runs. AI can be classified into different sub-domains with extensive potential clinical applications in the surgical setting. AI will increasingly become a major component of clinical practice in surgery. The aim of the present Narrative Review is to give a general introduction and summarized overview of AI, as well as to present additional remarks on potential surgical applications and future perspectives in surgery.


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