Pub Date : 2025-12-16DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149738
Mengkun Liu, Zesheng Liu, Caiting An, Qianbing Li, Qi Wang, Xingping Liu, Xinmeng Geng, Min Cao, Weibiao Liao, Chunlei Wang
Salt stress is a critical environmental factor that restricts plant growth and agricultural production. Nitrate Reductase (NR) is a core enzyme in plant nitrogen metabolism. Interestingly, studies have shown that the expression and activity of NR are tissue-specific, which may provide new targets for improving the salt tolerance of crops through genetic engineering. It influences plant salt tolerance through the regulation of nitrogen metabolism, osmotic regulation, and antioxidant defense. This review synthesizes emerging insights into how NR orchestrates plant salt tolerance through three interconnected mechanisms: fine-tuning of nitrogen metabolism, mediating Nitric Oxide (NO) production, and regulating protein S-nitrosylation. We propose a novel regulatory axis: NR → NO3− reduction → NO → S-nitrosylation, which integrates metabolic and signaling pathways to enhance osmotic adjustment, antioxidant defense, ion homeostasis, and hormonal crosstalk. However, the existing evidence only suggests an association for this integration pathway and the key causal relationship still requires further verification. We also discuss unresolved spatiotemporal dynamics of NR-derived NO and its downstream modifications, offering new perspectives for engineering salt-tolerant crops through manipulation of NR-mediated networks.
{"title":"Role of nitrate reductase, nitric oxide, and S-nitrosylation in salinity stress in plants: A review","authors":"Mengkun Liu, Zesheng Liu, Caiting An, Qianbing Li, Qi Wang, Xingping Liu, Xinmeng Geng, Min Cao, Weibiao Liao, Chunlei Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149738","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149738","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Salt stress is a critical environmental factor that restricts plant growth and agricultural production. Nitrate Reductase (NR) is a core enzyme in plant nitrogen metabolism. Interestingly, studies have shown that the expression and activity of NR are tissue-specific, which may provide new targets for improving the salt tolerance of crops through genetic engineering. It influences plant salt tolerance through the regulation of nitrogen metabolism, osmotic regulation, and antioxidant defense. This review synthesizes emerging insights into how NR orchestrates plant salt tolerance through three interconnected mechanisms: fine-tuning of nitrogen metabolism, mediating Nitric Oxide (NO) production, and regulating protein <em>S</em>-nitrosylation. We propose a novel regulatory axis: NR → NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> reduction → NO → <em>S</em>-nitrosylation, which integrates metabolic and signaling pathways to enhance osmotic adjustment, antioxidant defense, ion homeostasis, and hormonal crosstalk. However, the existing evidence only suggests an association for this integration pathway and the key causal relationship still requires further verification. We also discuss unresolved spatiotemporal dynamics of NR-derived NO and its downstream modifications, offering new perspectives for engineering salt-tolerant crops through manipulation of NR-mediated networks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":333,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Macromolecules","volume":"338 ","pages":"Article 149738"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145760568","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-16DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149744
M Ajanth Praveen, Long Yu, Caterina Selva, Vincent Bulone
Phlorotannins and polysaccharides are widespread in brown seaweeds. This study shows that ultrasound-assisted extraction combined with natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDES-UAE) enhances the yields of phlorotannins and polysaccharides from the brown seaweed Ecklonia radiata. Among the NaDES solvents tested, choline chloride:lactic acid (molar ratio of 1:3) supplemented with 20 % water was the most effective. The extraction parameters were further optimized using a Box-Behnken design and response surface methodology. The phlorotannin and polysaccharide yields obtained after optimized NaDES-UAE extraction were 12.8 ± 0.3 % and 26.5 ± 0.9 %, respectively-both significantly higher than yields obtained using conventional organic solvent extraction. Twenty-one phlorotannins and isomers were identified using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry, while ten different monosaccharides were detected in the polysaccharide fractions. The relative abundance of specific phlorotannins and monosaccharides varied depending on the extraction method. Compared to conventional aqueous and organic solvent extractions, NaDES-UAE-extracted phlorotannins exhibited higher antioxidant activity, while the polysaccharide fraction, mainly consisting of low-molecular-weight polysaccharides and oligosaccharides, showed enhanced antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. In conclusion, our study reveals that the NaDES-UAE method is an efficient, eco-friendly alternative for extracting bioactive compounds from brown seaweeds, with strong potential for applications in the food, nutraceutical, biopharmaceutical, and other industrial sectors.
