Biopolymers最新文献

Skin aging is a multifaceted process marked by the destruction of skin structure and the diminishment of skin function, significantly impacting both physical and mental health. Injectable hydrogels are promising for skin repair, but chemical crosslinking in most hydrogels can cause cytotoxicity, whereas agarose hydrogels avoid crosslinking yet face injectability challenges. We have herein developed green agarose hydrogel implants with high biocompatibility for skin repair and regeneration in photoaged skin. The hydrogel is prepared by utilizing agarose's ability to dissolve at high temperatures and gel at low temperatures. This process yields implants with particle sizes predominantly ranging from 100 to 150 μm. The agarose hydrogel implant exhibits excellent injectability, with a steady injection force curve consistently around 4 N. The agarose hydrogel implant promotes the proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts and does not induce hemolysis or pyrogenic reactions. In a photoaging mouse model, the agarose hydrogel implant improves skin density and hydration, reduces transepidermal water loss, and stimulates collagen regeneration. This agarose hydrogel implant provides a novel approach to repairing aged skin and holds significant potential in the fields of skin health and tissue regeneration.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one serious cause of cancer-associated deaths worldwide. Poor bioavailability and non-specific targeting of drugs is a challenge. Gemcitabine (GEM) is broad-spectrum anticancer drug for liver and other cancers. In this study, an attempt to formulate drug-loaded galactosylated albumin-based nanoparticles (GEM-LA-BSA NPs) was made to increase the bioavailability and targetability of hydrophilic drugs. The formulation was optimized using central composite design for further evaluation and developed a pilot-scale approach for commercialization. LA-BSA conjugate was synthesized, characterized, and formulated into a nanoformulation. The particle size of the optimal formulation was 40.19 ± 7.98 nm with reduced drug release (57.78% ± 4.10%) in 48 h and aggregates-like structure by HR-TEM. In vitro studies in HepG2 cells indicated better cytotoxicity of GEM-LA-BSA NPs than GEM (IC₅₀ values 226.42 ± 11.32 and 366.03 ± 11.93 μg/mL, respectively), while in vivo studies in SD rats exhibited almost two-fold bioavailability, better pharmacokinetics, and reduced IC50 portraying immense potential as an effective drug delivery system.

Inflammation is a hallmark of various pathological conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and autoimmune diseases. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are crucial mediators in the inflammatory microenvironment, playing a pivotal role in both normal cellular processes and disease progression. Targeting ROS overproduction in inflamed tissues has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy. Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) responsive to ROS levels in pathological tissues have gained substantial attention as precision drug delivery systems, capable of ensuring controlled, site-specific drug release. This review provides a comprehensive mechanistic insight into ROS-responsive polymeric nanoparticles, examining their structural design, functionalization strategies, drug release mechanisms, and potential for targeted therapies in inflammatory conditions. Furthermore, we discuss recent advancements, challenges, and future directions in utilizing ROS-responsive polymeric nanoparticles for precision therapeutics, highlighting their transformative potential in clinical applications.

This study investigates the properties of a biocomposite film made from gelatin and sustainably sourced keratin incorporating chitosan-functionalized silver nanoparticles. Varied concentrations of chitosan solution (i.e., 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8%, and 1% w/v) were used in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles, and their particle size, distribution, and antibacterial and antifungal activities were evaluated against foodborne pathogens (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Rhizopus stolonifer, and Aspergillus niger). The addition of keratin enhanced the film's tensile strength to 16.64 MPa, a 403% increase compared to the gelatin film. However, incorporating 2% chitosan functionalized silver nanoparticles reduced the tensile strength to 9.07 MPa compared to the Gelatin-Keratin film. The distribution of nanoparticles and the interaction between the polymer chains were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The composite films also exhibited significant UV blocking efficiency, achieving 99% blockage of ultraviolet A and 100% blockage of ultraviolet B. The biocompatibility of the films was tested with MG63 cell lines, showing that silver nanoparticle concentrations (0.3%–2%) improved cell viability to 87% after 96 h of incubation. These findings reveal that the bionanocomposite films exhibit strong antibacterial and antifungal properties, along with excellent biocompatibility, making them ideal materials for wound healing and tissue engineering applications.

Microbial resistance is an expenditure for a country's economy as a whole as well as its health systems. Metal oxide nanoparticles play a role in overcoming microbial resistance to antibiotics. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a biopolymer that is friendly to the environment and has a wide range of economic uses, particularly in biomedicine. This work deals with the formulation of BC-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs) and polydopamine (DOP), which are presented with antimicrobial activity. Additionally, the mode of addition of the doped materials was studied using physicochemical analysis, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). Moreover, the topographical study used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX). The antimicrobial activity was studied and showed the efficiency of the BC/DOP/TiO₂NP composite against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli) strains. Additionally, the wound healing was examined on rats that had been purposely wounded. The results observed that the mode of addition contributed to the molecular structure of the formulated BC-doped samples according to the physicochemical and topographical analysis. Moreover, the BC/DOP/TiO₂NP composite enhanced wound healing for about 95% closure by Day 14 compared to 50% in the control group. Based on the results, we can suggest BC/DOP/TiO₂NP as an excellent candidate for wound dressings.

