Molecules最新文献

Algal lectin Griffithsin (GRFT) is a well-known mannose-binding protein which has broad-spectrum antiviral activity against several important infectious viruses including HIV, HCV, and SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, GRFT has been brought great attention to antiviral therapeutic development. In this report, we have tested GRFT's activity against the lethal Ebola virus in vitro and in vivo. Our data have shown that the IC₅₀ value is about 42 nM for inhibiting Zaire Ebola virus (EBOV) infection in vitro. The preliminary in vivo mice model using mouse-adapted EBOV has also shown a certain efficacy for delayed mortality compared to the control animals. A GRFT pull-down experiment using viral particles demonstrates that GRFT can bind to N-glycans of EBOV. Thus, it can be concluded that GRFT, through binding to viral glycans, may block Ebola virus infection and has potential for the treatment of Ebola virus disease (EVD).

Beef, as a nutrient-rich food, is widely favored by consumers. The production region significantly influences the nutritional value and quality of beef. However, current methods for tracing the origin of beef are still under development, necessitating effective approaches to ensure food safety and meet consumer demand for high-quality beef. This study aims to establish a classification model for beef origin prediction by analyzing elemental content and stable isotopes in beef samples from two countries. The concentrations of elements in beef were analyzed using ICP-MS and ICP-OES, while the stable carbon isotope ratio was determined using EA-IRMS. Machine learning algorithms were employed to construct classification prediction models. A total of 83 beef samples were analyzed for the concentrations of 52 elements and the stable carbon isotope ratio. The classification accuracy of the PLS-DA model built on these results was 98.8%, while the prediction accuracy was 94.12% for the convolutional neural network (CNN) and 82.35% for the Random Forest algorithm. The PLS-DA model demonstrated higher classification accuracy compared to CNN and Random Forest, with an explanatory power (R²) of 0.924 and predictive ability (Q²) of 0.787. Combining the analysis of 52 elements and the stable carbon isotope ratio with machine learning algorithms enables effective tracing and origin prediction of beef from different regions. Key factors influencing beef origin were identified as Fe, Cs, As, δ¹³C, Co, V, Sc, Rb, and Ru.

Indocyanine green (ICG), a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent dye with unique photoluminescent properties, is a helpful tool in many medical applications. ICG produces fluorescence when excited by NIR light, enabling accurate tissue visualization and real-time imaging. This study investigates the fundamental processes behind ICG's photoluminescence as well as its present and possible applications in treatments and medical diagnostics. Fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) has been transformed by ICG's capacity to visualize tumors, highlight blood flow, and facilitate lymphatic mapping, all of which have improved surgical accuracy and patient outcomes. Furthermore, the fluorescence of the dye is being studied for new therapeutic approaches, like photothermal therapy, in which NIR light can activate ICG to target and destroy cancer cells. We go over the benefits and drawbacks of ICG's photoluminescent qualities in therapeutic contexts, as well as current studies that focus on improving its effectiveness, security, and adaptability. More precise disease detection, real-time monitoring, and tailored therapy options across a variety of medical specialties are made possible by the ongoing advancement of ICG-based imaging methods and therapies. In the main part of our work, we strive to take into account the latest reports; therefore, we used clinical articles going back to 2020. However, for the sake of the theoretical part, the oldest article used by us is from 1995.

The tremendous increase in agro-industrial waste poses major environmental problems and highlights the need for innovative, sustainable solutions. One promising solution would be converting these organic wastes, such as unvalued pineapple peels (ANA) and brewer's grains (ECB), into activated carbons to meet the impending challenge of wastewater treatment. In particular, Acid Orange 7 (AO7) is one of the most widely used synthetic dyes, a significant portion of which ends up in water, posing environmental and health problems with limiting decentralized and cost-effective solutions. To address these two challenges, we investigated the best conditions for converting these organic wastes into alternative activated carbons (named CA-ANA and CA-ECB) for AO7 dye removal under representative adsorption conditions. Extensive characterization (SEM, EDX, XRD, BET) revealed an amorphous, mesoporous structure with specific surface areas of 1150-1630 m² g^-1, outperforming the majority of other biomass-derived activated carbons reported for AO7 removal. Adsorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Langmuir isotherm, with record AO7 removal efficiencies of 90-99% for AO7 concentrations of 25-35 mg L^-1 in a batch reactor, the driving forces being electrostatic attraction, π-π interactions, and hydrogen bonding. These results undoubtedly highlight the potential of current waste-derived activated carbons as sustainable solutions for efficient wastewater treatment.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks among the most frequently diagnosed malignancies and is associated with a significantly high mortality rate. In recent years, increasing attention has been directed toward naturally derived substances with anticancer properties. In our study, we focused on determining the biological and antibacterial effects of selected essential oils (EOs)-peppermint, oregano, tea tree, lemon, lavender, frankincense, and oil blends (Zengest and OnGuard). Analyses were performed on human colon carcinoma cell lines (HCT-116 and HT-29). The cytotoxic (MTT assay), genotoxic effects (comet assay), and reactive oxygen species levels (ROS-Glo™ H₂O₂ Assay) of EOs and oil blends were determined. In our study, we found that all of the studied oils have the potential cyto/genotoxic effects on CRC cell lines after 24 h exposure. The results revealed that oregano, Zengest, and frankincense showed statistically the highest cytotoxic effects [IC₅₀ 0.05 µg/mL] compared to the other studied oils. These oils induced DNA damage and also increased ROS levels. On the other hand, peppermint was shown to have the lowest cytotoxic effect [IC₅₀ 0.67 µg/mL] on the HT-29 cell line. We also evaluated the antibacterial effects of oregano, tea tree, and the OnGuard blend, determining their impact on the viability of beneficial bacteria models, including Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus pentosus, and Weizmannia coagulans. Oregano exhibited strong antibacterial activity, with an inhibition zone of 31 mm, while tea tree and OnGuard showed inhibition zones ranging from 12 to 15 mm. The EOs (oregano, tea tree, OnGuard) demonstrated antibacterial effects, with MICs ranging from 0.05 to 0.5 µg/mL. Peppermint, lemon, lavender, frankincense, and the Zengest blend did not inhibit the growth of lactic acid bacteria or W. coagulans, and thus did not impact bacterial survival. On the other hand, they demonstrated potential anticancer effects.