{"title":"Optimization of ultrasound-assisted natural deep eutectic solvent extraction for the recovery of bioactive polysaccharides and phlorotannins from the brown alga Ecklonia radiata.","authors":"M Ajanth Praveen, Long Yu, Caterina Selva, Vincent Bulone","doi":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149744","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149744","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Phlorotannins and polysaccharides are widespread in brown seaweeds. This study shows that ultrasound-assisted extraction combined with natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDES-UAE) enhances the yields of phlorotannins and polysaccharides from the brown seaweed Ecklonia radiata. Among the NaDES solvents tested, choline chloride:lactic acid (molar ratio of 1:3) supplemented with 20 % water was the most effective. The extraction parameters were further optimized using a Box-Behnken design and response surface methodology. The phlorotannin and polysaccharide yields obtained after optimized NaDES-UAE extraction were 12.8 ± 0.3 % and 26.5 ± 0.9 %, respectively-both significantly higher than yields obtained using conventional organic solvent extraction. Twenty-one phlorotannins and isomers were identified using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry, while ten different monosaccharides were detected in the polysaccharide fractions. The relative abundance of specific phlorotannins and monosaccharides varied depending on the extraction method. Compared to conventional aqueous and organic solvent extractions, NaDES-UAE-extracted phlorotannins exhibited higher antioxidant activity, while the polysaccharide fraction, mainly consisting of low-molecular-weight polysaccharides and oligosaccharides, showed enhanced antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. In conclusion, our study reveals that the NaDES-UAE method is an efficient, eco-friendly alternative for extracting bioactive compounds from brown seaweeds, with strong potential for applications in the food, nutraceutical, biopharmaceutical, and other industrial sectors.</p>","PeriodicalId":333,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Macromolecules","volume":" ","pages":"149744"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145779799","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-16DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149711
Madushmita Hatimuria , Jyoti Vishwakarma , Akshara Mohan , Riya R. Krishnan , C. Nikesh Chandran , Krishna Gavvala , Ashok Pabbathi
In pursuit of sustainable alternatives to conventional catalysts, laccase, a multicopper oxidoreductase enzyme, has gained significant attention due to its ability to oxidize a broad range of compounds using molecular oxygen. Its natural occurrence in fungi, plants, bacteria and insects, along with its applicability in bioremediation, wastewater treatment, organic synthesis and various industrial processes, makes it a valuable biocatalyst. However, laccase's stability and activity are often compromised under industrial conditions such as high temperature, variable pH and the presence of inhibitors. Recent advancements have explored enzyme engineering, immobilization, and solvent engineering to address these limitations, but these methods often involve complex, costly or unsustainable procedures. In this search, deep eutectic solvents (DESs), have emerged as promising green solvents to enhance laccase performance. Studies indicate that polyol-based DESs significantly improve both the activity and thermal stability of laccase. Despite this, the specific influence of polyol structure, particularly the number and position of hydroxyl groups remain unclear. This study investigates 15 betaine- and choline chloride-based DESs containing three different diols to elucidate their effect on laccase activity and stability. The findings indicate that only betaine-derived diol-based DESs enhance both the activity and stability of laccase. In particular, DESs with a 1:4 M ratio significantly improves laccase activity. Among them, Betaine:1,2-Propanediol DES exhibited higher laccase activity than Betaine:1,3-Propanediol DES. This suggests that the number and position of hydroxyl groups in the polyols play a crucial role in modulating laccase functionality. Molecular docking supported these findings by showing that DES components form stabilizing hydrogen bonds with amino acids near the catalytic cluster, enhancing activity. In addition, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provided atomistic insights into these interactions, demonstrating that Betaine:1,2-Propanediol (1:4) maintained laccase compactness, optimal residue flexibility and stable hydrogen-bonding networks, in agreement with experimental trends. Overall, the combined experimental and computational results reveal that the structural features of polyols in DESs critically determine their ability to modulate laccase activity and stability. These findings provide a framework for rationally designing DESs as sustainable co-solvents to improve laccase biocatalysis for diverse industrial applications.
