Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100367
Mahran Al-Zyoud , Salama A. Mostafa , Ibrahim Khersan , Gowrishankar J , Prabhat Kumar Sahu , Siya Singla , Sardor Sabirov , Islom. Khudayberganov , Samim Sherzod
Heavy‑metal contamination of soils and aqueous environments poses critical ecological and health risks, necessitating efficient sorbents for remediation. This study addresses the problem of unpredictable adsorption behavior of biochar by developing a comprehensive machine‑learning approach that relates its physicochemical attributes to metal‑uptake efficiency. A robust dataset of 380 experiments encompassing diverse biomass origins and preparation conditions was assembled to quantify this relationship using descriptors including elemental ratios, pH, cation‑exchange capacity (CEC), surface area, and structural charge. Eight algorithms (Decision Tree, AdaBoost, Random Forest, K‑Nearest Neighbor, Ensemble Learning, Convolutional Neural Network, Support Vector Regression, and Multilayer Perceptron) were evaluated through 5‑fold cross‑validation and optimized by hyperparameter tuning. Statistical indicators (R2, MSE, AARE%) and graphical diagnostics confirmed the CNN model as the most reliable predictor (R2 = 0.991, MSE = 0.00148), capturing nonlinear physicochemical patterns with minimal overfitting. SHAP interpretation revealed C0 and CEC as dominant determinants, while surface pH exerted inverse influence on adsorption. The hierarchical feature effects emphasize charge‑controlled and diffusion‑dependent mechanisms rather than morphological properties. The approach provides interpretable, transferable insight into how compositional and activation parameters govern heavy‑metal retention by biochars under varying conditions. Hence, the developed predictive framework not only advances modeling precision but also supports rational design of tailored biochars for environmental detoxification applications.
{"title":"Effects of physical properties on the heavy metal adsorption of biochar via a robust approach","authors":"Mahran Al-Zyoud , Salama A. Mostafa , Ibrahim Khersan , Gowrishankar J , Prabhat Kumar Sahu , Siya Singla , Sardor Sabirov , Islom. Khudayberganov , Samim Sherzod","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100367","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100367","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Heavy‑metal contamination of soils and aqueous environments poses critical ecological and health risks, necessitating efficient sorbents for remediation. This study addresses the problem of unpredictable adsorption behavior of biochar by developing a comprehensive machine‑learning approach that relates its physicochemical attributes to metal‑uptake efficiency. A robust dataset of 380 experiments encompassing diverse biomass origins and preparation conditions was assembled to quantify this relationship using descriptors including elemental ratios, pH, cation‑exchange capacity (CEC), surface area, and structural charge. Eight algorithms (Decision Tree, AdaBoost, Random Forest, K‑Nearest Neighbor, Ensemble Learning, Convolutional Neural Network, Support Vector Regression, and Multilayer Perceptron) were evaluated through 5‑fold cross‑validation and optimized by hyperparameter tuning. Statistical indicators (R<sup>2</sup>, MSE, AARE%) and graphical diagnostics confirmed the CNN model as the most reliable predictor (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.991, MSE = 0.00148), capturing nonlinear physicochemical patterns with minimal overfitting. SHAP interpretation revealed C<sub>0</sub> and CEC as dominant determinants, while surface pH exerted inverse influence on adsorption. The hierarchical feature effects emphasize charge‑controlled and diffusion‑dependent mechanisms rather than morphological properties. The approach provides interpretable, transferable insight into how compositional and activation parameters govern heavy‑metal retention by biochars under varying conditions. Hence, the developed predictive framework not only advances modeling precision but also supports rational design of tailored biochars for environmental detoxification applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100367"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The increasing demand for sustainable, functional food packaging has heightened interest in bio-based additives that can enhance material performance while maintaining consumer safety. Hydroxyapatite (HA), extensively studied in biomedical and environmental contexts for its physicochemical stability, ion-exchange capacity, and biocompatibility, has recently been proposed as a prospective additive for food packaging systems. This review critically examines the feasibility of translating insights from biomedical and environmental studies to packaging applications by systematically analyzing peer-reviewed literature published between 2021 and 2025 following PRISMA guidelines. The synthesized evidence indicates that HA incorporation, typically at low filler loadings, has been reported to improve tensile strength and thermal stability, with polymer permeability improvements of up to several tens of percent observed in previous studies. Environmental studies further demonstrate HA’s high adsorption capacity and ion-exchange behavior, whereas biomedical research provides indirect evidence of biological compatibility and controlled interaction with active agents. Nevertheless, direct experimental evidence in food packaging remains limited, including polymer–filler incompatibility, nanoparticle migration risks, and regulatory compliance. This review, therefore, positions hydroxyapatite as a prospective rather than validated packaging additive and outlines critical research priorities, including quantitative migration testing, formulation optimization, and regulatory evaluation, required to assess its practical feasibility in safe and sustainable food packaging applications.
