Search Results (7)

Background: Megaprosthetic replacement is widely used following tumour resection but remains challenged by periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) and variable functional outcomes. This narrative review aims to summarise current evidence on infection rates, prevention strategies, and functional outcomes following proximal humerus megaprosthetic reconstruction. We hypothesise that antibacterial coatings and improved soft-tissue techniques reduce infection rates and enhance functional recovery. Methods: A comprehensive narrative review of PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library was performed using the terms proximal humerus, shoulder, bone tumor, sarcoma, neoplasm, infection, megaprosthesis, and endoprosthetic replacement. Reference lists were screened manually. Case reports and series with fewer than five patients were excluded. Twenty-seven clinical studies (more than 1100 patients; mainly osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and metastatic lesions) were included and qualitatively analyzed. Results: The reported infection rates ranged from 4% to 20%, with higher risk in patients receiving adjuvant therapy. Silver-coated implants reduced PJI compared with uncoated designs (e.g., 11.2% → 9.2% in primary implants; 29.2% → 13.7% in revisions) without systemic toxicity. Alternative antibacterial coatings (e.g., silver- or copper-enriched hydroxyapatite) showed promising early results but remain supported by limited clinical data. Soft-tissue stabilization with Trevira tube or synthetic mesh improved joint stability and did not increase infection risk. Functional outcomes, usually assessed by MSTS or TESS, were moderate to good (≈60–80%) overall, with better scores when the deltoid and axillary nerve were preserved or when reverse total shoulder arthroplasty was possible. Conclusions: Proximal humerus megaprosthetic reconstruction benefits from meticulous soft-tissue handling, selective use of antibacterial technologies, and multidisciplinary management. The current literature is mainly retrospective, heterogeneous, and non-comparative. Prospective multicenter studies are needed to clarify the long-term effectiveness of silver or alternative coatings, soft-tissue reconstruction techniques, and emerging custom-made 3D-printed prostheses. Full article

The study investigated the antimicrobial and antiviral effects of polypropylene foil coated with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) layer containing tea tree oil (TTO) as the active agent. Moreover, the influence of accelerated aging using Q-SUN treatment on the efficacy of the non-coated and coated foils was also investigated. The results of the study indicated a slight antimicrobial effect of the irradiated coating against S. aureus, noticeable antibacterial activity of both irradiated and non-irradiated coating against E. coli and a complete inhibition of B. cereus growth by the irradiated coating. However, both of these coatings exhibited strong antiviral properties, confirmed by a method consisting of two separate tests conducted on the Φ6 phage as the infectious agent: real-time measurement of the host’s OD during co-culture with the phage and observation of the host’s growth on copper mesh grids using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The characteristics of non-irradiated and irradiated foils were also determined using SEM and FT-IR. Full article

Free-standing copper oxide (Cu₂O)-copper hydroxide (Cu(OH)₂) nanocomposites with enhanced catalytic and antibacterial functionalities were synthesized on copper mesh using a green method based on spinach leaf extract and glycerol. EDX, SEM, and TEM analyses confirmed the chemical composition and morphology. The resulting Cu2O-Cu(OH)₂@Cu mesh exhibited notable hydrophobicity, achieving a contact angle of 137.5° ± 0.6, and demonstrated the ability to separate thick oils, such as HD-40 engine oil, from water with a 90% separation efficiency. Concurrently, its photocatalytic performance was evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under a weak light intensity of 5 mW/cm², achieving 85.5% degradation within 30 min. Although its application as a functional membrane in water treatment may raise safety concerns, the mesh showed significant antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria under both dark and light conditions. Using the disk diffusion method, strong bacterial inhibition was observed after 24 h of exposure in the dark. Upon visible light irradiation, bactericidal efficiency was further enhanced—by 17% for S. aureus and 2% for E. coli. These findings highlight the potential of the Cu₂O-Cu(OH)₂@Cu microfibers as a multifunctional membrane for industrial wastewater treatment, capable of simultaneously removing oil, degrading organic dyes, and inactivating pathogenic bacteria through photo-assisted processes. Full article