In this study, an efficient method to prepare antibacterial hydrogel from natural resources was carried out. The extraction of mangosteen rind was made. Silver nanoparticle was introduced to the hydrogel through the reduction of AgNO₃ with the mangosteen rind extract. Hydrogels were prepared through graft-copolymerization of acrylic acid on cellulose in the presence of ammonium persulfate as initiator, followed by crosslinking with N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide. The characterization of components, structure, and properties of the rind extract and the hydrogels was carried out. The solvent mixture of water:ethanol 1:2 (v/v) was the most suitable solvent for the extraction of mangosteen rind. The silver nanoparticle was found to form a strong interaction with the composition of the hydrogel, which resulted in the improvement of the thermal property and the sterilization of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. When the silver content was 9.7 ± 0.2 wt%, the hydrogel achieved the highest thermal property and antibacterial activity.

This study focused on the development of wound dressings. Plant active ingredients such as clover, chickweed, chamomile, garlic, liverwort, bitter melon, pine resin, marigold (Calendula officinalis), and St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) were reinforced with polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymers, and nanofiber membranes were produced by electrospinning. As a result of the analyses, FTIR confirmed the presence of polymer and active ingredient functional groups in the composite membranes; softening and shifting were observed in the peaks. In the FEGSEM analysis, a thin and regular nanofiber structure was obtained in the S12 membrane in the range of 150–500 nm. In the tensile test, the tensile strength of the S12 sample was measured as 25.89 MPa, and this strength was associated with the homogeneous distribution and thinning of the fibers. In the mesenchymal stem cell analysis, cell viability was determined as 98%, and cell death was determined as 2% for the S12 membrane at the end of 72 h. The results show that the S12 composite membrane can be used as a biomaterial with ideal properties in wound healing applications.

One way to contribute to sustainable food systems is to develop ecological processes to prepare ingredients that deliver bioactive compounds. In this study, we used cold plasma (CP) and ultrasound (US) as alternative methods to produce inclusion complexes (ICs) of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) with orange and clove essential oils. Further, the performance of starch-based active edible coatings containing ICs on perishable foods like mushrooms was assessed. CP and US treatments allowed the essential oil molecules to enter the hydrophobic cavity of the β-CD, leading to rhomboidal particles and clusters. The addition of ICs decreases the amount of moisture in starch-based active edible coatings, promoting high barrier property against water vapor (from 3.5 E-05 to 2.18 E-05 g/m s Pa) and low moisture content in their monolayer (Xm) (from 4.40 to 10.124 g water/100 g.d.s) since the hydrophobic components (terpenes and phenolics) of essential oil decreased the number of active sites to bind water molecules. These coatings reduce the weight loss of mushrooms (from 72% to 53%) under storage conditions. Further investigation through life cycle assessment and eco-efficiency analysis will be useful in determining whether cold plasma and ultrasound are green technologies for obtaining cost-effective ICs for coating production. The results could be of interest to those who are looking to develop ICs by CP and US to enhance edible coatings functionality for the food packaging field.

Based on the combination of poly (urea-formaldehyde) (UF), Sulfate of Potash-Magnesia (Sul-Po-Mag) fertilizer (2MgSO₄·K₂SO₄), and Date Kernel Seed (DS), a novel slow-release fertilizer in the form of granules called UF/DS/Sul-Po-Mag composite was introduced. The IR, DSC, TG, and X-ray spectra were used to characterize the synthesized composite. Characterizations revealed that the new fertilizer had good compatibility and strong hydrogen-bond interactions with improved mechanical and slow-release properties. An aqueous medium and soil incubation studies (up to 70 days) were used to examine the slow-release behavior. Over time, the accessible SO4⁻², K⁺, and Mg⁺² contents showed significantly lower SO4⁻², K⁺, and Mg⁺² losses than conventional fertilizer, even for low-polymerized materials. The fertilizer composite proved significant antimicrobial activity against all tested pathogens using the broth dilution technique. The minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) for tested bacteria and yeasts was 20 mg, while the maximum inhibition concentration (MAC) ranges from 40 to 60 mg. On the other hand, MIC for tested filamentous fungi was 100 mg, while MAC was 200–500 mg. These antimicrobial properties against harmful microbes and nutritional contents would enhance the growth of beneficial microorganisms and maintain good equilibrium in the microbial community.