{"title":"Hydroxyapatite for food packaging applications: translating evidence from biomedical and environmental research","authors":"Qurratu Aini Alya Adzkia , Atiek Rostika Noviyanti , Yana Cahyana , Yaya Rukayadi","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100370","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100370","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing demand for sustainable, functional food packaging has heightened interest in bio-based additives that can enhance material performance while maintaining consumer safety. Hydroxyapatite (HA), extensively studied in biomedical and environmental contexts for its physicochemical stability, ion-exchange capacity, and biocompatibility, has recently been proposed as a prospective additive for food packaging systems. This review critically examines the feasibility of translating insights from biomedical and environmental studies to packaging applications by systematically analyzing peer-reviewed literature published between 2021 and 2025 following PRISMA guidelines. The synthesized evidence indicates that HA incorporation, typically at low filler loadings, has been reported to improve tensile strength and thermal stability, with polymer permeability improvements of up to several tens of percent observed in previous studies. Environmental studies further demonstrate HA’s high adsorption capacity and ion-exchange behavior, whereas biomedical research provides indirect evidence of biological compatibility and controlled interaction with active agents. Nevertheless, direct experimental evidence in food packaging remains limited, including polymer–filler incompatibility, nanoparticle migration risks, and regulatory compliance. This review, therefore, positions hydroxyapatite as a prospective rather than validated packaging additive and outlines critical research priorities, including quantitative migration testing, formulation optimization, and regulatory evaluation, required to assess its practical feasibility in safe and sustainable food packaging applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100370"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100363
Disha Raghuvanshi , Komal Raghuvanshi , Sunil Kumar , Mehak Thakur , Deepak Kumar , Azhar Khan , Dinesh Kumar , Rachna Verma , Nida N. Farshori , Ebtesam S. Al-Sheddi , Mai M. Al-Oqail , Tabarak Malik
Liver diseases remain a significant global health burden despite advancements in hepatology. Plant-based therapies offer promising hepatoprotective potential, highlighting the need to evaluate medicinal plants with therapeutic activity. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the methanolic extracts of the root and leaves of Thalictrum foliolosum and the leaves of Cordia dichotoma for antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and hepatoprotective effects. Antimicrobial analysis revealed that T. foliolosum leaves extract showed maximum inhibition against E. coli (19.0 ± 1.0 mm) and the root extract against S. typhi (22.0 ± 1.0 mm), while C. dichotoma leaves extract against Bacillus sp. (17.3 ± 1.5 mm). Anti-inflammatory analysis showed that at 300 µg/mL, C. dichotoma leaves exhibited 48.10 ± 0.34 % inhibition, while T. foliolosum root and leaves extracts showed 46.35 ± 0.90 % and 44.77 ± 1.49 % inhibition, respectively. Furthermore, both extracts exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity toward HepG2 cells, with T. foliolosum root and C. dichotoma leaf extracts showing CTC50 values of 110.7 and 250.7 µg/mL, respectively. In-vivo studies showed that both the extracts significantly restored liver biomarkers in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar albino rats. T. foliolosum roots extract (200 mg/kg) reduced total bilirubin to 0.33 ± 0.06 mg%, conjugated bilirubin to 0.05 ± 0.02 mg%, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) to 120.50 ± 12.02 IU/L, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) to 52.00 ± 16.97 IU/L, and alkaline phosphate (ALP) to 205.50 ± 27.58 IU/L, while restoring total protein (5.70 ± 0.14 g%) and albumin (3.30 ± 0.14 g%). Similarly, C. dichotoma leaves extract (200 mg/kg) lowered total bilirubin to 0.34 ± 0.03 mg%, conjugated bilirubin to 0.06 ± 0.03 mg%, SGOT to 122.00 ± 2.83 IU/L, SGPT to 44.50 ± 3.54 IU/L, and ALP to 185.00 ± 29.70 IU/L, with improved total protein (5.60 ± 0.57 g%) and albumin (3.30 ± 0.14 g%). Molecular docking further supported the bioactivity of the extracts. Senecionine showed good affinity for the antibacterial target 4KR4 (−7.6 kcal/mol), while rutin exhibited the strongest binding to the anti-inflammatory (5IKR, −8.5 kcal/mol) and hepatoprotective (3SU4, −7.7 kcal/mol) targets. Overall, these findings revealed that C. dichotoma leaf extract exhibits stronger hepatoprotective activity than T. foliolosum root extract, supporting its further investigation in future studies.