{"title":"Laccase stability and activity in diol-based deep eutectic solvents: An experimental and computational study","authors":"Madushmita Hatimuria , Jyoti Vishwakarma , Akshara Mohan , Riya R. Krishnan , C. Nikesh Chandran , Krishna Gavvala , Ashok Pabbathi","doi":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149711","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149711","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In pursuit of sustainable alternatives to conventional catalysts, laccase, a multicopper oxidoreductase enzyme, has gained significant attention due to its ability to oxidize a broad range of compounds using molecular oxygen. Its natural occurrence in fungi, plants, bacteria and insects, along with its applicability in bioremediation, wastewater treatment, organic synthesis and various industrial processes, makes it a valuable biocatalyst. However, laccase's stability and activity are often compromised under industrial conditions such as high temperature, variable pH and the presence of inhibitors. Recent advancements have explored enzyme engineering, immobilization, and solvent engineering to address these limitations, but these methods often involve complex, costly or unsustainable procedures. In this search, deep eutectic solvents (DESs), have emerged as promising green solvents to enhance laccase performance. Studies indicate that polyol-based DESs significantly improve both the activity and thermal stability of laccase. Despite this, the specific influence of polyol structure, particularly the number and position of hydroxyl groups remain unclear. This study investigates 15 betaine- and choline chloride-based DESs containing three different diols to elucidate their effect on laccase activity and stability. The findings indicate that only betaine-derived diol-based DESs enhance both the activity and stability of laccase. In particular, DESs with a 1:4 M ratio significantly improves laccase activity. Among them, Betaine:1,2-Propanediol DES exhibited higher laccase activity than Betaine:1,3-Propanediol DES. This suggests that the number and position of hydroxyl groups in the polyols play a crucial role in modulating laccase functionality. Molecular docking supported these findings by showing that DES components form stabilizing hydrogen bonds with amino acids near the catalytic cluster, enhancing activity. In addition, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provided atomistic insights into these interactions, demonstrating that Betaine:1,2-Propanediol (1:4) maintained laccase compactness, optimal residue flexibility and stable hydrogen-bonding networks, in agreement with experimental trends. Overall, the combined experimental and computational results reveal that the structural features of polyols in DESs critically determine their ability to modulate laccase activity and stability. These findings provide a framework for rationally designing DESs as sustainable co-solvents to improve laccase biocatalysis for diverse industrial applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":333,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Macromolecules","volume":"338 ","pages":"Article 149711"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145779801","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-16DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149742
Peng Gao, Yaru Lv, Shudan Wang, Yu Zhang, Fengjun Wang
Polylactic acid (PLA) is a promising alternative to petroleum-derived polymers, but its inherent poor plasticity and barrier properties hinder its application in packaging. For overcoming this disadvantage, an efficient surface-modification strategy was employed to deposit a chitosan (CS) layer onto PLA file, developing bilayer films with markedly improved mechanical and barrier attributes. Systematic variation on the PLA:CS mass ration (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 0:100) revealed that the incorporation of CS improved the plasticity of the PLA film and reduced the elongation at break from 374.55 % to 70.04–52.19 % for the bilayers; the oxygen permeability also reduced from 30.67 cm3·m−2·d−1·0.1 MPa−1 to 25.82–3.67 cm3·m−2·d−1·0.1 MPa−1. The film with a 50:50 mass ratio exhibited the best tensile strength (37.47 MPa) and oxygen barrier (3.67 cm3·m−2·d−1·0.1 MPa−1). The antioxidant bilayer films were further prepared by adding antioxidants [tea polyphenols (TP), bamboo leaf antioxidant (AOB), and phytic acid (PA)] to the CS matrix. All antioxidant bilayer films displayed strong antioxidant properties (free radical scavenging rate of about 80 %) and excellent packaging performance. The antioxidant bilayer films exhibited anti-permeability against walnut oil and the TP-reinforced film effectively retarded the lipid oxidation of walnut oil during storage at 60 °C for 18 days, outperforming commercial PP film. The resultant PLA/CS-antioxidant bilayers thus provide a sustainable, high-performance packaging solution that circumvents the intrinsic limitations of PLA and extends the shelf life of oxygen-sensitive edible oils.
