International Journal of Biological Macromolecules最新文献

The influence of different pulping processes-soda, monoethanolamine, and Formacell-along with cold caustic extraction (CCE) and a bleaching sequence (DEpD) as post-treatments on the properties of lignocellulosic nanocrystals (LCNCs) was evaluated. LCNCs were produced through acid hydrolysis from the pulps. SEM and AFM analyses confirmed the successful production of LCNCs with dimensions under 100 nm. FT-IR analysis indicated the presence of lignin in the nanocrystals. X-ray diffraction demonstrated that acid hydrolysis and CCE significantly impacted the crystallinity of the LCNCs; however, the bleaching effect was minimal. Thermal analysis revealed that LCNCs derived from post-treated pulps exhibited greater thermal stability than those from untreated pulps. LCNCs were utilized to create films using the solution-casting method. The produced films from various pulps and post-treatments displayed excellent and diverse mechanical and aesthetic properties. The results indicated that the pulping processes, post-treatments, and chemical composition of the pulps influenced the characteristics of both LCNCs and LCNC films. The findings suggest that CCE can be a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to bleaching in the production of LCNCs. Furthermore, an increase in lignin content within the pulps was found to reduce the efficiency of acid hydrolysis and crystallinity while increasing the dimensions of the LCNCs.

Hyaluronic acid (HA)-derived hydrogels demonstrate a significant development in the biomedical uses, especially in cancer treatment and wound repair. Cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with current therapies frequently impeded by lack of specificity, side effects, and the emergence of resistance. HA hydrogels, characterized by their distinctive three-dimensional structure, hydrophilic nature, and biocompatibility, develop an advanced platform for precise drug delivery, improving therapeutic results while minimizing systemic toxicity. These hydrogels facilitate the controlled release of drugs, genes, and various therapeutic substances, enhancing the effectiveness of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Additionally, they can be designed to react to stimuli such as pH, light, and magnetic fields, enhancing their therapeutic capabilities. In the process of wound healing, the hydrophilic and porous characteristics of HA hydrogels establish a moist environment encouraging cell growth and contributes to the tissue recovery. By imitating the extracellular matrix, they promote tissue regeneration, improve angiogenesis, and influence immune reactions. This review examines the various functions of HA-based hydrogels in cancer treatment and wound healing, highlighting their advancement, applications, and ability to change existing therapeutic methods in these important health sectors.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a primary factor contributing to photoaging, a form of premature skin aging characterized by the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, uneven pigmentation, and reduced skin elasticity. Plant-derived polysaccharides exhibit notable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, making them promising candidates for the management of skin photoaging. Nevertheless, the hydrophilic nature and large molecular size of polysaccharides make them less effective for topical application. This study aimed to develop a method to increase polysaccharide transdermal absorption, using Crataegus pinnatifida polysaccharide (CPP) as a model. Acetylation was employed to modify the CPP, yielding three derivatives with varying degrees of substitution (DS): 0.16 (Ace-CPP₁), 0.43 (Ace-CPP₂), and 0.56 (Ace-CPP₃). The in vitro antioxidant activity increased with increasing degree of substitution. A nanoemulgel formulation was developed, achieving approximately 72 % permeation of the native CPP. Furthermore, the acetylated CPP derivatives demonstrated enhanced permeation, exceeding 92 % within 4 h. In vivo studies revealed that the Ace-CPP₃-based nanoemulgel significantly outperformed the native CPP in alleviating UVB-induced photoaging. This was evidenced by reduced oxidative stress, suppression of tissue inflammation, and promotion of collagen deposition. These findings underscore the potential of nanoemulgel formulation of acetylated CPP derivatives to advance applications in dermatology and cosmeceuticals.