{"title":"Exploring the hepatoprotective and cytotoxic activities of Thalictrum foliolosum and Cordia dichotoma for targeting acute liver injury","authors":"Disha Raghuvanshi , Komal Raghuvanshi , Sunil Kumar , Mehak Thakur , Deepak Kumar , Azhar Khan , Dinesh Kumar , Rachna Verma , Nida N. Farshori , Ebtesam S. Al-Sheddi , Mai M. Al-Oqail , Tabarak Malik","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100363","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100363","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Liver diseases remain a significant global health burden despite advancements in hepatology. Plant-based therapies offer promising hepatoprotective potential, highlighting the need to evaluate medicinal plants with therapeutic activity. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the methanolic extracts of the root and leaves of <em>Thalictrum foliolosum</em> and the leaves of <em>Cordia dichotoma</em> for antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and hepatoprotective effects. Antimicrobial analysis revealed that <em>T. foliolosum</em> leaves extract showed maximum inhibition against <em>E. coli</em> (19.0 ± 1.0 mm) and the root extract against <em>S. typhi</em> (22.0 ± 1.0 mm), while <em>C. dichotoma</em> leaves extract against <em>Bacillus</em> sp<em>.</em> (17.3 ± 1.5 mm). Anti-inflammatory analysis showed that at 300 µg/mL, <em>C. dichotoma</em> leaves exhibited 48.10 ± 0.34 % inhibition, while <em>T. foliolosum</em> root and leaves extracts showed 46.35 ± 0.90 % and 44.77 ± 1.49 % inhibition, respectively. Furthermore, both extracts exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity toward HepG2 cells, with <em>T. foliolosum</em> root and <em>C. dichotoma</em> leaf extracts showing CTC<sub>50</sub> values of 110.7 and 250.7 µg/mL, respectively. <em>In-vivo</em> studies showed that both the extracts significantly restored liver biomarkers in CCl<sub>4</sub>-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar albino rats. <em>T. foliolosum</em> roots extract (200 mg/kg) reduced total bilirubin to 0.33 ± 0.06 mg%, conjugated bilirubin to 0.05 ± 0.02 mg%, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) to 120.50 ± 12.02 IU/L, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) to 52.00 ± 16.97 IU/L, and alkaline phosphate (ALP) to 205.50 ± 27.58 IU/L, while restoring total protein (5.70 ± 0.14 g%) and albumin (3.30 ± 0.14 g%). Similarly, <em>C. dichotoma</em> leaves extract (200 mg/kg) lowered total bilirubin to 0.34 ± 0.03 mg%, conjugated bilirubin to 0.06 ± 0.03 mg%, SGOT to 122.00 ± 2.83 IU/L, SGPT to 44.50 ± 3.54 IU/L, and ALP to 185.00 ± 29.70 IU/L, with improved total protein (5.60 ± 0.57 g%) and albumin (3.30 ± 0.14 g%). Molecular docking further supported the bioactivity of the extracts. Senecionine showed good affinity for the antibacterial target 4KR4 (−7.6 kcal/mol), while rutin exhibited the strongest binding to the anti-inflammatory (5IKR, −8.5 kcal/mol) and hepatoprotective (3SU4, −7.7 kcal/mol) targets. Overall, these findings revealed that <em>C. dichotoma</em> leaf extract exhibits stronger hepatoprotective activity than <em>T. foliolosum</em> root extract, supporting its further investigation in future studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100363"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925270","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Salt stress poses a serious challenge to agricultural productivity, so it is important to identify stress resilient genes in underutilized cereals like finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.). In this study, we identified and characterized five EcNHX genes that encode Na+/H+ antiporters and examining their physicochemical properties, structural features and regulatory elements. