International Journal of Biological Macromolecules最新文献

The objective of this research was to characterize zein-pectin based nanoparticles (ZNP-P) prepared by synergistic methodology of antisolvent precipitation and complex aggregation, and investigate its protective efficacy for probiotic microencapsulation during simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Nanoparticles were successfully fabricated by zein and pectin primarily through electrostatic, hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding interactions, resulting in more compact nanoparticle structures with increased particle size. Multi-spectroscopic analysis indicated that the incorporation of pectin induced a significant conformational transition in zein with the content of unordered coil and β-strand structure increasing and that of α-helix structure decreasing, as well as static quenching that facilitated the binding of pectin molecules to tyrosine residue ligands and ultimately promoted the rapid de-excitation of α-zein. Simulated gastrointestinal digestion analysis manifested that after encapsulating with probiotics, uniform and compact coating layers composed of ZNP-P nanoparticles were formed and with the increasing incorporation of pectin, interparticle voids between ZNP nanoparticles were further filled leading to the formation of a densely packed three-dimensional network that significantly improved the acid resistance of encapsulated probiotics during gastric digestion. In summary, the current study proved that ZNP-P nanoparticles-based probiotic microcapsules with high structural density can provide better protection against adverse gastrointestinal digestion environments.

Psyllium, a polysaccharide derived from Plantago ovata seed husks, is renowned for its excellent gelling properties, attributed to intermolecular hydrogen bonding and chain entanglement. Recent studies highlight its potential as a smart biopolymer. This study introduces a novel multifunctional smart gel (Psy-Alg@CeO₂), comprising psyllium, alginate, and cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂ NPs), designed to exhibit self-healing, conductivity, adhesiveness, injectability, swelling, and antibacterial properties. The gel demonstrated outstanding performance, including a 100 % self-healing yield, conductivity (0.139 S/m), high swelling capacity (3005 %), and strong antibacterial effects against E. coli and S. aureus after 12 h of contact time. Structural and functional integrity were confirmed through FTIR, XRD, and SEM analyses. The results indicate that Psy-Alg@CeO₂ gel is a cost-effective, ready-to-use, and eco-friendly alternative to conventional smart materials, offering significant potential for applications in biomedicine, sensors, coatings, wearable electronics, tissue engineering, wound dressings, and beyond.

Hydrogels hold great promise for tissue regeneration, antibacterial therapy, and antitumor applications, yet their practical utility in harsh conditions is often constrained by poor environmental stability, including freezing at subzero temperatures and dehydration at elevated temperatures. To overcome these challenges, we engineer a natural material-based fibrous hydrogel (4A-FH) through a water-glycerol solvent system that ensures "4A" extreme temperature tolerance (anti-drying, anti-freezing, anti-swelling, and anti-pressure), thereby conferring long-term moisture retention, structural integrity, and mechanical flexibility after prolonged storage at extreme temperatures (-20 °C to 42 °C). 4A-FH is fabricated by crosslinking gelatin with tea trichome, a phenolic-rich fibrous material isolated from tea, which not only reinforces its mechanical strength (exhibiting rapid recovery after 80 % compression) but also imparts multifunctional properties, including antioxidant activity, tissue adhesiveness, self-healing capability, and photothermal responsiveness. Furthermore, 4A-FH possesses excellent clinical applicability, including injectability and biocompatibility. Notably, the hydrogel effectively mitigates cold-induced skin damage (e.g., frostbite) and, when combined with photothermal stimulation, significantly enhances full-thickness wound repair by modulating macrophage polarization, accelerating re-epithelialization, and promoting angiogenesis. In summary, 4A-FH synergistically integrates the "4A" environmental resilience, intrinsic therapeutic functions (antioxidant and photothermal), and favorable biomedical applicability (injectability, self-healing, tissue adhesion, and biocompatibility), presenting a versatile hydrogel dressing for advanced wound care and skin protection.