{"title":"Advanced antioxidant bilayer films based on polylactic acid and chitosan: Structural, functional, and application aspects in walnut oil oxidation inhibition","authors":"Peng Gao, Yaru Lv, Shudan Wang, Yu Zhang, Fengjun Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149742","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149742","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polylactic acid (PLA) is a promising alternative to petroleum-derived polymers, but its inherent poor plasticity and barrier properties hinder its application in packaging. For overcoming this disadvantage, an efficient surface-modification strategy was employed to deposit a chitosan (CS) layer onto PLA file, developing bilayer films with markedly improved mechanical and barrier attributes. Systematic variation on the PLA:CS mass ration (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 0:100) revealed that the incorporation of CS improved the plasticity of the PLA film and reduced the elongation at break from 374.55 % to 70.04–52.19 % for the bilayers; the oxygen permeability also reduced from 30.67 cm<sup>3</sup>·m<sup>−2</sup>·d<sup>−1</sup>·0.1 MPa<sup>−1</sup> to 25.82–3.67 cm<sup>3</sup>·m<sup>−2</sup>·d<sup>−1</sup>·0.1 MPa<sup>−1</sup>. The film with a 50:50 mass ratio exhibited the best tensile strength (37.47 MPa) and oxygen barrier (3.67 cm<sup>3</sup>·m<sup>−2</sup>·d<sup>−1</sup>·0.1 MPa<sup>−1</sup>). The antioxidant bilayer films were further prepared by adding antioxidants [tea polyphenols (TP), bamboo leaf antioxidant (AOB), and phytic acid (PA)] to the CS matrix. All antioxidant bilayer films displayed strong antioxidant properties (free radical scavenging rate of about 80 %) and excellent packaging performance. The antioxidant bilayer films exhibited anti-permeability against walnut oil and the TP-reinforced film effectively retarded the lipid oxidation of walnut oil during storage at 60 °C for 18 days, outperforming commercial PP film. The resultant PLA/CS-antioxidant bilayers thus provide a sustainable, high-performance packaging solution that circumvents the intrinsic limitations of PLA and extends the shelf life of oxygen-sensitive edible oils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":333,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Macromolecules","volume":"338 ","pages":"Article 149742"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145779837","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-16DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149706
Nour Ayoub, Nicolas Pietrancosta, Quentin Giai Gianetto, Gouzel Karimova, Antoine Gedeon, Hélène Munier-Lehmann
Purine nucleotide biosynthesis is a crucial metabolic pathway responsible for producing building blocks essential for a plethora of cellular processes. In bacteria, the de novo purine nucleotide biosynthetic pathway (DNPNB) involves fifteen chemical steps catalysed by fourteen different enzymes. While the mammalian orthologues have been extensively shown to interact and form a metabolon named "purinosome", the possible existence of a prokaryotic equivalent was only recently revealed for the case of Escherichia coli. In this study, we explored the potential conservation of a bacterial purinosome-like complex in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic pathogen known for its high antibiotic resistance. Using a bacterial two-hybrid system, we mapped protein-protein interactions among all tested DNPNB enzymes in P. aeruginosa and revealed a dense interaction network. An in-silico protein-protein docking approach on three core enzymes allowed the structural reconstitution of a complex composed of PurK, PurE and PurC with a 4:8:8 stoichiometry, respectively. Interestingly, a tunnel connecting the different active sites has been revealed, showing a metabolon-like property for possible efficient substrate channelling. These findings support a conserved regulatory organization of purine biosynthesis in bacteria, providing deeper insights into bacterial metabolism and paving the way for potential antibiotic targets.