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that EcNHX1-EcNHX4 are located in the vacuolar (Vac), while EcNHX5 is located in the plasma membrane (PM). Phylogenetic tree classified them into vac and PM NHX groups, with no members present in the endosomal class. Structural analysis confirmed that all the identified NHXs contain NHX protein domains. Furthermore, three-dimensional structural modeling suggested that all EcNHXs share structural features characteristic of Na+/H+ antiporters. Protein-Protein interaction networks suggest that EcNHXs interact with major ion transporters, which indicating coordinated roles in ion homeostasis. Gene expression analysis of identified NHXs under salt stress exhibits early upregulation of EcNHX1-3 and late upregulation of EcNHX4-5. These results suggested that NHX genes were involved in both immediate and long-term stress responses. Overall, this study enhances our knowledge of the structural and functional variations within the NHX gene family in finger millet and highlights potential candidate genes for future functional validation aimed at enhancing salt tolerance through crop improvement programs.
{"title":"Genome-wide identification and validation of Na+/H+ antiporter (NHX) gene family in finger millet under salt stress","authors":"Kasinathan Rakkammal , Pandiyan Muthuramalingam , Theivanayagam Maharajan , Collince Omondi Awere , Radhakrishnan Umamaheswari , Stanislaus Antony Ceasar , Hyunsuk Shin , Manikandan Ramesh","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100365","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100365","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Salt stress poses a serious challenge to agricultural productivity, so it is important to identify stress resilient genes in underutilized cereals like finger millet (<em>Eleusine coracana</em> (L.) Gaertn.). In this study, we identified and characterized five <em>EcNHX</em> genes that encode Na<sup>+</sup>/H<sup>+</sup> antiporters and examining their physicochemical properties, structural features and regulatory elements. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that <em>EcNHX1</em>-<em>EcNHX4</em> are located in the vacuolar (Vac), while <em>EcNHX5</em> is located in the plasma membrane (PM). Phylogenetic tree classified them into vac and PM NHX groups, with no members present in the endosomal class. Structural analysis confirmed that all the identified NHXs contain NHX protein domains. Furthermore, three-dimensional structural modeling suggested that all EcNHXs share structural features characteristic of Na<sup>+</sup>/H<sup>+</sup> antiporters. Protein-Protein interaction networks suggest that EcNHXs interact with major ion transporters, which indicating coordinated roles in ion homeostasis. Gene expression analysis of identified <em>NHXs</em> under salt stress exhibits early upregulation of <em>EcNHX1-3</em> and late upregulation of <em>EcNHX4-5</em>. These results suggested that <em>NHX</em> genes were involved in both immediate and long-term stress responses. Overall, this study enhances our knowledge of the structural and functional variations within the <em>NHX</em> gene family in finger millet and highlights potential candidate genes for future functional validation aimed at enhancing salt tolerance through crop improvement programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100365"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100362
Delphine Rapp , Dieke Schelvis , Nigel P. French , Maxence Plouviez
Foodborne infections are a global challenge, costing billions annually through food losses, trade restrictions, and healthcare expenses. Growing concerns over chemical antimicrobials such as antibiotics, sanitizers, and disinfectants, have driven interest in sustainable bio-control strategies for food systems. Microalgae, which produce a plethora of biomolecules including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and various secondary metabolites, represent a promising source of antimicrobial compounds. Despite numerous reports demonstrating antimicrobial activity in microalgal extracts, no microalgae-derived antimicrobials have yet reached commercialization.
