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Bacterial and organic pollutants are major problems with potential adverse impacts on human health and the environment. A promising strategy to alleviate these impacts consists in designing innovative photocatalysts with a wider spectrum of application. In this paper, we report the improved photocatalytic and antibacterial activities of chemically precipitated Ag3PO4 microcrystals by the incorporation of W at doping levels 0.5, 1, and 2 mol %. The presence of W directly influences the crystallization of Ag3PO4, affecting the morphology, particle size, and surface area of the microcrystals. Also, the characterization via experimental and theoretical approaches evidenced a high density of disordered [AgO4], [PO4], and [WO4] structural clusters due to the substitution of P5+ by W6+ into the Ag3PO4 lattice. This leads to new defect-related energy states, which decreases the band gap energy of the materials (from 2.27 to 2.04 eV) and delays the recombination of e'-h• pairs, leading to an enhanced degradation process. As a result of such behaviors, W-doped Ag3PO4 (Ag3PO4:W) is a better visible-light photocatalyst than Ag3PO4, demonstrated here by the photodegradation of potential environmental pollutants. The degradation of rhodamine B dye was 100% in 4 min for Ag3PO4:W 1%, and for Ag3PO4, the obtained result was 90% of degradation in 15 min of reaction. Ag3PO4:W 1% allowed the total degradation of cephalexin antibiotic in only 4 min, whereas pure Ag3PO4 took 20 min to achieve the same result. For the degradation of imidacloprid insecticide, Ag3PO4:W 1% allowed 90% of degradation, whereas Ag3PO4 allowed 40%, both in 20 min of reaction. Moreover, the presence of W-dopant results in a 16-fold improvement of bactericidal performance against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The outstanding results using the Ag3PO4:W material demonstrated its potential multifunctionality for the control of organic pollutants and bacteria in environmental applications.

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Defect-related luminescent materials have attracted interest because of their excellent optical properties and are considered as a less expensive and nontoxic alternative to commonly used lanthanide-based optical systems. These materials are fundamentally and technologically important for the next generation of full-color tunable light-emitting diodes as well as in the biomedical field. In this study, we report the preparation of α-silver vanadate (α-AgVO3, AV) decorated by hydroxyapatite (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, HA) with intense photoluminescence (PL) emissions at various HA/AV molar ratios (1:1-1:1/32) by a simple route based on chemical precipitation. The well-defined diffraction peaks observed by X-ray diffraction were all indexed to the monoclinic AV and hexagonal HA phases. Analysis of the results obtained by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy reveals the presence of short-range structural order as deduced by the characteristic vibrational modes assigned to AV and HA systems. Characterization by scanning and transmission electron microscopies confirms the presence of AV and HA micro- and nanorods, respectively. UV-vis spectroscopy renders band gap energies of 5.80 eV for HA and in the range 2.59-2.65 eV for pure AV and HA/AV samples. The PL data reveal the presence of broad-band emission profiles, typical of defect-related optical centers in materials. Depending on the molar ratio, the emission can be completely tunable from the blue to red spectral regions; in addition, pure white color emission was obtained. On the basis of these results, we propose an order-disorder model induced by structural and interface defects to explain the PL emissions in the HA/AV system. Moreover, our results show that HA/AV composites have superior bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible) and can be used as a novel multifunctional material.

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In recent years, complex nanocomposites formed by Ag nanoparticles coupled to an α-Ag2WO4 semiconductor network have emerged as promising bactericides, where the semiconductor attracts bacterial agents and Ag nanoparticles neutralize them. However, the production rate of such materials has been limited to transmission electron microscope processing, making it difficult to cross the barrier from basic research to real applications. The interaction between pulsed laser radiation and α-Ag2WO4 has revealed a new processing alternative to scale up the production of the nanocomposite resulting in a 32-fold improvement of bactericidal performance, and at the same time obtaining a new class of spherical AgxWyOz nanoparticles.

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Bimetallic nanoalloys with a wide variety of structures and compositions have been fabricated through many diverse techniques. Generally, various steps and chemicals are involved in their fabrication. In this study, the synthesis of Ag-Bi nanoalloys by femtosecond laser irradiation of an inorganic oxide Ag2WO4/NaBiO3 target without any chemicals like reducing agents or solvent is presented. The interaction between these materials and the ultrashort pulse of light allows the migration of Ag and Bi atoms from the crystal lattice to the particles surfaces and then to the plasma plume, where the reduction of the positively charged Ag and Bi species in their respective metallic species takes place. Subsequently, the controlled nucleation and growth of the Ag-Bi alloyed nanoparticles occurs in situ during the irradiation process in air. Although at the bulk level, these elements are highly immiscible, it was experimentally demonstrated that at nanoscale, the Ag-Bi nanoalloy can assume a randomly mixed structure with up to 6 ± 1 atom % of Bi solubilized into the face-centered cubic structure of Ag. Furthermore, the Ag-Bi binary system possesses high antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-resistant and methicilin-susceptible), which is interesting for potential antimicrobial applications, consequently increasing their range of applicability. The present results provide potential insights into the structures formed by the Ag-Bi systems at the nanoscale and reveal a new processing method where complex inorganic oxides can be used as precursors for the controlled synthesis of alloyed bimetallic nanoparticles.

