Silane-functionalized polyionenes-coated cotton fabrics with potent antimicrobial and antiviral activities.

Bacterial and viral infections are posing a huge burden on healthcare industry. Existing antimicrobial textiles that are used to prevent infection transmission are lack of durability and antiviral activity. Here, we report on silane-functionalized polyionenes-coated cotton textiles with durable potent antimicrobial and antiviral activities. To obtain silane-functionalized polyionenes, silane group-containing monomers were synthesized and used to polymerize with co-monomers. These polyionenes were then conjugated onto the surface of cotton fabrics via covalent bonds. These polymers demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against various types of pathogenic microbes as evidenced by low effective concentration. The fabrics coated with these polymers exhibited potent bactericidal (>99.999%) and virucidal (7-log PFU reduction) activities. In addition, the antimicrobial efficacy was still more than 92% even after 50 times of washing. Evaluation of cytocompatibility and skin compatibility of the polymer-coated cotton fabrics in mice revealed that they were compatible with cells and mouse skin, and neither erythema nor edema was found in the area that was in contact with the polymer-coated fabrics. The silane-functionalized polyionenes are potentially promising antimicrobial and antiviral coating materials for textiles and other applications to prevent microbial and viral infections.

Harnessing the combined potential of cancer immunotherapy and nanomedicine: A new paradigm in cancer treatment.

Cancer immunotherapy has recently emerged as a rising star due to its ability to activate patients' immune systems to fight tumors and prevent relapse. Conversely, the interest in cancer nanomedicine has seemingly waned due to its lackluster clinical translation. Despite being hailed as a game-changer in oncology, cancer immunotherapy still faces numerous challenges. Combining both entities together has thus been one among several solutions proposed to circumvent these challenges. This solution has since gained traction and has also led to a renaissance of cancer nanomedicine. While most combinations are currently experimental at best, some have progressed on to clinical trials. This review thus seeks to examine the advantages and disadvantages of integrating both modalities as a cancer treatment. The opportunities, challenges and future directions of this emerging field will also be explored with the hope that such a combination will lead to a paradigm shift in cancer treatments.