Photoaging, caused by chronic ultraviolet (UV) exposure, leads to extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, impaired skin function, and visible signs of aging. While collagen-based implants offer therapeutic potential, most rely on animal-derived sources, posing risks of immunogenicity and pathogen transmission. Recombinant collagens overcome these limitations but often lack the ability to form native-like fibers. Herein, we report the first injectable, self-assembled recombinant type I collagen nanofiber (SARCI) implant for reversing photoaged skin damage. The SARCI implant exhibits excellent injectability, enhanced thermal and enzymatic stability, and low immunogenicity. In vitro, it significantly promotes fibroblast proliferation, migration, and myofibroblast differentiation, while inducing chondrogenic commitment of mesenchymal stem cells. In a UV-induced photoaging mouse model, SARCI restores ECM homeostasis, improves epidermal thickness, dermal density, hydration, and transepidermal water loss, and reduces oxidative stress. Transcriptomic analysis confirms that SARCI activates ECM-receptor interaction, PI3K-Akt, and focal adhesion signaling pathways. These findings establish SARCI as a safe and effective recombinant biomaterial for regenerative dermatology and photoaging intervention.

The macromolecule COMP -Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein- was originally discovered as an essential regulator of the assembly, integrity and homeostatic remodeling of cartilage tissue ECMs. Later, however, it was found to have a more widespread distribution, to attain different subcellular topographies and play a pivotal role as an integral component of fibrotic and cancer-associated matrices. The homopentameric configuration of COMP remains distinctive within the human proteome and confers to the protein a multivalent functionality exploitable by the cells under physiological and pathological conditions. The structural-functional properties of COMP show limited overlap with those of other members of thrombospondin family and its multifaceted nature extends beyond its function in matrix assembly to embrace signal transducing interactions with the cell surface, the sequestering of signaling molecules, and the binding of components of the immunological/complement system. Mutated chondrocyte variants of COMP and isoforms aberrantly expressed by transformed cells are retained intracellularly to engage interactions with a variety of cytoplasmic molecules and convert the macromolecule from a structural ECM component to a regulator of homeostatic and transformative events. We discuss here how the unique structural traits of COMP may endow it with multifunctionality and explain its active participation in highly diverse biological processes.

The SWEET (Sugars Will Eventually Be Exported Transporters) gene family plays pivotal role in plant growth, development, physiological metabolism, and stress resistance by regulating sugar transport and distribution. Despite their importance, a systematic identification and analysis of SWEET gene family members in sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) has been lacking. A total of 19 PavSWEET genes were identified within a high-quality draft genome of Prunus avium. A comprehensive analysis was performed on their phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, protein motifs, cis-acting elements, domain identification, and chromosome locations. Comparative expression analysis of the PavSWEET family in 'Hongdeng' and 'Mingzhu' sweet cherries at three maturation stages indicated that the differential expression of PavSWEET1, PavSWEET9b, and PavSWEET10 accounted for the observed disparity in fruit sweetness between these two cultivars. This conclusion was further supported by the overexpression of PavSWEET1, PavSWEET9b, and PavSWEET10 in sweet cherry fruit and tobacco leaf, resulting in elevated sugar accumulation in mature fruits. Collectively, our results provide novel insights into the regulation of sugar accumulation by SWEET family genes in sweet cherry and provide a theoretical basis for further functional studies of PavSWEET genes.

Among the myriad of challenges confronting modern medicine, few rival the complexity and persistence of cancer. This disease has long stood as a formidable obstacle to therapeutic innovation. Recently, the emergence of biomimetic materials has heralded a transformative shift in oncology, offering novel strategies for precise drug delivery and integration with advanced technologies such as 3D-printing. In this paper, we begin by categorizing biomimetic materials according to their origins and structural classifications, and subsequently detail their applications in the context of prostate cancer (PCa) treatment. Finally, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the benefits and limitations of these biopolymers, discuss the key barriers hindering their broader application, and propose future research directions to guide progress in this promising domain (Fig. 1).