Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cancer cells present in the bloodstream that originate from primary or metastatic sites. Sensitive and selective capture of these rare cells is essential for early diagnosis, metastasis prevention, and prognosis prediction. In this study, we demonstrated the effectiveness of a surface functionalized with epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) Fab’ (fragment-antigen-binding) fragments for the specific capture of EpCAM-positive human breast cancer cells. EpCAM antibody Fab’ fragments were produced through pepsin digestion and characterized by SDS-PAGE analysis. Glass surfaces were silanized before being coated with a thin layer of gold via sputtering to ensure stability. The Fab’ fragments were immobilized on the gold-coated glass surfaces through strong gold-thiol bonds. The modified surfaces were then characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analyses. Cell capture performance was assessed using fluorescence microscopy with both EpCAM-positive and EpCAM-negative cell lines. The results show that the Fab’-modified surface offers a promising platform for the selective immunocapture of EpCAM-positive cells.
Practical application: This study presents a preliminary design of a Fab’ fragment-immobilized surface for the selective capture of EpCAM-positive breast cancer cells. The surface modification relies on spontaneous Au-S bonding, offering a simple and effective chemical method. The modified surface demonstrates strong potential for integration into future biosensor platforms for detecting circulating tumor cells. Such a system is promising for advanced diagnostics, monitoring, disease progression, and personalized treatment uses.
Microbial bioprocessing is a key technology for the production of a wide range of biomolecules, including proteins, enzymes, antibiotics, and other bioactive compounds. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in using microfluidic platforms for bioprocessing, due to the ability to precisely control and manipulate fluids at the microscale. Microfluidics offers a transformative platform for the manufacturing of biomolecules intended for clinical applications by addressing key technical challenges in scalability, precision, reproducibility, and the ability to study complex biological systems. In this review, various methods used to fabricate microfluidic platforms and the current state-of-the-art in the synthesis/production of biopharmaceuticals, polymers, bioactive compounds, and real-time monitoring in microscale bioprocesses are discussed. Additionally, the future trends and directions are highlighted. Overall, we envisage the utilization of microfluidic platforms to advance the field of microbial bioprocessing and applications in the biomedical field.
Menthol, a natural organic compound and the primary component of mint, exhibits diverse biological activities, including analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, neuroprotective, and anticancer effects. The chemical modification of menthol, through processes such as esterification and amination, further enhances these activities, expanding its potential applications in drug development, agriculture, and food preservation. This review explores the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of menthol and its derivatives, emphasizing the significance of molecular modifications in enhancing their pharmacological effects. Research indicates that menthol and its derivatives can improve drug permeation, reduce inflammation, enhance memory, and even target cancer cells through various mechanisms. In addition, we examine the safety and pharmacokinetics of menthol and its derivatives to better understand their clinical potential. Although significant progress has been made in preclinical models, further research is necessary to fully elucidate their mechanisms of action and optimize their therapeutic efficacy in clinical settings. Continued innovation in drug delivery technologies and the development of novel menthol derivatives present promising prospects for future therapeutic applications.
Optical spectroscopic techniques have been successfully employed in bioprocessing as process analytical technology for real-time process monitoring in numerous applications. The implementation of spectroscopy-based PAT techniques commonly necessitates the generation of representative process data used for calibration and validation of multivariate statistical models for analyzing the sample composition in real-time. To automate the generation of such data, we present a novel assembly of a commercially available chromatography system in combination with a Raman spectrometer for fast and accurate acquisition of Raman spectra. Using the ultra-/diafiltration (UF/DF) process as a case study, our methodology involved the preparation of representative calibration and validation mixtures of phosphate and citrate buffer and lysozyme as a model protein. Chemometric PLS models were calibrated and validated using these datasets, and applied to in-line recorded Raman spectra during a UF/DF experiment. The primary results demonstrated that the novel assembly provides robust and precise offline measurement of Raman spectra, which directly compare with in-line record data. The chemometric PLS models showed good alignment in calibration and validation datasets (R2 and Q2), and could be used to simultaneously monitor the buffer and protein concentrations in real-time during UF/DF. This study provides a simple, commercially available setup for automated acquisition of Raman spectra and demonstrates its straightforward application to bioprocess monitoring.
