Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been imposed as an excellent antimicrobial agent being able to combat bacteria in vitro and in vivo causing infections. The antibacterial capacity of AgNPs covers Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including multidrug resistant strains. AgNPs exhibit multiple and simultaneous mechanisms of action and in combination with antibacterial agents as organic compounds or antibiotics it has shown synergistic effect against pathogens bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The characteristics of silver nanoparticles make them suitable for their application in medical and healthcare products where they may treat infections or prevent them efficiently. With the urgent need for new efficient antibacterial agents, this review aims to establish factors affecting antibacterial and cytotoxic effects of silver nanoparticles, as well as to expose the advantages of using AgNPs as new antibacterial agents in combination with antibiotic, which will reduce the dosage needed and prevent secondary effects associated to both.

Levels and subcellular distribution of con-

2,5-Dimethyl-1,4-bis(carboxyalkyl)benzenes were prepared in almost quantitative yield by alkylation of malonic esters from 2,5-dimethyl-1,4-dibromomethylbenzene obtained by bromomethylation of 1,4-dimethylbenzene. The methyl groups on the central benzene ring induce intramolecular, regiospecific cycloeliminations leading selectively to the diketones, the precursors of the corresponding 1,5-dihydro-s-indacenes, which also were obtained in very high yield. These new ligand precursors were easily converted to the mono- or dianions, which were characterized by means of the mono- or disilylated compounds. Disilylation occurs in cis and trans position. The structure of the trans-1,5-bis(trimethylsilyl)-2,6-diethyl-4,8-dimethyl-s-indacene was obtained by X-ray diffraction. Hexaalkyl-1,5-dihydro-s-indacenes underwent regioselective monosilylation and regiospecific and stereoselective disilylation. Disilylation of the less hindered tetraalkyl-1,5-dihydro-s-indacenes was regioselective and stereoselective.

We report the synthesis of a 1:1 β-cyclodextrin-phenylethylamine (βCD-PhEA) inclusion complex (IC) and the adhesion of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) onto microcrystals of this complex, which forms a ternary system. The formation of the IC was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction and NMR analyses ((1)H and ROESY). The stability constant of the IC (760 M(-1)) was determined using the phase solubility method. The adhesion of AuNPs was obtained using the magnetron sputtering technique, and the presence of AuNPs was confirmed using UV-vis spectroscopy (surface plasmon resonance effect), which showed an absorbance at 533 nm. The powder X-ray diffractograms of βCD-PhEA were similar to those of the crystals decorated with AuNPs. A comparison of the one- and two-dimensional NMR spectra of the IC with and without AuNPs suggests partial displacement of the guest to the outside of the βCD due to attraction toward AuNPs, a characteristic tropism effect. The size, morphology, and distribution of the AuNPs were analyzed using TEM and SEM. The average size of the AuNPs was 14 nm. Changes in the IR and Raman spectra were attributed to the formation of the complex and to the specific interactions of this group with the AuNPs. Laser irradiation assays show that the ternary system βCD-PhEA-AuNPs in solution enables the release of the guest.

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