Aim: The chronicity of injuries is also a public health problem, and it is necessary to develop and apply new materials to promote more satisfactory results in the wound healing. Thus, this study aims to develop natural polymer films based on a combination of κ-carrageenan and sodium alginate, crosslinked with Zn2+, for the controlled delivery of mupirocin (MUP). Methods: Vibrational spectroscopy (Raman and infrared spectroscopies) was used to characterize the chemical structure and crosslinking process. Micro-Raman imaging and scanning electron microscopy were employed to observe the spatial distribution of the polymers and morphology of the samples, respectively. The uniformity (in terms of mass, thickness, and MUP concentration) of the films, MUP release kinetics, and their bactericidal activity were subjected to analysis. Results: The films exhibited good uniformity in terms of thickness, mass, and quantity of MUP. However, the percentage of antibiotics was lower than that added, indicating losses during the film production process. Swelling and release kinetic studies indicated good swelling capacity of the films and controlled drug delivery process. The antibacterial activity of the films was determined against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using the zone of inhibition method. All films produced showed activity against the growth of these bacteria. Conclusions: The results illustrate the potential of employing κ-carrageenan and sodium alginate in the fabrication of polymeric films for the regulated release of MUP, with the aim of developing wound dressings that can improve wound healing outcomes.

The design of effective treatments for critical size bone defects, which result from various conditions such as trauma, infection, injury, or tumor resection, presents a significant challenge in clinical practice. While autologous grafts are commonly regarded as gold standard treatments in these complex healing scenarios, they are often associated with notable limitations, including donor site morbidity and limited graft volume. As a result, recent research trends have shifted towards developing biomaterials that better emulate the inherent complexity of the native bone structure and function through implementation of a “Diamond Concept” polytherapy strategy. Central to this approach is the utilization of biomaterials, increasingly composed of composite materials that integrate bioactive osteoinductive factors and cell sources to enhance healing outcomes. The usage of Wnt signaling specific agonists as osteoinductive mediators has been recently shown to be a promising strategy for promoting healing, as this pathway is well established to have an important role in both osteogenic differentiation and bone formation processes. Implementation of a localized delivery system through scaffold incorporation is necessary in this scenario, however, to minimize any potential off-target effects caused by the Wnt signaling cascade’s non-specificity to bone. Findings in the literature clearly show that this approach holds promise to improve clinical healing outcomes, paving the way for more effective treatment options. In this review, we will generally discuss the design of biomaterials, specifically bulk materials and composites, for the treatment of critical size bone defects. Additionally, we will highlight recent work on the design of chitosan-based scaffolds modified with purine crosslinking, to overcome cytotoxicity issues associated with other chemical crosslinkers. In this context, we focus on optimizing material design for this bone healing application and discuss the benefits of localized Wnt agonist as mediators to improve the scaffold’s osteoinductive behavior.

Aim: This work aimed to evaluate the antiproliferative activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) biosynthesized with aqueous extract of Stenocereus queretaroensis peel (SAgNPs) in pancreatic ductal cancer cells PANC-1. Methods: Nanoparticles were synthesized using 2 mM silver nitrate (AgNO3) and a 1% aqueous extract of Stenocereus queretaroensis peel. SAgNPs were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) light spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. The antiproliferative activity was evaluated in the PANC-1 cell line by measuring the viability percentage with the 3'-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method and subsequently the IC50 of SAgNPs. Results: The presence of AgNPs was confirmed by silver surface plasmon resonance at 420 nm. The average size obtained by dynamic light scattering analysis was 98.96 nm, with a spherical and uniform shape according to transmission electron microscopy analysis. SAgNPs were tested at concentrations from 10 µg/mL to 0.3125 µg/mL and presented inhibition percentages from 3.76% to 90.09% with an IC50 value of 3.04 µg/mL (p-value of 0.02, 95% confidence level) in PANC-1 cells. Conclusions: The biologically synthesized nanoparticles with Stenocereus queretaroensis peel showed antiproliferative activity in PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells. Therefore, these results suggest their potential use in the prevention and treatment of pancreatic cancer with further investigation.

Aim: This study aimed to synthesize, characterize, and evaluate the antifungal efficacy of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against Verticillium dahliae Kleb., a soil-borne fungal pathogen that affects numerous crops. Methods: AgNPs were synthesized using Laurus nobilis L. (laurel) leaf extract. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized using UV-VIS spectroscopy, Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), zeta potential, particle size analysis (PSA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In vitro antifungal assays were conducted to assess the impact of AgNPs on V. dahliae mycelial growth, and SEM was used to examine the morphological changes in treated mycelium. Results: UV-VIS spectroscopy confirmed AgNP synthesis with a characteristic SPR peak between 400–450 nm. FTIR analysis identified the presence of phenolic compounds on the nanoparticle surface. Zeta potential analysis (–27.7 mV) indicated stable dispersion. Zeta size analysis indicated an average diameter of approximately 100 nm and a polydispersity index (PdI) of 0.229. SEM imaging confirmed a predominantly spherical morphology and PSA revealed a size range of 14–34 nm, with an average diameter of 24 nm. In vitro antifungal assays showed significant inhibition of V. dahliae mycelial growth, with radial mycelial growth reduced to 2.75 cm compared to 4.8–6.4 cm in the control group after 14 days. SEM imaging of treated mycelium revealed pronounced morphological damage, including collapse and shrinkage of hyphae and spores. Conclusions: Green-synthesized AgNPs using L. nobilis leaf extract demonstrated significant antifungal activity against V. dahliae. The observed inhibition of mycelial growth and morphological damage suggests the potential of these AgNPs as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative for managing this fungal pathogen. The antifungal mechanism may involve membrane disruption, increased permeability, oxidative stress, and the inactivation of cellular components.