This review focuses on some microalgal species already produced at commercial scale, including those with GRAS status (e.g., Chlorella vulgaris and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii). As for other microalgae-based products (e.g., biofuel oil), successful antimicrobial production depends on identifying key species and strains, optimizing growth conditions, and refining harvesting, cell disruption, and extraction protocols. Although research in this area is expanding, further studies are needed to improve our understanding of antimicrobials synthesis and to assess how these factors influence antimicrobial activity. Commonly used antibacterial assays such as disc diffusion and microdilution have limitations that must be considered when evaluating the antimicrobial activity of microalgal extracts. Overall, inconsistencies in testing and reporting have hindered the clear identification of microalgae as sources of effective antimicrobials. This review proposes a framework for future extract preparation and antimicrobial assessment and discusses future prospects to enhance the discovery and yield of microalgal antimicrobials.
{"title":"Unlocking antimicrobial potential of microalgae on food-borne bacteria: A standardized framework and future directions","authors":"Delphine Rapp , Dieke Schelvis , Nigel P. French , Maxence Plouviez","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100362","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100362","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Foodborne infections are a global challenge, costing billions annually through food losses, trade restrictions, and healthcare expenses. Growing concerns over chemical antimicrobials such as antibiotics, sanitizers, and disinfectants, have driven interest in sustainable bio-control strategies for food systems. Microalgae, which produce a plethora of biomolecules including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and various secondary metabolites, represent a promising source of antimicrobial compounds. Despite numerous reports demonstrating antimicrobial activity in microalgal extracts, no microalgae-derived antimicrobials have yet reached commercialization.</div><div>This review focuses on some microalgal species already produced at commercial scale, including those with GRAS status (e.g., <em>Chlorella vulgaris</em> and <em>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</em>). As for other microalgae-based products (e.g., biofuel oil), successful antimicrobial production depends on identifying key species and strains, optimizing growth conditions, and refining harvesting, cell disruption, and extraction protocols. Although research in this area is expanding, further studies are needed to improve our understanding of antimicrobials synthesis and to assess how these factors influence antimicrobial activity. Commonly used antibacterial assays such as disc diffusion and microdilution have limitations that must be considered when evaluating the antimicrobial activity of microalgal extracts. Overall, inconsistencies in testing and reporting have hindered the clear identification of microalgae as sources of effective antimicrobials. This review proposes a framework for future extract preparation and antimicrobial assessment and discusses future prospects to enhance the discovery and yield of microalgal antimicrobials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100362"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100371
Luqi Yuan , Xin Liu , Xiaoyan Cao , Jiahui Gao , Hang Yu , Yidi Li , Chongjun Chen
The integration of microbial electrolytic cell with anaerobic digestion (MEC-AD) system is a promising method for improving landfill leachate treatment. Biochar addition further enhances overall process efficiency. However, the impact of varying hydraulic retention times (HRT) on operational efficiency and microbial dynamics is not well understood. This study examines the effects of different HRT on the degradation efficiency and microbial composition of biochar-amended MEC-AD system. Here, optimal performance was observed at 48 h HRT, achieving 70.67% of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency, with a notable enrichment of functional microbial strains, which represented a 67.58% increase compared with the removal efficiency at 24 h of HRT. Furthermore, the COD removal efficiency was enhanced by approximately 4% with biochar addition under 24 h of HRT. Essentially, maintaining appreciable HRT coupled with biochar addition is a plausible strategy for enhanced landfill leachate treatment. Mechanistically, this enhanced system performance, specifically efficient organic matter degradation involved the disruption of key structural components within contaminants, including heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and conjugated unsaturated bonds as indicated by GC–MS analysis. Microbial community dynamics revealed that the addition of biochar and the extension of HRT both facilitate Acidobacteria proliferation, while the addition of biochar particularly promoted the enrichment of functional microbes like Pseudomonas. Essentially, both HRT regulation and biochar addition were critical in microbial community structuring. Enrichment of acidogens including Azoarcus and Longilinea, facilitates the subsequent production of acetic acid production, optimizing carbon metabolism. Finally, investigating the scalability of biochar-amended MEC-AD systems under optimized operational parameter (HRT) conditions is urgent to ensure sustainable enhanced landfill leachate treatment and resource recovery.