Effective cancer therapy faces significant challenges, including non-selective toxicity, limited structural stability, inconsistent nanoparticle (NP) morphology, and instability under varying biological conditions. These issues hindering targeted delivery and therapeutic efficacy. Previous approaches using polysaccharide-based nanomaterials have shown promise; however, problems such as inconsistent NP sizes and shapes, poor mechanical stability, and limited pH resilience restrict their clinical potential. This study hypothesized that sacran, a cyanobacterial liquid crystalline (LC) polysaccharide, can stabilize ZnO NPs, allowing for controlled mineralization, enhanced stability, and selective cytotoxicity. We developed ZnO nanocomposite xerogels in an LC sacran matrix, yielding block-like ZnO NPs (25-70 nm) with high surface-area-to-volume ratios that improve cellular uptake in tumor environments. Incorporating these NPs into chemically crosslinked sacran matrices resulted in a 3-fold increase in mechanical strength and a 10-fold improvement in swelling capacity compared to physically crosslinked systems. Additionally, the sacran-ZnO nanocomposites demonstrated robust stability under various pH conditions, indicating their resilience in diverse biological environments. Cytotoxicity assays revealed that higher concentrations of ZnO NP selectively increased toxicity toward human lung cancer cells (A549), with less impact on human dermal fibroblasts (HDFa). Moreover, HDFa successfully attached to and proliferated on the smooth surfaces of the xerogels, emphasizing their compatibility with normal cells. This highlights the potential of sacran-ZnO nanocomposite xerogels as cancer-selective therapeutic materials, offering stability and effectiveness even under varying biological conditions, while addressing key challenges associated with earlier NP-based therapies.

The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of glutamate molecular structure and protein on breast cancer cell metastasis and the potential inhibitory mechanism of cell-derived exosomes via MAPK signaling pathway. Breast cancer cell lines with high metastatic potential were selected by in vitro cell culture technique. The effects of specific inhibitors of glutamic acid on the proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer cells were studied. Changes in protein expression profiles were analyzed by proteomics techniques to identify key proteins associated with breast cancer metastasis. Breast cancer cells were treated with inhibitors of the MAPK signaling pathway to evaluate their effect on cell metastasis and compare with exosome treatment. The results showed that the specific inhibitors of glutamate molecular structure could significantly inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer cells. Proteomic analysis revealed several down-regulated proteins that are closely related to breast cancer metastasis.

As one of the most commonly used chemotherapeutic agents in clinical practice, cisplatin is unable to selectively accumulate in tumor tissue due to its lack of targeting ability, leading to increased systemic toxicities. Additionally, the effectiveness of monotherapy is greatly limited. Therefore, the development of new cisplatin-based drug delivery systems is essential to improve the effectiveness of tumor treatment. In this study, an iron-based metal-organic framework (MOF) was synthesized to encapsulate cisplatin, and then coated with hyaluronic acid (HA) to create a MOF-based nanoplatform called MPt@HA NPs. This novel nanoplatform achieved the combination of chemodynamic therapy (CDT) with targeted chemotherapy for the treatment of lung cancer. The results showed that MPt@HA NPs have stronger cytotoxicity compared to conventional doses of cisplatin due to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through the Fenton reaction and DNA damage caused by cisplatin. Therefore, MPt@HA NPs effectively inhibit the tumor growth and prolong the median survival of tumor-bearing mice. Therefore, the MOF-based nanoplatform MPt@HA NPs may present a new option for multi-modal therapy of solid tumors.

Crown rot caused by Fusarium proliferatum is a severe postharvest disease of banana fruit. The N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification is the most common type of RNA modification and regulates gene expression in eukaryotes. Here, we analyzed transcriptome-wide changes in m⁶A methylation to investigate post-transcriptional regulation mechanisms of growth and fumonisin biosynthesis of F. proliferatum after fluopyram (Flu) treatment. The results demonstrated that Flu treatment inhibited F. proliferatum growth but induced fumonisins (FB1 and FB2) production both in vitro and in vivo. A transcriptome-wide m⁶A methylation profile showed that m⁶A hypomethylation was induced by Flu and enriched in start codons and the 3' untranslated region. FpAlkbh8 and FpYthdc1 may contribute to the decrease in m⁶A modifications after Flu treatment. The expression levels of m⁶A-containing mRNAs were higher than those of non-m⁶A-containing mRNAs. Furthermore, Flu decreased the acetyl-CoA content and regulated glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle through m⁶A modifications, diverting the acetyl-CoA flux into fumonisin biosynthesis. Importantly, Flu-mediated regulation of energy and reactive oxygen species metabolism, cell wall and membrane, and transcription factors was associated with m⁶A modifications. Collectively, this study provides potential novel targets for improving fungicide efficiency to control fungal disease and highlights the potential of environmental risks of fungicides.

In esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), the tumor microenvironment (TME) is characterized by a significant accumulation of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which play a pivotal role in the host response against tumor cells. While fibroblasts are known to be crucial in the metabolic reprogramming of the TME, the specific metabolic alterations induced by these cells remain largely undefined. Utilizing single-cell RNA sequencing, we have identified a distinct subpopulation of antigen-presenting CAF (apCAF) within ESCC tumors. Our findings reveal that apCAF contribute to adverse patient outcomes by remodeling the tumor metabolic environment. Notably, apCAF modulate the glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis-heparan sulfate/heparin metabolism pathway in T cells, B cells, and macrophages. Disruption of this pathway may facilitate immune evasion by the tumor. These insights underscore the critical role of CAFs in shaping the metabolic landscape of the TME and lay the groundwork for developing therapeutic strategies aimed at enhancing anti-tumor immunity.

Background: The role of inflammation in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) related skin complications necessitates further investigation. This study aims to explore the correlation between inflammation and cutaneous alterations in T2DM, enhancing comprehension of underlying mechanism involved.

Methods: Utilizing bioinformatics, the GSE38396 and GSE92724 datasets were employed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and potential hub genes in T2DM-related skin inflammation. Subsequently, gene functional enrichment analysis was employed for functional annotation. Finally, we validated the regulatory impact of hub gene on inflammation during high glucose incubation using the in vitro model.

Results: A comprehensive analysis identified 742 DEGs, including 9 hub genes and 4 potential biomarkers. Compared to the CON group, the expression of M2 macrophages was significantly upregulated in the T2DM group, while resting dendritic cells and eosinophils showed notable decreases, indicating a significant correlation with CEBPA. Furthermore, functional enrichment analysis revealed significant enrichment of DEGs in pathways linked to immunity and diabetes pathogenesis. Interestingly, overexpression of CEBPA demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects under hyperglycemic conditions, while silencing CEBPA expression appeared to worsen inflammation.

Conclusion: CEBPA emerges as a potential hub gene for skin inflammation in T2DM, shedding light on the underlying mechanisms of this condition.

Obesity and metabolic disorders are rising global health concerns, emphasizing the need for effective dietary interventions. High-viscosity dietary fibers such as bacterial cellulose (BC) and guar gum (GG) have unique properties that may complement each other in modulating gut microbiota and metabolic health. This study investigates their effects in high-fat diet-fed mice. BC and GG increase Bacteroides, which degrade polysaccharides and produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), supporting metabolic health. BC enhances bile acid excretion and enriches Faecalibaculum, Duncaniella, and Paramuribaculum, promoting gut barrier integrity and reducing inflammation, potentially improving bile acid turnover and lipid metabolism. GG more effectively increases butyrate production by enhancing butyrate-producing bacteria, such as Clostridium XIVa and Kineothrix, and promotes Bifidobacterium, strengthening anti-inflammatory effects and gut barrier function. Both fibers upregulate bile acid biosynthesis, but BC's non-fermentable nature leads to higher bile acid excretion, while GG's fermentation causes lower excretion and broader liver metabolic changes. Both fibers reduce body weight, fat accumulation, and cholesterol levels, highlighting their potential in managing obesity and metabolic disorders. The complementary effects of BC and GG underscore the importance of fiber diversity for targeted dietary strategies to improve metabolic health.