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@article{WOS:001877764300001,
title = {Synthetically accessible naphthalene-based rigid-core electrolytes as
membrane-active antibacterial agents against drug-resistant pathogens},
author = {Aniket Kulkarni and Tania Jia Min Jim and Victor Lotocki and Guillermo C Bazan},
doi = {10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.119323},
times_cited = {0},
issn = {0223-5234},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-12-01},
journal = {EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY},
volume = {320},
publisher = {ELSEVIER FRANCE-EDITIONS SCIENTIFIQUES MEDICALES ELSEVIER},
address = {65 RUE CAMILLE DESMOULINS, CS50083, 92442 ISSY-LES-MOULINEAUX, FRANCE},
abstract = {The growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) underscores the
need for antibacterial scaffolds that act through mechanisms distinct
from those of conventional antibiotics. Conjugated oligoelectrolytes
(COEs) are membrane-active antimicrobials, although stilbene-containing
representatives can present scaffold-specific challenges associated with
alkene stability and synthetic accessibility. Here, we report a
naphthalene-based rigid-core electrolyte (RCE) platform that removes the
phenylene-vinylene linker while retaining potent antibacterial activity.
The RCEs were accessed through a two-step, transition-metal-free route,
and the lead compound N6P displayed activity against the tested ESKAPE representatives (MICs = 1-8 mu g/mL), Mycobacterium abscessus (MIC = 4 mu g/mL), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (MIC = 1 mu g/mL). DiSC3(5)
depolarization, ANS uptake, TEM imaging and DAPI/PI imaging were
consistent with bacterial membrane perturbation. N6P was rapidly
bactericidal against MRSA, retained activity in serum-supplemented
medium, produced only a fourfold maximum MIC increase during 14
passages, and reduced viable bacteria in established MRSA biofilms. In a
murine MRSA wound model, N6P and N6-Br reduced bacterial burden by
3.2-4.8 log10 CFU at doses of 0.05-0.25 mg/kg. Serum biochemical
profiling at 0.25 mg/kg showed no consistent treatment-related changes,
while histological examination at doses up to 0.75 mg/kg revealed no
overt abnormalities under the conditions evaluated. These findings
identify compact scaffold rigidity, linker length, and cation identity
as important design variables for this RCE series and support further
pharmacokinetic, formulation, and tolerability studies.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}

@article{WOS:001839386700001,
title = {Multiplexed Bioimagingvia Lifetime and Spectral Engineeringof Conjugated
Oligoelectrolytes},
author = {Ji-Yu Zhu and Samuel J W Chan and Fernando Lopez-Garcia and Chuan Xiang Alvin Tan and Sean C Winoto and Guillermo C Bazan},
doi = {10.1021/jacs.6c11656},
times_cited = {0},
issn = {0002-7863},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-08-01},
journal = {JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY},
publisher = {AMER CHEMICAL SOC},
address = {1155 16TH ST, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036 USA},
abstract = {Multiplexed bioimaging is essential for understanding how distinct
organelles coordinate their function in living cells. To increase the
number of parameters measurable in parallel, fluorescence lifetime
imaging microscopy (FLIM) can be used to complement conventional
intensity-based measurements. Conjugated oligoelectrolytes (COEs)
represent a promising platform for developing lipid-bilayer vesicle
optical probes with a differentiated molecular architecture from
frequently used chromophores, yet remain largely unexplored for imaging
multiple vesicle populations. Here, we demonstrate how COEs enable
multiparametric imaging of live cell intracellular vesicle targets, with
compatibility for super-resolution imaging and dynamic monitoring of
organelle interactions. The fluorescence lifetime of COEs can be
modulated by systematically altering the nature of the intramolecular
charge transfer excited states, showcasing molecular design strategies
toward developing new donor-acceptor fluorophores. Leveraging this
principle, two new COEs with red-shifted emission and longer lifetimes
were developed, which complement existing counterparts. We also show
that when used alongside commercially available probes, COEs allow one
to simultaneously distinguish up to four pairs of spectrally identical
probes based on their emission lifetimes. Importantly, the ability to
simultaneously label and track multiple distinct intracellular vesicle
populations enables rapid, high-content data acquisition and analysis of
cellular dynamics. By connecting molecular design and photophysics with
advanced imaging techniques, this work suggests a new set of chemical
probes that open opportunities for studying biological processes with
larger data sets to advance detection methodologies relevant for cell
biology and biomedical imaging.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}

@article{WOS:001728083400001,
title = {Graphene and amorphous carbon coatings for nitinol cardiovascular stents
by direct chemical vapor deposition: A comparative insight},
author = {Pei Rou Ng and Yixin Zhang and Tania Jim Jia Min and Xuan Liu and Mo Lin and Artemii S Ivanov and Konstantin G Nikolaev and Remi Mahfouz and Talah M Tayeb and Nada Qari and Guillermo C Bazan and Vitaly Sorokin and Kostya S Novoselov and Daria V. Andreeva},
doi = {10.1016/j.matdes.2026.115864},
times_cited = {1},
issn = {0264-1275},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-05-01},
journal = {MATERIALS & DESIGN},
volume = {265},
publisher = {ELSEVIER SCI LTD},
address = {125 London Wall, London, ENGLAND},
abstract = {Carbon-based coatings are promising for biomedical implants, including
vascular stents, but fabrication on metals often requires adhesion
interlayers or polymer-assisted transfer, increasing cost and
complexity. Here, we report a simple, ambient-pressure chemical vapor
deposition (CVD) process for the direct, interlayer-free growth of two
carbon coatings on nitinol (NiTi) stents: few-layer graphene (FLG/NiTi,
170 +/- 20 nm) and amorphous carbon (a-C/NiTi, 620 +/- 30 nm). Both
coatings significantly enhanced corrosion resistance, with protection
efficiencies of 83.78% for FLG/NiTi and 89.19% for a-C/NiTi. Vascular
cell assays revealed distinct and clinically relevant biological
responses. a-C/NiTi promoted vascular endothelial cell (VEC)
proliferation (+17.2% at 96 h relative to bare NiTi) while suppressing
vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation (-25%), a desirable
outcome as excessive VSMC growth drives in-stent restenosis, whereas
endothelialization supports vessel healing. In contrast, FLG/NiTi
inhibited proliferation of both cell types (>50% reduction for VECs).
All samples exhibited excellent hemocompatibility (hemolysis < 0.2%),
and a-C/NiTi reduced platelet surface coverage by 30% compared with
bare NiTi, beneficial for mitigating thrombosis. Inflammatory assessment
further showed a 73% reduction in TNF-alpha secretion on a-C/NiTi in
comparison to bare NiTi. Together, these results demonstrate an
interlayer/ polymer-free route to carbon-coated NiTi stents with tunable
biological performance.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}