{"title":"Organic matter removal from landfill leachate using a biochar-enhanced microbial electrolytic cell-anaerobic digestion system at different HRT","authors":"Luqi Yuan , Xin Liu , Xiaoyan Cao , Jiahui Gao , Hang Yu , Yidi Li , Chongjun Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100371","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100371","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The integration of microbial electrolytic cell with anaerobic digestion (MEC-AD) system is a promising method for improving landfill leachate treatment. Biochar addition further enhances overall process efficiency. However, the impact of varying hydraulic retention times (HRT) on operational efficiency and microbial dynamics is not well understood. This study examines the effects of different HRT on the degradation efficiency and microbial composition of biochar-amended MEC-AD system. Here, optimal performance was observed at 48 h HRT, achieving 70.67% of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency, with a notable enrichment of functional microbial strains, which represented a 67.58% increase compared with the removal efficiency at 24 h of HRT. Furthermore, the COD removal efficiency was enhanced by approximately 4% with biochar addition under 24 h of HRT. Essentially, maintaining appreciable HRT coupled with biochar addition is a plausible strategy for enhanced landfill leachate treatment. Mechanistically, this enhanced system performance, specifically efficient organic matter degradation involved the disruption of key structural components within contaminants, including heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and conjugated unsaturated bonds as indicated by GC–MS analysis. Microbial community dynamics revealed that the addition of biochar and the extension of HRT both facilitate <em>Acidobacteria</em> proliferation, while the addition of biochar particularly promoted the enrichment of functional microbes like <em>Pseudomonas</em>. Essentially, both HRT regulation and biochar addition were critical in microbial community structuring. Enrichment of acidogens including <em>Azoarcus</em> and <em>Longilinea</em>, facilitates the subsequent production of acetic acid production, optimizing carbon metabolism. Finally, investigating the scalability of biochar-amended MEC-AD systems under optimized operational parameter (HRT) conditions is urgent to ensure sustainable enhanced landfill leachate treatment and resource recovery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100371"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077702","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Digestibility is an important factor in the nutritional evaluation of proteins because it determines the bioavailability of the amino acids derived from them. In this study, we developed a prediction model for standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids using previously reported pig SID datasets. The prediction was performed using the random forest model with the explanatory variables, including nutrients, protein types, cooking/processing, and other ingredients. Shapley additive explanations and feature importance analysis identified the factors of SID prediction and the correlation between digestibility and nutrient data. The predictability for pig SID data was compared between the prediction model and the reported digestibility data of an existing alternative method–in vitro INFOGEST digestion protocol. Finally, the digestible indispensable amino acid score (DIAAS) evaluation using predicted SID showed high accuracy compared with that using observed SID.
{"title":"Development of in silico prediction model for standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids from protein sources","authors":"Takuya Kikuchi , Masamichi Takeshita , Yusuke Adachi , Yoji Yamada","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100368","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100368","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Digestibility is an important factor in the nutritional evaluation of proteins because it determines the bioavailability of the amino acids derived from them. In this study, we developed a prediction model for standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids using previously reported pig SID datasets. The prediction was performed using the random forest model with the explanatory variables, including nutrients, protein types, cooking/processing, and other ingredients. Shapley additive explanations and feature importance analysis identified the factors of SID prediction and the correlation between digestibility and nutrient data. The predictability for pig SID data was compared between the prediction model and the reported digestibility data of an existing alternative method–<em>in vitro</em> INFOGEST digestion protocol. Finally, the digestible indispensable amino acid score (DIAAS) evaluation using predicted SID showed high accuracy compared with that using observed SID.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100368"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077703","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100369
Archie Fontana Iskandar , Almerveldy Azaria Dohong , Nicolas Daniel Widjanarko , Adha Fauzi Hendrawan , Steven Alvianto , Antonello Santini , Sovia Salamah , Muhammad Iqhrammullah , Raymond Rubianto Tjandrawinata , Fahrul Nurkolis
Maternal nutrition plays a pivotal role in ensuring optimal health outcomes for both mother and fetus. However, natural bioactive compounds such as omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, and probiotics face major limitations, including poor stability, low solubility, and limited bioavailability during pregnancy. Food-grade polymers have emerged as promising delivery platforms to overcome these challenges by enhancing stability, protecting against degradation, masking undesirable flavors, and enabling controlled or site-specific release. This review synthesizes recent advances in polymer-based encapsulation strategies for maternal nutrition, focusing on biopolymers such as alginate, pectin, chitosan, gum arabic, and protein–polysaccharide composites. Encapsulation techniques including spray-drying, complex coacervation, hydrogels, and nanoparticles are highlighted for their ability to improve bioactive delivery and efficacy. We further examine preclinical and clinical evidence, safety considerations, and regulatory challenges that must be addressed before translation into maternal health interventions. Overall, food-grade polymers represent a promising tool to transform maternal nutrition into more effective, sustainable, and personalized strategies; however, industrial scalability, long-term safety, and standardized clinical validation remain pressing gaps for future research.