RETRACTION: E.M. Abed, F. Yazdian, A.A. Sepahi, and B. Rasekh, “Synthesis and Evaluation of PCL/Chitosan/CQD-Fe Magnetic Nanocomposite for Wound Healing: Emphasis on Gene Expression,” Engineering in Life Sciences 25, no. 1 (2025): e202400038, https://doi.org/10.1002/elsc.202400038.
The above article, published online on 19 January 2025 in Wiley Online Library (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/), has been retracted by agreement between the journal Editor-in-Chief, Ralf Takors; and Wiley-VCH GmbH. Following an investigation by the publisher, the parties have concluded that this article was accepted solely on the basis of a compromised peer review process. Therefore, the article must be retracted.
Celosia argentea is an undervalued crop that shows potential for production enhancement due to elevated leaf nutrient accumulative ability. By investigating propagation using various in vitro culture systems, thidiazuron (TDZ)-supplemented nutrient media enhanced yield from 10 plants per explant in semi-solid medium, to 27 under continuous immersion in liquid media in recipient for automated temporary immersion (RITA) bioreactors, to 63 under temporary immersion in liquid media in a balloon-type bubble bioreactor (BTBB). TDZ in the BTBB system also increased shoot biomass and subsequent nutrient content relative to TDZ-free media in ex vitro plants. Ex vitro plants originating from both continuous and temporary media immersion in BTBBs outperformed those in all other culture systems in accumulating leaf Mg, Fe, Ca and Zn to meet the recommended dietary allowance for males and females. The genotypic variance and genetic advance of the mean at 5% selection intensity varied for each nutrient per culture system, with and without TDZ. Selective breeding at 5% selection intensity would improve leaf nutrient content but is specific to the culture system and the presence of TDZ. This is the first study to use liquid-based bioreactor systems for C. argentea propagation thereby providing new opportunities to upscale plant production for high nutrient-accumulating genotypes.
Practical application: This study establishes a commercially viable protocol for the large-scale clonal propagation of Celosia argentea, a nutrient-rich, fast growing leafy vegetable with untapped agronomic value. Using temporary immersion bioreactors and thidiazuron-supplemented media, the system delivers up to 63 plants per explant, more than 6-fold the yield of conventional methods, while significantly boosting leaf biomass and nutrient content (Mg, Ca, Fe, Zn). These results position C. argentea as a functional crop for health-focused markets and ready-to-cook vegetable lines. The low-input cultivation needs and rapid production cycle (8 weeks in vitro, 8 weeks ex vitro) make it ideal for high-turnover commercial nurseries, contract growers, and vertical farming operations. The systems reproducibility and high heritability of nutritional traits further support selective breeding programs for premium-value cultivars. This propagation platform offers agribusinesses a scalable entry point into the expanding market for nutrient-dense indigenous vegetables with health and wellness appeal.
RETRACTION: E. Rahmani, M. Pourmadadi, S. A. Ghorbanian, F. Yazdian, H. Rashedi, and M. Navaee, “Preparation of a pH-Responsive Chitosan-Montmorillonite-Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Quantum Dots Nanocarrier for Attenuating Doxorubicin Limitations in Cancer Therapy,” Engineering in Life Sciences 22, no. 10 (2022): 634–649, https://doi.org/10.1002/elsc.202200016.
The above article, published online on 13 September 2022 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the journal Editors-in-Chief, Ralf Takors, An-Ping Zeng; and Wiley-VCH GmbH.