{"title":"Exploring the multi-protein assembly of the enzymes of the de novo purine nucleotide biosynthetic pathway from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.","authors":"Nour Ayoub, Nicolas Pietrancosta, Quentin Giai Gianetto, Gouzel Karimova, Antoine Gedeon, Hélène Munier-Lehmann","doi":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149706","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149706","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Purine nucleotide biosynthesis is a crucial metabolic pathway responsible for producing building blocks essential for a plethora of cellular processes. In bacteria, the de novo purine nucleotide biosynthetic pathway (DNPNB) involves fifteen chemical steps catalysed by fourteen different enzymes. While the mammalian orthologues have been extensively shown to interact and form a metabolon named \"purinosome\", the possible existence of a prokaryotic equivalent was only recently revealed for the case of Escherichia coli. In this study, we explored the potential conservation of a bacterial purinosome-like complex in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic pathogen known for its high antibiotic resistance. Using a bacterial two-hybrid system, we mapped protein-protein interactions among all tested DNPNB enzymes in P. aeruginosa and revealed a dense interaction network. An in-silico protein-protein docking approach on three core enzymes allowed the structural reconstitution of a complex composed of PurK, PurE and PurC with a 4:8:8 stoichiometry, respectively. Interestingly, a tunnel connecting the different active sites has been revealed, showing a metabolon-like property for possible efficient substrate channelling. These findings support a conserved regulatory organization of purine biosynthesis in bacteria, providing deeper insights into bacterial metabolism and paving the way for potential antibiotic targets.</p>","PeriodicalId":333,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Macromolecules","volume":" ","pages":"149706"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145779781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-16DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149727
Naishi Chen, Liying Ma, You Kang, Xinjiao Quan, Yujuan Zhao, Ge Yang, Yansong Gao, Shengyu Li, Zijian Zhao
Hypertension remains a major global health challenge, often associated with vascular remodeling, oxidative stress, inflammation, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. In this study, we explored the effects of chondroitin sulfate C, a special bioactive substance, on blood pressure regulation and its potential mechanism involving the gut-vascular axis. Hypertensive rats induced by L-NAME were treated with chondroitin sulfate C, which resulted in significant reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as improvements in aortic histology. Mechanistically, chondroitin sulfate C mitigated oxidative stress, as evidenced by increased antioxidant enzyme activity and decreased ROS production. Inflammatory markers, including TNF-α and adhesion molecules, were significantly reduced. Notably, chondroitin sulfate C promoted the growth of Desulfovibrio in the gut, leading to increased H2S production, which activated the AKT/eNOS pathway, restored NO levels, and enhanced vasodilation. These findings suggest that gut-derived H2S plays a critical role in blood pressure regulation and highlight the therapeutic potential of chondroitin sulfate C in hypertension management.
{"title":"Targeting the gut-vascular axis: Chondroitin sulfate C enhances microbial hydrogen sulfide production to alleviate hypertension.","authors":"Naishi Chen, Liying Ma, You Kang, Xinjiao Quan, Yujuan Zhao, Ge Yang, Yansong Gao, Shengyu Li, Zijian Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149727","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149727","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hypertension remains a major global health challenge, often associated with vascular remodeling, oxidative stress, inflammation, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. In this study, we explored the effects of chondroitin sulfate C, a special bioactive substance, on blood pressure regulation and its potential mechanism involving the gut-vascular axis. Hypertensive rats induced by L-NAME were treated with chondroitin sulfate C, which resulted in significant reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as improvements in aortic histology. Mechanistically, chondroitin sulfate C mitigated oxidative stress, as evidenced by increased antioxidant enzyme activity and decreased ROS production. Inflammatory markers, including TNF-α and adhesion molecules, were significantly reduced. Notably, chondroitin sulfate C promoted the growth of Desulfovibrio in the gut, leading to increased H<sub>2</sub>S production, which activated the AKT/eNOS pathway, restored NO levels, and enhanced vasodilation. These findings suggest that gut-derived H<sub>2</sub>S plays a critical role in blood pressure regulation and highlight the therapeutic potential of chondroitin sulfate C in hypertension management.</p>","PeriodicalId":333,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Macromolecules","volume":" ","pages":"149727"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145779797","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-16DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149716
Boyu Zheng, Jingyi Tang, Chuanxiong Nie, Yuhang Jiang, Mathias Dimde, Wenzhong Li, Rainer Haag
The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a critical role in tumor progression by regulating cancer cell behavior, invasion and metastasis. This importance has motivated the development of biomaterials that closely mimic the native tumor ECM to create more accurate and predictive in vitro cancer models. In this study, oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (OCNF) are used as a simple three-dimensional scaffold for breast tumor spheroid expansion. OCNF forms a highly dynamic hydrogel in cell culture medium with rheological properties suitable for modeling early breast tumor ECM. This dynamic environment enables MCF-7 cells to form spheroids within 6 days and to continue proliferating for up to 12 days. Co-culture of MCF-7 cells with fibroblasts further models the tumor microenvironment with cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Because the hydrogel is held together by non-covalent interactions, adding extra cell culture medium and pipetting converts it into a fluid-like state, facilitating spheroid release and collection for downstream applications such as drug screening and penetration studies. Overall, this work demonstrates a facile approach for preparing tumor spheroids using cellulose nanofibril hydrogels and may inspire further innovations in biomedical applications of cellulose hydrogels.
