Is the carotenoid production from Phaffia rhodozyma yeast genuinely sustainable? a comprehensive analysis of biocompatibility, environmental assessment, and techno-economic constraints.

Microorganisms, such as yeasts, filamentous fungi, bacteria, and microalgae, have gained significant attention due to their potential in producing commercially valuable natural carotenoids. In recent years, Phaffia rhodozyma yeasts have emerged as intriguing non-conventional sources of carotenoids, particularly astaxanthin and ß-carotene. However, the shift from academic exploration to effective industrial implementation has been challenging to achieve. This study aims to bridge this gap by assessing various scenarios for carotenoid production and recovery. It explores the use of ionic liquids (ILs) and bio-based solvents (ethanol) to ensure safe extraction. The evaluation includes a comprehensive analysis involving Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), biocompatibility assessment, and Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) of two integrated technologies that utilize choline-based ILs and ethanol (EtOH) for astaxanthin (+ß-carotene) recovery from P. rhodozyma cells. This work evaluates the potential sustainability of integrating these alternative solvents within a yeast-based bioeconomy.

Chitosan surface modification modulates the mucoadhesive, permeation and anti-angiogenic properties of gellan gum/bevacizumab nanoparticles.

Bevacizumab (BVZ) was the first monoclonal antibody approved by the FDA and has shown an essential advance in the antitumor therapy of colorectal cancer (CRC), however, the systemic action of BVZ administered intravenously can trigger several adverse effects. The working hypothesis of the study was to promote the modulation of the mucoadhesion properties and permeability of the BVZ through the formation of nanoparticles (NPs) with gellan gum (GG) with subsequent surface modification with chitosan (CS). NPs comprising BVZ and GG were synthesized through polyelectrolyte complexation, yielding spherical nanosized particles with an average diameter of 264.0 ± 2.75 nm and 314.0 ± 0.01 nm, polydispersity index of 0.182 ± 0.01 e 0.288 ± 0.01, and encapsulation efficiency of 29.36 ± 0.67 e 60.35 ± 0.27 mV, for NPs without (NP_BVZ) and with surface modification (NP_BVZ + CS). The results showed a good ability of nanoparticles with surface modification to modulate the NPs biological properties.

Cytokines as an important player in the context of CAR-T cell therapy for cancer: Their role in tumor immunomodulation, manufacture, and clinical implications.

CAR-T cell therapies have been recognized as one of the most advanced and efficient strategies to treat patients with hematologic malignancies. However, similar results have not been observed for the treatment of solid tumors. One of the explanations is the fact that tumors have extremely hostile microenvironments for the infiltration and effector activity of T-cells, mainly due to the presence of highly suppressive cytokines, hypoxia, and reactive oxygen species. Taking advantage of cytokines functionally, new fourth-generation CAR constructs have been developed to target tumor cells and additionally release cytokines that can contribute to the cytotoxicity of T-cells. The manufacturing process, including the use of cytokines in the expansion and differentiation of T cells, is also discussed. Finally, the clinical aspects and the influence of cytokines on the clinical condition of patients, such as cytokine release syndrome, who receive treatment with CAR-T cells are addressed. Therefore, this review aims to highlight how important cytokines are as one of the major players of cell therapy.

Simplification of the analysis of dry matter in fluid milk / Simplificação da análise de matéria seca em leite fluído / Simplificación del análisis de materia seca en leche fluida

This study aims to evaluate a simpler methodology for determination of dry matter in three types of milk. The treatments consisted of three methodologies: AOAC (Association of Official Agricultural Chemists), characterized by the drying in porcelain capsules and pre-heating; use of analytical sand in the process of drying, as well as a simplified methodology characterized by drying in Petri dishes without analytical sand and pre-heating proceeding. The statistical analysis was performed with F test (5% significance level), Pearson's correlation and Lin's concordance correlation coefficient. All methodologies showed precision and accuracy in the measurement of the dry matter in milk, however, the simplified methodology was superior in material savings and shorter time consumption for the analysis.(AU)

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar metodologia simplificada de determinação de matéria seca em três tipos de leite. Os tratamentos consistiram de três metodologias: AOAC (Association of Official Agricultural Chemists), caracterizada pela secagem em cápsulas de porcelana e pré-secagem; uso de areia analítica no processo de secagem e utilização de metodologia simplificada baseada no uso de placas de Petri com secagem direta em estufa, sem o uso de areia analítica e procedimento de pré-secagem. A análise estatística envolveu o teste F ao nível de significância de 5%, correlação de Pearson e coeficiente de concordância de Lin. Todas as metodologias mostraram acurácia na determinação da matéria seca para todos os tipos de leite, mas a metodologia simplificada foi superior em economia e menor tempo de análise.(AU)

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la metodología simplificada de determinación de materia seca en tres tipos de leche. Los tratamientos consistieron en tres metodologías: AOAC (Association of Official Agricultural Chemists), caracterizada por pre-secado y secado en cápsulas de porcelana; uso de arena analítica en el proceso de secado y utilización de metodología simplificada basada en el uso de placas de Petri con secado directo en invernadero, sin el uso de arena analítica y procedimiento de pre secado. El análisis estadístico involucró la prueba F al nivel de significancia del 5%, correlación de Pearson y coeficiente de concordancia de Lin. Todas las metodologías mostraron precisión en la determinación de la materia seca para todos los tipos de leche, pero la metodología simplificada fue superior en economía y menor tiempo de análisis.(AU)