Beni-Suef University Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences最新文献

Background

Bone tissue engineering necessitates the utilization of scaffolds that amalgamate biocompatibility, mechanical robustness, and antimicrobial properties to effectively address the challenges of regeneration and infection control. Natural polymers, such as chitosan, inherently offer bioactivity; however, they require reinforcement to achieve optimal functionality.

Objective

To formulate an eco-friendly calcium/exfoliated bentonite/chitosan (Ca/EXF-BE/CS) nanocomposite scaffold with enhanced mechanical strength and antimicrobial efficacy for applications in bone tissue engineering.

Methods

Calcium oxide was derived from waste eggshells through the process of calcination at 600 °C. The Egyptian bentonite was subjected to purification and exfoliation via CTAB-assisted ultrasonication. Ca/EXF-BE nanocomposites were synthesized employing green tea-mediated precipitation, followed by the encapsulation with chitosan through ionic gelation utilizing tripolyphosphate as a crosslinking agent. Characterization was conducted using XRD, FE-SEM, FTIR, BET analysis, and mechanical testing. The antimicrobial efficacy was evaluated against E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans using well diffusion and MIC/MBC assays.

Results

The Ca/EXF-BE/CS exhibited the highest surface area value of 134.6 m²/g, coupled with an average pore width of 44.5 Å. The mechanical properties of EXF-BE were significantly enhanced with the addition of Ca and CS, as evidenced by the ultimate tensile strength (σuts) values of 15.38 ± 0.40MPa, 16.19 ± 0.38 MPa, and 17.84 ± 0.42 MPa; toughness measurements of 1.435 ± 0.23 MJ/m³, 1.713 ± 0.25 MJ/m³, and 2.067 ± 0.31 MJ/m³; and strain at breakdown percentages of approximately 28.5 ± 0.31%, 28.69 ± 0.3%, and 30.1 ± 0.33% for EXF-BE, Ca/EXF-BE, and Ca/EXF-BE/CS, respectively. The antimicrobial properties, evaluated through the well diffusion method, revealed inhibition zones measuring 27.13, 21.25, and 23 mm against E. coli, S. aureus, and Candida albicans, respectively, at 1000 µg/mL of Ca/EXF-BE, thereby demonstrating promising multifunctional capabilities.

Conclusions

The Ca/BE/CS nanocomposite, produced via sustainable synthesis from eggshell waste, demonstrates enhanced strength, toughness, porosity, and antimicrobial activity. Its multifunctional performance makes it a promising scaffold for load-bearing bone tissue engineering and infection control in orthopedic applications.

Background

Malnutrition is a known cause of skin disorders, but the genetic mechanisms linking it to dermal dysfunctions, particularly skin elasticity, are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate how protein malnutrition (PM) affects the structure of the skin by reducing elastic fiber components and to examine the underlying genetic mechanisms.

Methods

We used a non-invasive skin pinch test to assess skin elasticity and conducted gene expression analysis. Mice were divided into a control group (20% casein diet) and a PM group (2% casein diet) and were fed for 28 days. Skin elasticity, histopathological changes, plasma biochemical parameters, and insoluble α-elastin levels were measured. Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) was used to analyze the expression of genes related to elastic fiber metabolism, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), lysyl oxidase-like protein 1 (LOXL1), tropoelastin, and fibrillin-1.

Results

Skin elasticity in the PM group was significantly impaired by day 7 and worsened until day 28. Histologically, PM induced epidermal thinning and dermal loosening by day 7, which persisted throughout the study. The elastic fibers content significantly decreased in the PM group by day 28. Gene expression analysis revealed that lysyl oxidase-like protein 1 (LOXL1), tropoelastin, and fibrillin-1 were significantly downregulated in the PM group. MMP expression showed minimal changes.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the observed skin structural defects and impaired skin elasticity under PM conditions are primarily caused by a substantial reduction in elastic fibers due to insufficient elastogenesis, rather than increased degradation.

Background

Trypanosoma evansi is a common protozoal disease affecting livestock, involving camels, and results in considerable economic losses. The purpose of this research was to assess the efficacy of the terpenoids-enriched fraction of Salvia officinalis (S. officinalis) and the sesquiterpene lactones-enriched fraction of Cichorium intybus (C. intybus) against trypanosomiasis and the associated oxidative damage in liver and kidney of Trypanosoma evansi (T. evansi)-infected rats. A total of one hundred male rats were equally divided into five groups: Group A served as negative control. Group B received an intraperitoneal infection with T. evansi (1 × 10⁴ trypanosomes/rat). Group C was infected and treated intramuscularly with 7 mg/kg body weight of diminazene aceturate. Groups D and E were also infected with T. evansi and given 300 mg/kg body weight as a daily oral dose of S. officinalis terpenoids-enriched fraction and 200 mg/kg body weight of C. intybus sesquiterpene lactones-enriched fraction, respectively, for 1 month.

