Antibiotics are essential drugs used to treat pathogenic bacteria, but their prolonged use contributes to the development and spread of drug-resistant microorganisms. Antibiotic resistance is a serious challenge and has led to the need for new alternative molecules less prone to bacterial resistance. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have aroused great interest as potential next-generation antibiotics, since they are bioactive small proteins, naturally produced by all living organisms, and representing the first line of defense against fungi, viruses and bacteria. AMPs are commonly classified according to their sources, which are represented by microorganisms, plants and animals, as well as to their secondary structure, their biosynthesis and their mechanism of action. They find application in different fields such as agriculture, food industry and medicine, on which we focused our attention in this review. Particularly, we examined AMP potential applicability in wound healing, skin infections and metabolic syndrome, considering their ability to act as potential Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme I and pancreatic lipase inhibitory peptides as well as antioxidant peptides. Moreover, we argued about the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic approaches to develop new antibiotics, the drug development strategies and the formulation approaches which need to be taken into account in developing clinically suitable AMP applications.

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The exponential increase of global demand for proteins and lipids can no longer be satisfied by classical sources. High amounts of CO2 produced by intensive livestock breeding and its effects on the environment are the main factors that prevent the use of animals as primary sources for proteins and lipids, calling for the use of new sustainable sources, such as insects. The massive breeding of bioconverter insects as a feed source has been a major topic in recent years, with both economic and scientific aspects related to rearing and subsequent processing optimization. The larvae of Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) (also known as Black Soldier Fly) can be used for the eco-sustainable production of proteins and lipids with high biological and economic value. Lipids can be obtained from BSF bioconversion processes and are present in high quantities in the last instar larvae and prepupae. Fats obtained from BSF are used as animal feed ingredients, in the formulation of several products for personal care, and in biodiesel production. To enable the use of insect-derived lipids, it is important to understand how to optimize their extraction. Here, we summarize the published information on the composition, the extraction methods, and the possible applications of the BSF lipid component.

Roasted hazelnut skins (RHS) represent a byproduct of kernel industrial processing. In this research, a RHS extract (RHS-M) and its fraction RHS-M-F3 enriched in proanthocyanidins (PAs), with antioxidant activity, were characterized in terms of total phenolic compound and PA contents. RHS-M and RHS-M-F3 showed antifungal properties against Candida albicans SC5314 (MIC2 = 3.00 and 0.10 μg/mL and MIC0 = 5.00 and 0.50 μg/mL, respectively), determined by the microbroth dilution method and Candida albicans morphological analysis. No cytotoxic effect on HEKa and HDFa cell lines was exhibited by RHS-M and RHS-M-F3. The metabolite profiling of RHS-M and RHS-M-F3 was performed by thiolysis followed by HPLC-UV-HRMS analysis and a combination of HRMS-FIA and HPLC-HRMS(n). Extract and fraction contain oligomeric PAs (mDP of 7.3 and 6.0, respectively, and DP up to 10) mainly constituted by B-type oligomers of (epi)-catechin. Also, (epi)-gallocatechin and gallate derivatives were identified as monomer units, and A-type PAs were detected as minor compounds.

TiO2 in the form of nanocrystals possesses photocatalyst properties leading to excellent capability of\ud degrading a number of environmental contaminants such as organics, bacteria, and viruses. However, the\ud antimicrobial activity of nano-TiO2 coatings against different microorganisms is not yet well established.\ud Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans are common nosocomial\ud and environmental pathogens responsible for biofilm-associated infections especially in indoor environments.\ud In this study, we produced thin coatings of TiO2 nanoparticles on aluminum substrates and\ud assessed whether they may prevent fungi and bacteria biofilm formation and whether this may be a synergistic\ud effect of TiO2 nanoparticles with UV irradiation, which is more representative of the natural conditions\ud for passive devices. Coatings of flame-synthesized nanoparticles were produced by direct\ud thermophoretic deposition on aluminum substrates through a rotating disk inserted in the flame. Particle\ud and coating characterization was performed by means of differential mobility analysis, Raman and X-ray\ud diffraction spectroscopy. Microbial biofilm formation on substrates with different TiO2 thicknesses were\ud evaluated by the colorimetric crystal violet method and quantified by spectrophotometry in four different\ud fungi and bacteria strains; the results were corroborated by scanning electron microscopy analysis. Substrates\ud with minimal TiO2 nanoparticle layers demonstrated a strong anti-biofilm effect against both fungi\ud and bacteria, due to the well-known cellular component photo-oxidation and to the enhanced nanomaterial\ud surface area. Interestingly, UV irradiation of the substrates at a low intensity for a short time demonstrated\ud a significant enhancement of the titania antimicrobial activity. TiO2 nanoparticle coatings may be\ud proposed as self-cleaning and self-disinfecting materials able to reduce microbial infections, especially in\ud indoor environments where hygiene is needed