{"title":"Oxidized cellulose nanofibril hydrogel as a 3D scaffold for breast tumor spheroid expansion and microenvironment modeling.","authors":"Boyu Zheng, Jingyi Tang, Chuanxiong Nie, Yuhang Jiang, Mathias Dimde, Wenzhong Li, Rainer Haag","doi":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149716","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149716","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a critical role in tumor progression by regulating cancer cell behavior, invasion and metastasis. This importance has motivated the development of biomaterials that closely mimic the native tumor ECM to create more accurate and predictive in vitro cancer models. In this study, oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (OCNF) are used as a simple three-dimensional scaffold for breast tumor spheroid expansion. OCNF forms a highly dynamic hydrogel in cell culture medium with rheological properties suitable for modeling early breast tumor ECM. This dynamic environment enables MCF-7 cells to form spheroids within 6 days and to continue proliferating for up to 12 days. Co-culture of MCF-7 cells with fibroblasts further models the tumor microenvironment with cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Because the hydrogel is held together by non-covalent interactions, adding extra cell culture medium and pipetting converts it into a fluid-like state, facilitating spheroid release and collection for downstream applications such as drug screening and penetration studies. Overall, this work demonstrates a facile approach for preparing tumor spheroids using cellulose nanofibril hydrogels and may inspire further innovations in biomedical applications of cellulose hydrogels.</p>","PeriodicalId":333,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Macromolecules","volume":" ","pages":"149716"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145779813","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-16DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149714
Yiyi Li, Yu Ren, Zsolt Zalán, Krisztina Takács, Hui Shi
Our previous research successfully synthesized an Erythrosin B-bacteriophage conjugate (EBP) via the EDC/NHS method, confirming its excellent photodynamic antibacterial activity. Building upon this foundation, the present study utilized porcine skin gelatin (PG) as the film-forming matrix, incorporated EBP, and successfully fabricated the PG-EBP composite film. The addition of EBP was shown to enhance the mechanical strength and water barrier properties of the PG film, while also resulting in a more uniform and compact structure. Antibacterial assays revealed that the PG-EBP film enables short-term and sustained release of antibacterial agents. Under green light irradiation, it rapidly produces abundant ROS, which acts synergistically with the phage to achieve efficient bacterial lysis. Furthermore, systematic evaluation of the film's effect on pork quality during storage demonstrated that the PG-EBP film effectively inhibits microbial spoilage and significantly extends the shelf life. In conclusion, the PG-EBP photodynamic antibacterial film shows promising potential for enhancing food safety and prolonging the freshness of fresh meat products.