A novel lignocellulose-based poly(butylene 3-propyladipate-co-furanoate) (PBA_pF) was synthesized from lignocellulose-derived 3-propyladipic acid (3PAA), 1,4-butanediol (BDO), and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). The copolyesters were characterized by ¹H NMR, GPC, DSC, TGA, XRD, DMA, rotational rheology, tensile tests, and enzymatic degradation tests. They were random copolymers whose composition was well controlled, and the number-average sequence lengths of the copolyesters were around 1.35-4.33. By combining the results of tensile tests and DMA, the elongation at break of PBA_pF₄₅ (1865%) had a much greater value than that of PBAF₄₅ (1250%), i.e., the branching incorporated into the linear polymer increased the melt strength and conferred tension-hardening properties, which helped to enhance the elongation of the polymer. In addition, the influences of 3PAA content on enzymatic degradation were studied in terms of weight loss; when the content of 3PAA was 55 mol%, the copolyesters exhibited good biodegradability. Thus, depending on their composition, PBA_pF_S might find end applications as biodegradable elastomers or impact modifiers for other polymers.

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases are among the leading causes of physical and cognitive disability across the globe. Fifty million people worldwide suffer these diseases, and that number is expected to rise as the population ages. Ictus is another pathology that also courses with neurodegeneration and is a leading cause of mortality and long-term disability in developed countries. Schizophrenia is not as common as other mental disorders, affecting approximately 24 million people worldwide. All these disorders have in common that still there is not an effective pharmacological treatment to cure them. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor (NMDAR) has attracted attention as a potential therapeutic target due to its important role in learning and memory and also due to its implication in excitotoxicity processes. Some drugs targeting NMDARs are already being used to treat symptoms of disorders affecting the central nervous system (CNS). Here, we aim to review the implications of NMDAR in these CNS pathologies, its role as a potential therapeutic target, and the future perspectives for developing new treatments focused on these receptors.

Food adulteration remains a pressing issue, with serious implications for public health and economic fairness. Electroanalytical techniques have emerged as promising tools for detecting food adulteration due to their high sensitivity, cost-effectiveness, and adaptability to field conditions. This review delves into the application of these techniques across various food matrices, including olive oil, honey, milk, alcoholic beverages, fruit juices, and coffee. By leveraging methodologies such as voltammetry and chemometric data processing, significant advancements have been achieved in identifying both specific and non-specific adulterants. This review highlights novel electrodes, such as carbon-based electrodes modified with nanoparticles, metal oxides, and organic substrates, which enhance sensitivity and selectivity. Additionally, electronic tongues employing multivariate analysis have shown promise in distinguishing authentic products from adulterated ones. The integration of machine learning and miniaturization offers potential for on-site testing, making these techniques accessible to non-experts. Despite challenges such as matrix complexity and the need for robust validation, electroanalytical methods represent a transformative approach to food authentication. These findings underscore the importance of continuous innovation to address emerging adulteration threats and ensure compliance with quality standards.

A novel fluoride ion fluorescent probe is designed by introducing the strong electron-withdrawing triazine groups into the triarylboron/acridine conjugation system. The A-D-A' molecular configuration endows this molecule with multiple charge-transfer channels; upon reaction with F^-, the triazine groups act as primary acceptors within the molecule, facilitating charge transfer between the acridine units and the triazine groups. During fluoride ion detection, changes in the triarylboron moiety lead to a significant bathochromic-shift in fluorescence emission from green to yellow. Theoretical calculations attribute this phenomenon to a reduction in the molecular S₁ state energy level upon fluorination, resulting in a pronounced visible color change and chromogenic response during detection. Based on fluorescence intensity changes with varying degrees of F^- coordination, a detection limit as low as 10^-7 M was determined for TB-1DMAc-2TRZ, demonstrating the high sensitivity of this probe.

Porphyra yezoensis has attracted much attention due to its gelling properties and bioactivity. In this study, the chemical structure of Porphyra yezoensis polysaccharides (PYPSs) was characterized, and the effects of concentration, temperature, pH, and calcium ion (Ca²⁺) addition on the rheological properties of PYPS were systematically investigated. Chemical composition analysis indicated that PYPS primarily contained galactose (89.76%) and sulfate (15.57%). Rheological tests demonstrated that PYPS exhibited typical pseudoplastic properties, with apparent viscosity increasing with an increasing concentration. Temperature elevation from 30 °C to 90 °C weakened the intermolecular forces and reduced the apparent viscosity, whereas neutral pH (7.0) provided an optimal electrostatic equilibrium to maintain the highest viscosity. Ca²⁺ could modulate the interactions between PYPS molecules and affect the formation of the gel network structure. When the Ca²⁺ concentration reached the optimal value of 6 mM, the calcium bridges formed between Ca²⁺ and PYPS molecules not only enhanced the rheological behavior and textural properties but also formed a smooth and well-ordered network structure, achieving the highest value of fractal dimension (D_f = 2.9600), though excessive Ca²⁺ disrupted this well-ordered structure. Furthermore, PYPS possessed significant scavenging ability against DPPH, ABTS, and HO• radicals, demonstrating its potential application as a natural antioxidant in functional foods.