Results

T. evansi infection induced an elevation in serum hepatic transaminases activity and urea level with hyperglobulinemia. Along with histopathological alterations in the liver and kidney, T. evansi significantly decreased glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and reduced glutathione (GSH) content, in addition to the elevation of malondialdehyde (MDA) content in both tissues. The administration of S. officinalis and C. intybus fractions markedly reduced the level of parasitemia and alleviated the biochemical alterations and oxidative damage induced by T. evansi.

Conclusion

The terpenoids-enriched fraction of S. officinalis and sesquiterpene lactones-enriched fraction of C. intybus display a remarkable anti-trypanosomal and antioxidant potentials and may be promising sources for novel trypanocidal agents.

Background

This study investigates the physicochemical properties of candlenut (Aleurites moluccana) and daikon radish (Raphanus sativus L.) to explore their potential as natural healing remedies as practised by local communities in Malaysia. Both plants have been used in traditional medicine, but there is limited research on their bioactive compounds and how their characteristics contribute to anti-inflammatory effects.

Results

Colour analysis for fresh candlenut exhibited significantly higher L* value (67.70 ± 0.11) compared to its extract (43.21 ± 0.00). This indicated that fresh candlenut had more whitish hue. Likewise, fresh daikon radish showed more whitish hue compared to its extract. Yellowish hue was more pronounced in fresh candlenut (25.46 ± 2.92) compared to its extract (0.45 ± 0.02). Hydroxyl (O–H), alkenyl (C=C), iso-dimethyl (–CH₃), and oxygen-bonded (C–O) functional groups were found in both samples using the FTIR method. Significantly higher tannin content was found in candlenut (91.77 ± 12.18 mg/L), compared to daikon radish (2.13 ± 3.00 mg/L). Similarly, alkaloid concentrations were significantly higher in candlenut (10.30 ± 0.59 mg/L) than in daikon radish (3.56 ± 0.12 mg/L). Phenolic analysis using HPLC identified gallic acid concentrations of 273.43 ± 17.23 mg/L in candlenut and 27.39 ± 20.39 mg/L in daikon radish. Daikon radish detected vanillic acid (28.43 ± 11.92 mg/L) and p-coumaric acid (3.04 ± 0.12 mg/L), which was not detected in candlenut.

Conclusions

These results suggested that candlenut contains higher alkaloids, tannins and gallic acid compared to daikon radish. Vanillic acid and p-coumaric acid, however, were detected in daikon radish only. All three phenolic acids can act as an antioxidant. However, gallic acid was found in higher proportion in candlenut; hence, it has higher potential against oxidative damage condition. This research supports the traditional use of these plants in managing inflammatory conditions and highlights their potential for nutraceutical applications. It may be a useful to eliminate trigger in inflammatory with interaction with receptors. These interactions occur in NF-κB signalling in inflammation pathway usually, and its dysregulation is an important factor for many inflammatory-related diseases such as asthma, atherosclerosis, gout, diabetes, cancer and many more.

Background

Organ inflammatory diseases remain a major contributor to global morbidity and mortality, yet current therapies fail to adequately prevent tissue damage progression. Stem cell therapy offers immunomodulatory and regenerative benefits, but its effectiveness varies substantially across administration routes, creating uncertainty in optimal clinical selection.

Main body

This systematic literature review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to compare administration routes of stem cell therapy and its derivatives for organ inflammation. Searches of Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases up to 4 July 2025 identified 790 records; after screening and quality appraisal with Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) 2018, 57 empirical studies published from 2015 onward were included, covering 17 administration routes evaluated against 10 predefined effectiveness and safety domains. Qualitative findings were converted into an ordinal 1–3 scoring system and visualized in a heatmap to enable semiquantitative comparison across routes. Invasive routes such as intramyocardial, intra-arterial, portal vein, intrathecal, and intraparenchymal delivery consistently achieved the highest composite scores for target organ retention, homing, and functional repair, but were penalized for procedure-related risks and feasibility. Noninvasive routes (intravenous, intranasal, nebulized, oral, and sublingual/topical) showed lower target retention but more favorable safety, practicality, and suitability for repeated dosing. Across indications, intraperitoneal delivery tended to outperform intravenous administration for abdominal diseases, whereas intranasal and nebulized approaches were particularly promising for nose-to-brain and lung targeting using relatively low doses.

Conclusion

Stem cell therapy effectiveness is route-specific and reflects trade-offs between target organ delivery and safety–feasibility profiles. The semiquantitative synthesis presented here supports a “route-specific optimization” framework to guide personalized selection of administration routes and to prioritize future translational and clinical research.

Background

Accurate long-term tracking of transplanted stem cells is essential for evaluating therapeutic efficacy, biodistribution, and safety in regenerative medicine. Conventional imaging and molecular tracing methods often lack the sensitivity or temporal stability required for quantifying small residual cell populations over extended periods. Carbon-14 (C-14), a long-lived radioactive isotope, offers a unique opportunity to overcome these limitations by enabling durable and quantitative labeling of stem cells.

