Recent progress in hydrogels combined with phototherapy for bacterial infection: A review.

Phototherapy has become one of the most effective antibacterial methods due to its associated lack of drug resistance and its good antibacterial effect. For the purpose of avoiding the aggregation and premature release of photosensitive/photothermal agents during phototherapy, they can be mixed into three-dimensional hydrogels. The combination of hydrogels and phototherapy combines the merits of both hydrogels and phototherapy, overcomes the disadvantages of traditional antibacterial methodologies, and has broad application prospects. This review presents recent advancements in phototherapeutic antibacterial hydrogels including photodynamic antibacterial hydrogels, photothermal antibacterial hydrogels, photodynamic and photothermal synergistic antibacterial hydrogels, and other synergistic antibacterial hydrogels involving phototherapy.

Recent Progress in the Applications of Langmuir-Blodgett Film Technology.

Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film technology is an advanced technique for the preparation of ordered molecular ultra-thin films at the molecular level, which transfers a single layer of film from the air/water interface to a solid substrate for the controlled assembly of molecules. LB technology has continually evolved over the past century, revealing its potential applications across diverse fields. In this study, the latest research progress of LB film technology is reviewed, with emphasis on its latest applications in gas sensors, electrochemical devices, and bionic films. Additionally, this review evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of LB technology in the application processes and discusses the promising prospects for future application of LB technology.

Electrospinning Silk-Fibroin-Based Fibrous Membranes with AgNPs for Antimicrobial Application.

Silk fibroin (SF) has excellent biocompatibility and is one of the most commonly used polymer materials. However, SF fibers have serious drawbacks as antibacterial materials due to their lack of stability and bacterial resistance. Therefore, it is of paramount significance to enhance the stability and bolster the bacterial resistance of SF fibers. In this study, SF fibers were fabricated and loaded with Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) to improve the antimicrobial properties of the fibers. The impact of reduction conditions on the size of AgNPs was also investigated. In an antibacterial test, the fibers that were prepared exhibited over 98% bacterial resistance against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Therefore, as an efficient antibacterial material, these fibers are expected to become a candidate material in medical and textile fields. This study offers a novel approach for the utilization of SF fibers in the realm of antibacterial applications.