The partial raw data provided by the authors could not address the original concerns, showed inconsistencies with the published results, and ultimately raised additional doubts about the study's overall reliability. Consequently, the editors have lost confidence in the presented data and decided to retract the paper. The authors’ institute has been informed of the allegations and the decision to retract but remained unresponsive. The authors disagree with the retraction.
Oncolytic viruses as agents for the treatment of various types of cancer have demonstrated their potential in many clinical studies over the past decades. In particular, rVSV-NDV (a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus [VSV] construct with fusogenic Newcastle disease virus glycoproteins) shows promising preclinical results. This is due to its safety profile, immunostimulatory effects, and efficacy based on strong syncytia formation. Since virotherapy requires a high input of infectious viruses, efficient production processes are needed. Good manufacturing practice (GMP)-compliant CCX.E10 cells have been previously reported as a high-titer-producing rVSV-NDV candidate in batch mode. Here, semi-perfusion was used to test quail-originated CCX.E10 cells for rVSV-NDV production at high cell densities and in different cell culture media. The best condition was transferred to a full perfusion process in a 3 L bioreactor using a tangential follow depth filtration (TFDF) device for cell retention. The integrated depth filter with a pore size of 2–5 µm allowed 99.9% cell retention at viable cell concentrations (VCCs) of up to 20.6 × 106 cells/mL and continuous virus harvesting. With this setup, we were able to produce 1.33 × 109 TCID50/mL infectious virus with a 5-fold increase in space-time yield (STY) compared to a batch process as a control.
Practical application: Despite significant progress in oncolytic virus development, early research primarily focuses on viral design and therapeutic potential, often overlooking production challenges until later stages. This gap hinders clinical translation, as manufacturing high oncolytic virus doses (up to 10¹¹ infectious particles per injection) remains a major bottleneck. Implementing GMP-compliant cell substrates alongside perfusion cultures is essential to overcoming the low yields of traditional batch production. These advancements have far-reaching implications for reducing costs, increasing dose availability, and accelerating the clinical adoption of this promising immunotherapy.
Olive mill wastewater (OMW) poses an environmental risk due to its high chemical oxygen demand (COD). It is also rich in nutrients and organic carbon and has been used in this study together with urban wastewater (UWW) as part of the Neochloris oleoabundans culture medium in different proportions to analyze the results in the change of proportion in the mixtures, looking for the highest level of wastewater utilization. The objective was to determine both the growth capacity of the microorganism in this medium for subsequent production of bioproducts (such as pigments, crude protein, or lipids) from the generated microalgal biomass, as well as the rate of removal of compounds present in wastewater after treatment, which enables it to be discharged into public canals and used for irrigation. The bioprocesses which were developed in batch photobioreactors of 1 dm3, showed the highest values of maximum specific growth rate and volumetric biomass productivity 0.082 h−1 and 3 mg dm−3 h−1, respectively. The maximum percentage of crude proteins (49.5%), lipids (51.0%), and carbohydrates (56.0%) we obtained in the final biomass. In this regard, the biggest percentages of organic load removal in the treatment with N. oleoabundans were 65.66% for total phenolic compounds and 93.7% for COD. In addition, the potential content of salts such as nitrates, nitrites, and orthophosphate decreased for 97.6%, 94.3%, and 69.2%, respectively. Values that show the suitability of N. oleoabundans for the recovery of bioproducts and the reduction of the pollutant load of wastewater for its reuse in agriculture, increasing the circular bioeconomy in the olive sector.
In a region with the highest olive oil production in the world, the high generation of waste from the olive oil industry requires the implementation of solutions to valorize and minimize the waste generated. The treatment of olive mill wastewater, used as a culture medium providing nutrients for the development of microalgae, is a promising procedure.
In this study, the microalgae Neochloris oleoabundans has been used to treat olive oil mill wastewater, which has allowed high yields to be obtained in the production of biomass that can be transformed into bioproducts such as carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids. In addition, a high yield is obtained in the elimination of components that can be harmful, which is relevant for the reuse of water for irrigation or for discharge into natural watercourses.
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