{"title":"Food-Grade polymers as smart carriers for maternal nutrition and fetal protection","authors":"Archie Fontana Iskandar , Almerveldy Azaria Dohong , Nicolas Daniel Widjanarko , Adha Fauzi Hendrawan , Steven Alvianto , Antonello Santini , Sovia Salamah , Muhammad Iqhrammullah , Raymond Rubianto Tjandrawinata , Fahrul Nurkolis","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100369","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100369","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Maternal nutrition plays a pivotal role in ensuring optimal health outcomes for both mother and fetus. However, natural bioactive compounds such as omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, and probiotics face major limitations, including poor stability, low solubility, and limited bioavailability during pregnancy. Food-grade polymers have emerged as promising delivery platforms to overcome these challenges by enhancing stability, protecting against degradation, masking undesirable flavors, and enabling controlled or site-specific release. This review synthesizes recent advances in polymer-based encapsulation strategies for maternal nutrition, focusing on biopolymers such as alginate, pectin, chitosan, gum arabic, and protein–polysaccharide composites. Encapsulation techniques including spray-drying, complex coacervation, hydrogels, and nanoparticles are highlighted for their ability to improve bioactive delivery and efficacy. We further examine preclinical and clinical evidence, safety considerations, and regulatory challenges that must be addressed before translation into maternal health interventions. Overall, food-grade polymers represent a promising tool to transform maternal nutrition into more effective, sustainable, and personalized strategies; however, industrial scalability, long-term safety, and standardized clinical validation remain pressing gaps for future research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100369"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100364
Devi Meliani , Trisna Yuliana , Dikdik Kurnia
Endodontic treatment failure is frequently associated with Enterococcus faecalis infection. Piper crocatum (red betel) contains bioactive compounds with potential antibacterial properties. This study evaluated the antibacterial effect of the n-hexane:ethyl acetate (9:1) fraction of P. crocatum against E. faecalis and assessed the pharmacological potential of its compounds through molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, and ADMET prediction. Antibacterial activity was tested using the agar diffusion method, and the active fraction was analyzed by LC-MS. Four major compounds were identified: 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-cinnamic acid (1), androsterone (2), aschantin (3), and E-p-coumaric acid (4). The 10% fraction exhibited moderate inhibition. Docking results showed that aschantin had the strongest binding affinity against MurA, PBP, DNA Gyrase B, and DNA Ligase. MD simulations confirmed complex stability with low RMSD values and consistent hydrogen bonding. Meanwhile, 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-cinnamic acid (1) demonstrated favorable binding free energy (MM/GBSA), stable RMSF profiles, and superior pharmacokinetic properties, including high bioavailability and no CYP inhibition. Despite its strong affinity and MD stability, aschantin (3) displayed poor solubility and unfavorable ADMET characteristics, which may limit its oral drug potential. In conclusion, aschantin is a promising antibacterial lead due to its strong target affinity and MD stability, whereas 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-cinnamic acid (1) presents safer pharmacokinetic properties and potential for future drug development.