This article compares the antibacterial properties of single-layer (Ag) and two-layer (Ag,Cu) coatings deposited onto a polypropylene mesh (endoprostheses for hernioplasty) in various gaseous environments (argon or nitrogen) via magnetron sputtering. The microstructure and elemental composition of the coatings were studied via SEM and TEM. The antimicrobial activity of sterile samples was investigated using the Staphylococcus aureus strain. To prevent the overheating of the polymer samples during the coating process, it is advisable to carry out pulse processing (the total coating formation time is divided into cycles of switching the magnetron on and off for equal periods). All the samples, with both single- and double-layer coatings, exhibited good antibacterial properties; however, the Cu–Ag coating enhanced the antimicrobial effect, increasing it from 97.00 to 99.97%. The glow-discharge plasma etching of the samples with a double-layer coating led to the mixing of the copper and silver layers and an increase in the surface copper content, though this did not affect the antibacterial properties of the samples. Full article

In this paper, a novel method was proposed for the synthesis of Cu₂S on copper mesh via electrolysis in SRB culture medium. It was found that following electrolysis in SRB medium, squamous-like Cu₂S arrays were obtained on the copper mesh, and the Cu₂S loading contents varied with the electrolyzing parameters. The resultant Cu₂S on copper mesh in SRB (CSCM-SRB) with the highest catalytic MB degradation properties was produced by electrolysis at 3.75 mA/cm² for 900 s. The optimized MB-degrading conditions were determined to be 1.2 cm²/mL CSCM-SRB with 0.05 M H₂O₂ at 35 °C when pH = 6, under which the degradation of MB reached over 99% after 120 min of reaction. Disinfecting properties was also proven by antibacterial tests, revealing that an almost 100% antibacterial rate against E. coli was obtained after 8 min. The organic compounds produced by SRB adsorbed on CSCM-SRB strongly promoted the degradation of MB. Furthermore, possible Fenton-like mechanisms of CSCM-SRB were proposed, illustrating that ·O₂⁻, ·OH, and ¹O₂ acted as the main functional species during Fenton-like reactions, leading to effective MB degradation and high antibacterial properties. Finally, a simple device for wastewater treatment was designed, providing possible applications in real environments. Full article

Chronic wounds are defined as wounds that do not heal in an orderly and timely manner through the various stages of the healing process. Copper nanoparticles are essential in dressings for wound healing because they promote angiogenesis and skin regeneration, which hasten the healing process. This systematic investigation sought to explain how copper nanoparticles affect chronic wound healing in vivo and in vitro. We realized a systematic review of original articles studying the effectiveness of copper nanoparticles in the healing process of chronic wounds. The protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database. Several databases were searched between 2012 and January 2022 for English-language papers using MeSH terms and text related to chronic wounds, copper nanoparticles, and wound healing. Quality was evaluated using National Institute for Health and Care Excellence methodology and PRISMA guidelines. We looked at a total of 12 primary studies. Quantitative data were gathered and presented in all studies. Our results suggest that copper nanoparticles could have an excellent healing property, facilitating the liberation of growth factors that help the anti-inflammatory process of the wound and significantly improving antibacterial and antioxidant activities. In addition, copper presents a higher biocompatibility than other metallic ions, promoting regeneration and increasing skin quality. Full article

The pandemic situation caused by coronavirus clearly demonstrated the need for alternatives able to protect the respiratory tract and inactivate the infectious agents. Based on this, antibacterial face-mask filters of polycaprolactone (PCL) dopped with magnesium oxide (MgO) and copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) were produced using an electrospinning technique. A morphological analysis of electrospun meshes evaluated the success of nanoparticles’ incorporation as well as the average fibers’ diameters (481 ± 272 nm). The performance of electrospun nanofibers was also assessed in terms of tensile strength (0.88 ± 0.25 MPa), water vapor permeability (11,178.66 ± 35.78 g·m⁻²·day⁻¹), stability under wet conditions and antibacterial activity according to the standard guidelines. The filters showed structural stability up to 2 h of washing and improved antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) for optimized concentrations of MgO and CuO NPs. Overall, electrospun meshes with antibacterial activity were successfully developed for advanced filtering applications. Full article