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AIM: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of surface roughness (roughness average [Ra] µm) on the hydrophobicity of a denture-base acrylic resin and the initial adherence and biofilm formation of Candida albicans (C. albicans). METHODS: Disk-shaped specimens were divided into six groups: Ra 0.05, Ra 0.2, Ra 0.4, Ra 0.8, Ra 1.5, and Ra 3.0. Water contact angles (WCA) were measured, and the specimens incubated with C. albicans for 90 min (initial adherence, n = 108) or 48 h (biofilm formation, n = 108). Adhered and biofilm cells were evaluated by c.f.u./mL and 2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT), and the correlation between the two methods was evaluated. The surface of the specimens and cells (adhered and biofilm) were also analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). RESULTS: Groups Ra 0.05 and 3.0 exhibited the lowest (~75°) and the highest (~100°) WCA mean values, respectively. For both initial adherence and biofilm formation, no statistically-significant differences were observed among all groups, as determined by c.f.u./mL and XTT. A positive correlation between these two methods was found. SEM analysis showed the presence of scratches and valleys on the acrylic specimens and densely-packed yeast cells covering the entire surface. CONCLUSIONS: Roughness significantly increased hydrophobicity (WCA), but had no effect on the number and metabolic activity of adherent and biofilm cells of C. albicans.

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This study is a framework proposal for understanding the antimicrobacterial effect of both α-Ag2WO4 microcrystals (AWO) synthesized using a microwave hydrothermal (MH) method and α-Ag2WO4 microcrystals with Ag metallic nanofilaments (AWO:Ag) obtained by irradiation employing an electron beam to combat against planktonic cells of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). These samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-Raman spectroscopy, ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) measurements, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The results reveal that both AWO and AWO:Ag solutions have bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects, but the irradiated sample is more efficient; i.e., a 4-fold of the MRSA planktonic cells as compared to the nonirradiated sample was observed. In addition, first principles calculations were performed to obtain structural and electronic properties of AWO and metallic Ag, which provides strong quantitative support for an antimicrobacterial mechanism based on the enhancement of electron transfer processes between α-Ag2WO4 and Ag nanoparticles.

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O objetivo desse estudo foi analisar a efetividade de sistemas adesivos convencionais e autocondicionantes, e de diferentes métodos de fotoativação para redução da microinfiltração marginal. Foram utilizados 48 dentes incisivos bovinos nesse estudo. Os dentes foram divididos em quatro grupos de 12 amostras de acordo com o tipo de adesivo ou método de fotoativação utilizado: Grupo 1- Sistema adesivo de passos fotoativadas por luz halógena com intensidade de 700 mW/cm2 Grupo 2 - Sistema adesivo de dois passos fotoativados pelo LED com intensidade de 470 mW/cm2; Grupo 3 - sistema adesivo autocondicionante fotoativados por luz halógena; Grupo 4 - Sistema adesivo autocondicionante fotoativados por LED. Uma resina composta nanoparticulada foi utilizada para restaurar todas as cavidades. Em seguida, os grupos foram submetidos ao tratamento de ciclagem térmica e foram colocados por 24 horas em solução de azul de metileno. A microinfiltração foi avaliada de acordo com o grau de penetração do corante na interface dente-restauração. Para análise estatística, foi utilizado o teste não paramétrico de Kruskal Wallis complementado pelo teste de Mann-Whitney, no nível de 5% de significância. O grupo 1 apresentou estatisticamente menores índices de microinfiltração marginal que o grupo 2 na parece oclusal (p<0.05) e os grupos 1 e 4 apresentaram menores graus de microinfiltração marginal que o grupo 2 na parede cervical(p<0.05). A aplicação do sistema adesivo de dois passos associado a polimerização com luz halógena promoveram os menores graus de microinfiltração marginal.

The aim of this research was to analyze the effectiveness of conventional and self-etching bonding systems and different curing methods for reduction of marginal microleakage. 48 bovine incisor teeth were used in this study. The teeth were divided into four groups of 12 samples according to the type of adhesive system or curing method used: Group 1- Two-step bonding system photoactivated by halogen light with intensity of 700 mW/cm2; Group 2- Two-step bonding system photoactivated by LED with 470 mW/ cm2 of intensity; Group 3 - Self etch bonding system photoactivated by halogen light; Group 4- Self etch bonding system photoactivated by LED. A nanofilled composite resin was used to restore all the cavities. Then the groups were subjected to thermal cycling treatment and were placed for 24 hours in a methylene blue solution. The microleakage was assessed according to the degree ofpenetration of the colorant in tooth-restoration interface. For statistical analysis, the non-parametric Kruskal Wallis test complemented by Mann-Whitney were used with 5 % level of significance. The Group 1 showed lower marginal microleakage than Group 2 on occlusal wall (p<0.05). Adittionally, appears and the groups 1 and 4 had smaller degrees of marginal microleakage that the cervical wall 2 Group (p<0.05). The application of two-step bonding system associated with the polymerization by halogen light promoted the lowest degrees of marginal microleakage.