Today, coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has spread among humans worldwide. Its infectivity and lethality pose major threats to human life. Now, we are conducting vaccination whilst taking infection prevention measures such as wearing masks, keeping a social distance, handwashing, and ensuring adequate ventilation. The suppression or prevention of the spread of infection is becoming an important issue. The need and demand for antiviral materials are increasing. Recently, we prepared rare earth molybdate using a polymerizable complex method or hydrothermal processing. Materials of this group simultaneously exhibit antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and antiviral activity against non-envelope type and envelope type viruses. This paper presents the development history and actual properties of these materials by referring to related recent research work.

Porphyrin derivatives accumulate selectively in cancer cells and can be used as tumor imaging agent and anti-cancer drug. On the other hand, the effect of the functional porphyrin positions (β-, meso-position) on tumor accumulation has not been investigated. In this work, we investigated the effects of functional positions (β, meso-position) on porphyrins accumulation in cancer cells. We found that the accumulation of the porphyrin derivatives significantly depended on the functional porphyrins position.

IgM antibodies produced by mammalian B lymphocytes are involved in the host’s defense against pathogen and viral infections. IgMs are produced in the early stages of these infections and can be used as an indicator of early diagnosis. While there are many other benefits to using IgM in medical applications, its unstable properties make it impractical as an antibody material. In recent years, the technological environment for IgM purification has been improved, and it is becoming possible to prepare IgM suitable for industrial applications. Here, we introduce the latest topics of IgM purification technology.

This paper outlines natural inorganic antimicrobial materials with calcium oxide (CaO) and magnesium oxide (MgO) as their main components. Seashells, eggshells, and dolomite are mainly composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) and magnesium carbonate (MgCO₃), which are converted into CaO and MgO by heat treatment. These CaO and MgO exhibit antimicrobial activity. These natural inorganic materials are effective against bacteria, heat-resistant spores, fungi, viruses, and even bacterial biofilms, and are characterized by their broad anti-microbial spectra.

Covid-19 has reminded us that we are surrounded by not only viruses but also microbes that are harmful and cause human disease. Since they are transmitted via touching surfaces like railings and door knobs, anti-viral and anti-microbial paints are considered to be able to play a role in prevention of their spread. Anti-mosquito paint for repelling mosquito delivering pathogens like virus or malaria parasites, anti-fungal paint for preventing growth of fungi and anti-viral paint for preventing transmission via fomite have been developed. Adapting to changes in the natural environment, whilst pursuing sustainable development goals should be the focus in this field.