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Fluorescent biocompatible porous carriers have been investigated as suitable probes for drug delivery and sensing applications owing to their intrinsic fluorescence and high surface area originating from their porous structure...

A new quinaldine-functionalized calix [4]arene receptor (QHQC) was synthesized, characterized, and analyzed for its selective sensing properties toward Hg 2+ ions, and the binding event with characteristic color change can be followed by the naked eye. The sensing process is reversible, and the detection limit for Hg 2+ ions is 2.95 × 10 −6 M. A colorimetric solid state Hg 2+ sensor was fabricated by intercalating this receptor molecule into the bentonite galleries via the ionexchange method. This organic−inorganic hybrid sensor shows properties analogous to the receptor molecule and effectively detects Hg 2+ ions rapidly with visual color change. The solid state Hg 2+ sensor is economically affordable, environmentally benign, portable, reversible, and reusable.

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Hospital-associated infections and related complications are of extreme concern in the healthcare sector since biofilms generated over material surfaces not only create turbulence in the healthcare practices followed but also ruin the device performance, and increased medication, leading to significant chances of drug resistance. Natural rubber latex (NRL) being the first choice for the manufacture of several conventional biomedical devices, it is essential to ensure the surfaces of the same are inherently inactive against most microorganisms. This study presents NRL film surface conjugated with a well-known antibiotic, gentamicin through an amide linkage to generate antibacterial activity to the surface with a significant growth inhibition rate, especially against Staphylococcus aureus. The NRL films were surface-oxidized under controlled acidic conditions to generate carboxyl groups exploring the unsaturation of the base monomer unit. The carboxyl group reacts with the amine groups of gentamicin facilitating its surface conjugation. The surface anchoring was authenticated by FTIR-ATR complimented further by contact angle measurement as a function of hydrophilicity and elemental analysis by EDX spectroscopy. The antibacterial efficacy of modified NRL films was evaluated using antibacterial drop test and the results indicated a substantial growth inhibition rate (>60%) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The study could be further optimized and proposed as a viable route for the conjugation of active molecules over inert polymer molecules.