Main body

C-14 labeling provides an inheritable molecular marker that is stably incorporated into nucleic acids and other macromolecules, permitting attomole-level detection using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). This analytical sensitivity enables reliable quantification of fewer than 100 transplanted cells within complex host tissues—an order of magnitude beyond the detection limits of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and other conventional assays. Through AMS-based analysis of time-resolved tissue samples, C-14 tracing supports precise assessment of cell survival, migration, engraftment, and long-term persistence. The approach further allows the identification of adverse outcomes such as ectopic engraftment, uncontrolled proliferation, or tumorigenicity by detecting abnormal expansion or mislocalization of labeled cell populations. Collectively, C-14-based tracking provides both quantitative accuracy and temporal resolution suitable for rigorous preclinical evaluation of stem cell therapies.

Conclusion

C-14 tracing represents a powerful analytical platform capable of transforming cell tracking strategies in regenerative medicine. Its unparalleled sensitivity and long-term detection capability offer clear advantages for studying stem cell fate, optimizing therapeutic protocols, and strengthening safety assessments. Continued methodological refinement and broader standardization will be crucial for translating this technology into wider preclinical and clinical use.

Background

Opuntia cactus, or prickly pear, is a good source of bioactive compounds, especially betalains that have high antioxidant activity and play an important role in human health. However, despite their nutritional and functional benefits, these compounds are highly sensitive to environmental conditions, leading to reduced stability and bioactivity during processing and digestion.

Scope

To overcome the stability challenges, double emulsions (W₁/O/W₂) have emerged as an innovative encapsulation and delivery system for bioactive compounds. This review explores the structural characteristics of double emulsions, their encapsulation mechanisms, and models describing release kinetics under digestive conditions. Factors influencing emulsion stability—including emulsifier type, droplet size, phase ratio, and processing conditions—are critically discussed. Studies demonstrate that double emulsions can significantly enhance the stability, bioaccessibility, and controlled release of sensitive compounds such as betalains, while maintaining desirable sensory and functional properties. Their successful incorporation into various food matrices, including beverages, dairy, and bakery products, has resulted in improved nutritional profiles, antioxidant retention, and extended shelf life. Additionally, industrial scalability and formulation challenges are examined, emphasizing the importance of optimizing processing parameters and ensuring consumer acceptability.

Conclusion

Double emulsions provide a novel approach to improve the stability and delivery of bioactive ingredients in functional foods. Future research and development should focus on optimizing their design and functionality, enabling widespread application across the food industry and healthier food products.

Graphical abstract

Background

Lung injury is a frequent adverse effect of chronic thinner exposure. The purpose of this research was to assess whether or not chamomile tea may protect against thinner-induced lung damage and its potential mechanisms. Thirty adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into five equal groups; the first three were control, vehicle, and chamomile tea (400 mg/kg bw), while the last two groups were inhaled thinner at a dosage of 4500 ppm, four hours/day, six days/week, with or without chamomile tea, daily for eight weeks. Lung tissues were taken for biochemical and immunohistochemical investigations at the end of intervention period.

Results

Thinner exposure resulted in significant increases in inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6), inflammatory mediators (COX2,NF-κβ), adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM-1), lipid peroxidation product 4-HNE, and nitric oxide bioavailability, accompanied by depletion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, GSH content, GPX activity, and total antioxidant capacity within lung tissue. Thinner exposure also resulted in cell cycle arrest, appeared at the S and G2/M phases, decline in the anti-apoptotic BCL2 and increases in Bax, cytochrome-c, Bax/Bcl2 ratio, expression of P53 and caspase-3, and the proportions of annexin V/PI positive cells, indicating heightened apoptosis. Nevertheless, a higher reduction in lung inflammation, oxidative damage, and apoptosis were prominently observed following administration of chamomile tea to the thinner group.

Conclusion

Findings could verify the safety and efficacy of chamomile tea as a natural medication for thinner toxicity and related pulmonary damage.

Background

One potential strategy for cancer treatment is to prevent neovascularization. A well-targeted approach blocks VEGFR2, inhibiting the growth of new tumor vasculature. In this study, we report the identification of potential VEGFR2 inhibitors from phytochemicals previously extracted from Sonneratia alba, a mangrove species native to the Philippines, using molecular docking simulations followed by drug-likeness and ADME/Tox prediction.

Results

Thirty-two phytochemicals identified from various parts of S. alba were virtually docked onto the VEGFR2 binding site. Luteolin, ⍺-amyrin cinnamate, and ꞵ-amyrin cinnamate exhibited docking scores comparable to the drug control Axitinib. The drug-likeness property prediction revealed luteolin as the sole phytochemical predicted to have high bioavailability. In silico ADMET prediction demonstrated that luteolin has higher human intestinal absorption, is firmly bound to plasma protein, and poses no toxicity risks. Furthermore, luteolin also exhibited high permeability across the gastrointestinal tract but no passive permeability across the blood–brain barrier.

Conclusion

Through in silico techniques, luteolin was identified as the only compound from S. alba with adequate and significant potential of developing into a VEGF inhibitor drug, as exemplified by its good bioavailability, higher gastrointestinal absorption, strong binding affinity to plasma protein, and good permeability through the gastrointestinal tract. The findings of this investigation may help validate the in vitro and in vivo anticancer properties of luteolin, as described in several peer-reviewed articles.