Percorrer por autor "Gomes, Thierry J."
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- Photodynamic inactivation of a RNA-virus model using water-soluble β-octa-Substituted pyridinium-pyrazolyl phthalocyaninesPublication . Gamelas, Sara R. D.; Bartolomeu, Maria; Gomes, Thierry J.; Faustino, Maria A.F.; Tomé, João P.C.; Tomé, Augusto C.; Almeida, Adelaide; Gomes, Ana T. P. C.; Lourenço, Leandro M. O.Among the various groups of microorganisms, viruses have generally a greater capacity for mutation, especially RNA viruses, as was demonstrated by SARS-CoV2 virus mutations. This high mutation rate promotes the development of their resistance to traditional antivirals and establishes the resistance behaviour in virus populations, decreasing their susceptibility to these drugs. In this context, the photodynamic treatment appears as a potentially effective method against microorganisms and, considering its mode of action is not likely to lead to the development of resistance. In this work, two newly zinc(II) phthalocyanines (ZnPcs) bearing pyridinium-pyrazolyl groups (2a and 3a) were synthesized, characterized, and applied in photodynamic inactivation (PDI) of bacteriophage Φ6 (or Phage Phi6) as a RNA-virus model. These quaternized dyes were applied at different concentrations (from 5.0 to 20 μM, and under white light irradiation in the irradiance range between 50 and 150 mW/cm2) to test their efficiency for possible clinical or environmental applications. The results showed that the new cationic ZnPcs 2a and 3a efficiently inactivate the RNA-virus model (bacteriophage Φ6), even at the lowest tested irradiance. These compounds are thus promising photosensitizers to be used in various contexts.
- Wastewater disinfection with photodynamic treatment and evaluation of its ecotoxicological effectsPublication . Bartolomeu, Maria; Gomes, Thierry J.; Campos, Fábio; Vieira, Cátia; Loureiro, Susana; Neves, M. Graça P. M. S.; Faustino, M. Amparo F.; Gomes, Ana T. P. C.; Almeida, AdelaideResearch has demonstrated the presence of viruses in wastewater (WW), which can remain viable for a long period, posing potential health risks. Conventional WW treatment methods involving UV light, chlorine and ozone efficiently reduce microbial concentrations, however, they produce hazardous byproducts and microbial resistance that are detrimental to human health and the ecosystem. Hence, there is a need for novel disinfection techniques. Antimicrobial Photodynamic Inactivation (PDI) emerges as a promising strategy, utilizing photosensitizers (PS), light, and dioxygen to inactivate viruses. This study aims to assess the efficacy of PDI by testing methylene blue (MB) and the cationic porphyrin TMPyP as PSs, along a low energy consuming white light source (LED) at an irradiance of 50 mW/cm2, for the inactivation of bacteriophage Phi6. Phi6 serves as an enveloped RNA-viruses surrogate model in WW. PDI experiments were conducted in a buffer solution (PBS) and real WW matrices (filtered and non-filtered). Considering the environmental release of the treated effluents, this research also evaluated the ecotoxicity of the resulting solution (post-PDI treatment effluent) on the model organism Daphnia magna, following the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) immobilization technical 202 guideline. Daphnids were exposed to WW containing the tested PS at different concentrations and dilutions (accounting for the dilution factor during WW release into receiving waters) over 48 h. The results indicate that PDI with MB efficiently inactivated the model virus in the different aqueous matrices, achieving reductions superior to 8 log10 PFU/mL, after treatments of 5 min in PBS and of ca. 90 min in WW. Daphnids survival increased when subjected to the PDI-treated WW with MB, considering the dilution factor. Overall, the effectiveness of PDI in eliminating viruses in WW, the fading of the toxic effects on daphnids after MB’ irradiation and the rapid dilution effect upon WW release in the environment highlight the possibility of using MB in WW PDI-disinfection.