{"title":"Photodynamic antibacterial film based on gelatin and erythrosin B-conjugated bacteriophage for pork preservation.","authors":"Yiyi Li, Yu Ren, Zsolt Zalán, Krisztina Takács, Hui Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149714","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149714","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Our previous research successfully synthesized an Erythrosin B-bacteriophage conjugate (EBP) via the EDC/NHS method, confirming its excellent photodynamic antibacterial activity. Building upon this foundation, the present study utilized porcine skin gelatin (PG) as the film-forming matrix, incorporated EBP, and successfully fabricated the PG-EBP composite film. The addition of EBP was shown to enhance the mechanical strength and water barrier properties of the PG film, while also resulting in a more uniform and compact structure. Antibacterial assays revealed that the PG-EBP film enables short-term and sustained release of antibacterial agents. Under green light irradiation, it rapidly produces abundant ROS, which acts synergistically with the phage to achieve efficient bacterial lysis. Furthermore, systematic evaluation of the film's effect on pork quality during storage demonstrated that the PG-EBP film effectively inhibits microbial spoilage and significantly extends the shelf life. In conclusion, the PG-EBP photodynamic antibacterial film shows promising potential for enhancing food safety and prolonging the freshness of fresh meat products.</p>","PeriodicalId":333,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Macromolecules","volume":" ","pages":"149714"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145779829","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-16DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149717
Atefeh Farahmand, Seyed Mohammad Ali Razavi
This study introduces a novel food-grade hybrid aerogel fabricated using electrospun short core-shell nanofibers, with zein as the shell and sage seed gum/polyvinyl alcohol containing pomegranate peel anthocyanin as the core. The research evaluated different flow rate ratios of zein to sage seed gum (QZ/QSSG: 1.5, 3, 6), zein concentrations (25 %, 27.5 %, 30 % w/v), and applied voltages (20 kV and 25 kV), identifying optimal conditions at 30 % zein concentration and 25 kV voltage. Morphological analysis via FESEM and TEM revealed that increasing the QZ/QSSG enlarged fiber diameters from 264 nm to 391 nm. Nanofibers at QZ/QSSG: 3 showed the highest surface roughness, while those at QZ/QSSG: 6 had the greatest hydrophobicity, indicated by a water contact angle of 108.5°. Coaxial electrospinning improved fiber crystallinity, and the QZ/QSSG: 3 sample exhibited superior thermal stability at 316.1 °C. FTIR confirmed uniform polymer distribution without chemical interactions. The fibers demonstrated adequate pH sensitivity, and encapsulation efficiency increased from 87.11 % to 96.17 % as the flow rate ratios rose from 1.5 to 6. Freeze-dried nanofiber-based aerogels showed that the Z/SSG 6 sample had the most uniform anthocyanin distribution, the lowest porosity (50.16 %), the highest hardness (276.91 g), and the lowest density (0.018 g/cm3). Moisture sorption tests demonstrated a maximum water uptake of 90.05 % for the Z/SSG 1.5 aerogel. These findings highlighted the potential of this approach to produce biodegradable, food-grade aerogels with enhanced encapsulation efficiency, porosity, and mechanical properties, suitable for applications in food packaging and pharmaceuticals.
{"title":"Electrospun short core-shell nanofibers as a new paradigm for the fabrication of zein-sage seed gum hybrid aerogel","authors":"Atefeh Farahmand, Seyed Mohammad Ali Razavi","doi":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149717","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149717","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study introduces a novel food-grade hybrid aerogel fabricated using electrospun short core-shell nanofibers, with zein as the shell and sage seed gum/polyvinyl alcohol containing pomegranate peel anthocyanin as the core. The research evaluated different flow rate ratios of zein to sage seed gum (Q<sub>Z</sub>/Q<sub>SSG</sub>: 1.5, 3, 6), zein concentrations (25 %, 27.5 %, 30 % <em>w</em>/<em>v</em>), and applied voltages (20 kV and 25 kV), identifying optimal conditions at 30 % zein concentration and 25 kV voltage. Morphological analysis via FESEM and TEM revealed that increasing the Q<sub>Z</sub>/Q<sub>SSG</sub> enlarged fiber diameters from 264 nm to 391 nm. Nanofibers at Q<sub>Z</sub>/Q<sub>SSG</sub>: 3 showed the highest surface roughness, while those at Q<sub>Z</sub>/Q<sub>SSG</sub>: 6 had the greatest hydrophobicity, indicated by a water contact angle of 108.5°. Coaxial electrospinning improved