{"title":"Bioactive fraction of Piper crocatum as a potential antibacterial agent: LC-MS identification, docking study, molecular dynamics, and ADMET prediction","authors":"Devi Meliani , Trisna Yuliana , Dikdik Kurnia","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100364","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100364","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Endodontic treatment failure is frequently associated with <em>Enterococcus faecalis</em> infection. <em>Piper crocatum</em> (red betel) contains bioactive compounds with potential antibacterial properties. This study evaluated the antibacterial effect of the n-hexane:ethyl acetate (9:1) fraction of <em>P. crocatum</em> against <em>E. faecalis</em> and assessed the pharmacological potential of its compounds through molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, and ADMET prediction. Antibacterial activity was tested using the agar diffusion method, and the active fraction was analyzed by LC-MS. Four major compounds were identified: 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-cinnamic acid <strong>(1)</strong>, androsterone <strong>(2)</strong>, aschantin <strong>(3)</strong>, and E-p-coumaric acid <strong>(4)</strong>. The 10% fraction exhibited moderate inhibition. Docking results showed that aschantin had the strongest binding affinity against MurA, PBP, DNA Gyrase B, and DNA Ligase. MD simulations confirmed complex stability with low RMSD values and consistent hydrogen bonding. Meanwhile, 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-cinnamic acid <strong>(1)</strong> demonstrated favorable binding free energy (MM/GBSA), stable RMSF profiles, and superior pharmacokinetic properties, including high bioavailability and no CYP inhibition. Despite its strong affinity and MD stability, aschantin <strong>(3)</strong> displayed poor solubility and unfavorable ADMET characteristics, which may limit its oral drug potential. In conclusion, aschantin is a promising antibacterial lead due to its strong target affinity and MD stability, whereas 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-cinnamic acid <strong>(1)</strong> presents safer pharmacokinetic properties and potential for future drug development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100364"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925269","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-13DOI: 10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100361
Tamára F. Santos , Beatriz Simões , Veronica Rossetto , Hugo Pereira , Inês B. Maia , Marta Oliveira , Aschwin Engelen , João Navalho , João Varela
The marine haptophyte Tisochrysis lutea is a valuable source of high-value compounds, including polyunsaturated fatty acids like docosahexaenoic acid, and pigments (e.g., fucoxanthin). However, high production costs and variability remain major challenges for its large-scale application in aquaculture, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology industries. Therefore, strategies to enhance biomass production and quality are actively explored. In natural environments, T. lutea establishes mutualistic interactions with bacteria to obtain essential nutrients such as vitamin B12, yet the role of bacteria in industrial cultures remains poorly understood. In this study, 145 bacterial strains were isolated and taxonomically identified from industrial T. lutea cultures, with members of the class Gammaproteobacteria and Actinomycetia being the most prevalent. Forty isolates were screened individually in co-culture with T. lutea revealing strain-specific effects on growth and biochemical composition. Seven beneficial strains were used to design 21 tailored bacterial blends. Several consortia enhanced biomass production (up to 74 %) and increased key bioactive compounds, particularly methylcobalamin (up to 300 %). These findings demonstrate the potential of tailored bacterial consortia to enhance T. lutea productivity and nutritional quality under production-relevant xenic conditions, enabling strategic microbiome modulation for specific industrial goals.
{"title":"Tailored bacterial co-cultures improve Tisochrysis lutea growth and nutrient profiles under xenic conditions: a new pathway to improve microalgal production","authors":"Tamára F. Santos , Beatriz Simões , Veronica Rossetto , Hugo Pereira , Inês B. Maia , Marta Oliveira , Aschwin Engelen , João Navalho , João Varela","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100361","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100361","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The marine haptophyte <em>Tisochrysis lutea</em> is a valuable source of high-value compounds, including polyunsaturated fatty acids like docosahexaenoic acid, and pigments (e.g., fucoxanthin). However, high production costs and variability remain major challenges for its large-scale application in aquaculture, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology industries. Therefore, strategies to enhance biomass production and quality are actively explored. In natural environments, <em>T. lutea</em> establishes mutualistic interactions with bacteria to obtain essential nutrients such as vitamin B<sub>12</sub>, yet the role of bacteria in industrial cultures remains poorly understood. In this study, 145 bacterial strains were isolated and taxonomically identified from industrial <em>T. lutea</em> cultures, with members of the class Gammaproteobacteria and Actinomycetia being the most prevalent. Forty isolates were screened individually in co-culture with <em>T. lutea</em> revealing strain-specific effects on growth and biochemical composition. Seven beneficial strains were used to design 21 tailored bacterial blends. Several consortia enhanced biomass production (up to 74 %) and increased key bioactive compounds, particularly methylcobalamin (up to 300 %). These findings demonstrate the potential of tailored bacterial consortia to enhance <em>T. lutea</em> productivity and nutritional quality under production-relevant xenic conditions, enabling strategic microbiome modulation for specific industrial goals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100361"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790661","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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