@article{WOS:001751918400001,
title = {Single-particle imaging uncovers reverse electron transfer efficiency
between Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 and shaped haematite},
author = {Yong Liu and Wentao Song and Weidong Zhang and Yuanmei Liang and Mukesh Saini and Yuanzhi He and Jing Zhu and Zhongxin Chen and Guoliang Zhang and Jin Xie and Xiaozhi Xu and Guillermo C Bazan and Jee Loon Foo and Matthew Wook Chang and Bin Liu and Xianwen Mao},
doi = {10.1038/s41929-026-01530-x},
times_cited = {2},
issn = {2520-1158},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-05-01},
journal = {NATURE CATALYSIS},
volume = {9},
number = {5},
publisher = {NATURE PORTFOLIO},
address = {HEIDELBERGER PLATZ 3, BERLIN, 14197, GERMANY},
abstract = {Microbe-semiconductor hybrids hold promise for solar-to-chemical
conversion, but facet-dependent interfacial charge transfer remains
poorly understood due to structural heterogeneity and biological
complexity. Here we leverage a multimodal optical imaging platform to
probe the charge-transfer efficiency between Shewanella oneidensis MR-1
and 110/001-faceted haematite, at single-particle and
single-cell levels, in vivo and operando. We quantify the reverse
extracellular electron-transfer capabilities of Shewanella oneidensis
MR-1 via non-H2-mediated pathways, and identify that haematite's 110
facets synergistically exhibit stronger cell-binding ability and higher
charge-transfer efficiency. Furthermore, we discover that moderate cell
densities are key to enhancing per-cell electron injection, highlighting
the trade-off between total loading and individual cell efficiency, and
offering critical insights into biofilm structure optimization. Our
imaging tools and analytical framework may potentially extend to diverse
microbe-semiconductor hybrid systems, quantifying microscopic structural
and functional descriptors that enhance the fundamental understanding of
complex interfacial charge transfer, and inform rational biohybrid
design across applications.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}

@article{WOS:001703236200001,
title = {Conjugated Oligoelectrolytes as Optical Probes},
author = {Samuel J W Chan and Ji-Yu Zhu and Guillermo C Bazan},
doi = {10.1021/acs.accounts.6c00017},
times_cited = {0},
issn = {0001-4842},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-04-01},
journal = {ACCOUNTS OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH},
volume = {59},
number = {7},
pages = {1202-1214},
publisher = {AMER CHEMICAL SOC},
address = {1155 16TH ST, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036 USA},
abstract = {Optical probes are essential tools for interrogating biological and
chemical systems invisible to the naked eye, providing insights into
molecular interactions, protein activity, and cellular trafficking.
Conjugated oligoelectrolytes (COEs), an emerging class of optical
probes, are synthetic organic amphiphiles defined by a pi-conjugated
backbone and charged pendant groups. COEs with a linear conjugated
structure and charged groups at the two termini can be designed to mimic
the molecular dimensions and arrangements of hydrophobic and hydrophilic
groups characteristic of lipid bilayers. This design drives their
spontaneous intercalation into and prolonged residence within biological
lipid bilayer membranes. By tailoring their molecular building blocks,
their electronic and photophysical properties as well as their
interactions with cells can be readily tuned, positioning COEs as a
versatile platform for developing molecular probes for fundamental
research and applied bioimaging across a range of biological systems.In
this Account, we describe the design strategies elaborated by our group
for developing COEs as optical probes, with a focus on their
applications and uses in elucidation and tracking of cellular membrane
properties. We show that COEs can be used to detect and visualize lipid
membranes at multiple length scales, ranging from single microbial cells
and exogenously isolated small extracellular vesicles and particles to
subcellular organelles and whole cells in live animal models. COEs also
function as effective nonlinear optical probes that are applicable in
advanced imaging modalities such as two-photon microscopy and stimulated
emission depletion microscopy to extract spatiotemporal information at
high resolution.We also provide our insights into how COEs can be
designed to be functional probes that exhibit predictable photophysical
behavior in response to the local molecular and chemical environment.
Using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy, the time-resolved
emission of COEs can be leveraged to provide insight into dynamic
processes such as rapid changes in membrane tension and long-term
changes in membrane rigidity and composition. We additionally elaborate
strategies for modulating interactions with biological membranes,
designing membrane-specific probes that respond to specific cellular
biophysical parameters, and offer perspectives and opportunities toward
developing a new platform for disease detection and diagnosis.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}