fiber crystallinity, and the Q<sub>Z</sub>/Q<sub>SSG</sub>: 3 sample exhibited superior thermal stability at 316.1 °C. FTIR confirmed uniform polymer distribution without chemical interactions. The fibers demonstrated adequate pH sensitivity, and encapsulation efficiency increased from 87.11 % to 96.17 % as the flow rate ratios rose from 1.5 to 6. Freeze-dried nanofiber-based aerogels showed that the Z/SSG 6 sample had the most uniform anthocyanin distribution, the lowest porosity (50.16 %), the highest hardness (276.91 g), and the lowest density (0.018 g/cm<sup>3</sup>). Moisture sorption tests demonstrated a maximum water uptake of 90.05 % for the Z/SSG 1.5 aerogel. These findings highlighted the potential of this approach to produce biodegradable, food-grade aerogels with enhanced encapsulation efficiency, porosity, and mechanical properties, suitable for applications in food packaging and pharmaceuticals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":333,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Macromolecules","volume":"338 ","pages":"Article 149717"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145779754","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-16DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149715
Bangfeng Fu , Ruilei Yang , Liang Zhang , Weijie Gong , Ximei Han , Bingzhi Li , Qianjin Liu , Jianlong Wang
With the escalating focus on sustainable food packaging, the concurrent demands for outstanding mechanical robustness and effective photodynamic antibacterial activity in materials designed for fruit preservation have yet to be adequately fulfilled. This study first engineered an innovative food packaging nanocomposite (CPBI) through strategic integration of BiOBr/I heterojunction within a polyvinyl alcohol/carboxymethyl cellulose (PVA/CMC) matrix, integrating photodynamic antibacterial functionality and ultra-high mechanical strength for perishable fruit preservation. The incorporation of BiOBr/I into the natural-polymer network achieved remarkable pathogen inactivation efficiencies of 97.4 % against Staphylococcus aureus and 93.8 % against Escherichia coli O157:H7 via ROS-mediated membrane peroxidation. Simultaneously, the CPBI film displayed superior mechanical properties (tensile strength: 240.1 MPa, fracture strain: 260 %). In practical storage, this film successfully extended the shelf life of cherry tomatoes to 20 days, demonstrating its highly effective fruit preservation capability. This strategy advances the evolution of intelligent packaging solutions, simultaneously addressing the tripartite challenges of material sustainability, postharvest preservation, and foodborne pathogen mitigation.
{"title":"Bandgap-engineered BiOBr/I heterojunction reinforced PVA/CMC film integrating photodynamic antibacterial model and mechanical robustness for enhanced fruit preservation","authors":"Bangfeng Fu , Ruilei Yang , Liang Zhang , Weijie Gong , Ximei Han , Bingzhi Li , Qianjin Liu , Jianlong Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149715","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149715","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the escalating focus on sustainable food packaging, the concurrent demands for outstanding mechanical robustness and effective photodynamic antibacterial activity in materials designed for fruit preservation have yet to be adequately fulfilled. This study first engineered an innovative food packaging nanocomposite (CPBI) through strategic integration of BiOBr/I heterojunction within a polyvinyl alcohol/carboxymethyl cellulose (PVA/CMC) matrix, integrating photodynamic antibacterial functionality and ultra-high mechanical strength for perishable fruit preservation. The incorporation of BiOBr/I into the natural-polymer network achieved remarkable pathogen inactivation efficiencies of 97.4 % against <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> and 93.8 % against <em>Escherichia coli</em> O157:H7 via ROS-mediated membrane peroxidation. Simultaneously, the CPBI film displayed superior mechanical properties (tensile strength: 240.1 MPa, fracture strain: 260 %). In practical storage, this film successfully extended the shelf life of cherry tomatoes to 20 days, demonstrating its highly effective fruit preservation capability. This strategy advances the evolution of intelligent packaging solutions, simultaneously addressing the tripartite challenges of material sustainability, postharvest preservation, and foodborne pathogen mitigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":333,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Macromolecules","volume":"338 ","pages":"Article 149715"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145760635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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