Gelatin-Coated TiO2/Pd Hybrid: A Potentially Useful Nanomaterial to Enhance Antibacterial and Anticancer Properties.

Hybrid nanomaterials have attracted considerable interest in biomedicine because of their fascinating characteristics and wide range of applications in targeted drug delivery, antibacterial activity, and cancer treatment. This study developed a gelatin-coated Titanium oxide/palladium (TiO2/Pd) hybrid nanomaterial to enhance the antibacterial and anticancer capabilities. Morphological and structural analyses were conducted to characterize the synthesized hybrid nanomaterial. The surface texture of the hybrid nanomaterials was examined by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The FE-SEM image revealed the bulk of the spherically shaped particles and the aggregated tiny granules. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) revealed Ti, Pd, C, and O. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed the gelatin-coated TiO2/Pd to be in the anatase form. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy examined the interactions among the gelatin-coated TiO2/Pd nanoparticles. The gelatin-coated TiO2/Pd nanomaterials exhibited high antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (22 mm) and Bacillus subtilis (17 mm) compared to individual nanoparticles, confirming the synergistic effect. More importantly, the gelatin-coated TiO2/Pd hybrid nanomaterial exhibited remarkable cytotoxic effects on A549 lung cancer cells which shows a linear increase with the concentration of the nanomaterial. The hybrid nanomaterials displayed higher toxicity to cancer cells than the nanoparticles alone. Furthermore, the cytotoxic activity against human cancer cells was verified by the generation of reactive oxygen species and nuclear damage. Therefore, gelatin-coated TiO2/Pd nanomaterials have potential uses in treating cancer and bacterial infections.

Phytochemical analysis and antioxidant potential of Mondia whitei and Guibourtia tessmannii against H2O2-induced cytotoxicity in PC3 cells.

The management of oxidative stress-related disorders has garnered significant interest, particularly in the exploration of medicinal plants possessing potent antioxidant activities. This study was undertaken to evaluate the antioxidant activity of Mondia whitei (MW) and Guibourtia tessmannii (GT) against H2O2-induced cytotoxicity in PC3 cells. The phytochemical composition of MW and GT was determined by GC-MS analysis. Total phenolic (TP) and total flavonoid (TF) contents were quantified by Folin Ciocalteu and AlCl3 methods, respectively. The antioxidant potential of the extracts was determined using the DPPH and ABTS+ radicals scavenging method, as well as cupric and ferric reducing capacity assay. Moreover, all phytocompounds were docked against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) using ArgusLab, and results were analyzed using the BIOVIA Discovery Studio Visualizer 2021 client. MW and GT comprised 20 and 22 compounds, respectively. GT exhibited higher TP and TF contents (210.70 ± 12.7; 12.61 ± 1.3 GAE/g DW) compared to MW (132.59 ± 12.59; 5.53 ± 1.3 mg of GAE/g DW). Both MW and GT demonstrated substantial antioxidant activity, with GT proving to be more effective in preventing H2O2-induced cytotoxicity. For instance, MW and GT significantly (p < .001) increased the DPPH, ABTS+, and cupric activity, compared with the H2O2 group. All compounds identified in MW and GT exhibited a strong binding affinity against AChE and GST. Drug likeness and toxicity of all phytocompounds were under the acceptable norms of Lipinski's rule. In conclusion, these plants could be effective candidates for the management/treatment of oxidative stress-related disorders.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Enhancing antifungal and biocompatible efficacy of undecanoic acid through incorporation with chitosan-based nanoemulsion.

The management of invasive fungal infections in humans poses significant challenges due to the intricate nature of the treatment, which is both arduous and costly, necessitating routine diagnostic procedures. Consequently, this investigation aimed to formulate a chitosan-based nanoemulsion (CS NEMs) incorporating the antifungal agent undecanoic acid (UDA), characterizing these NEMs and assessing their antifungal efficacy against both filamentous and non-filamentous fungal pathogens. The CS-based UDA NEMs were synthesized by introducing the surfactant Triton X-100 and the stabilizer glycerol. Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and SEM demonstrated the CS-UDA NEMs with an average size of 145 nm and 164.5 ± 24 nm, respectively. The successful formation of CS-UDA NEMs was verified through FTIR and XRD. CS-UDA NEMs exhibited exceptional inhibition against Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, and Candida albicans with MFC of 500, 500, 250 and 250 µg/mL, respectively. Additionally, CS-UDA NEMs displayed comparatively lower antioxidant activity as determined by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays. Importantly, CS-UDA NEMs demonstrated no cytotoxic effects on NIH3T3 cells even at higher concentration (1000 µg/mL), as confirmed by cell viability and fluorescent staining assays. In conclusion, this study suggests that the developed CS-UDA NEMs hold promise as potent antifungal agents with diverse potential applications.

Development and Analysis of Silver Nitroprusside Nanoparticle-Incorporated Sodium Alginate Films for Banana Browning Prevention.

Banana (Musa acuminate) has been popular among consumers worldwide due to its rich nutrients and minerals. However, bananas are highly susceptible to the physical and biological factors that lead to postharvest loss during transportation and storage. In this work, novel sodium alginate (SA) films incorporated with silver nitroprusside nanoparticles (AgNNPs) were prepared to extend the shelf life of bananas through antibacterial and antioxidant coating. The results exhibited that AgNNPs were cubical and that their size was <500 nm, with metal composition being Ag and Fe. Additionally, the incorporation of AgNNPs in the SA film was seen in FE-SEM and zeta analysis, with an average size of about 365.6 nm. Furthermore, the functional and crystalline properties of AgNNPs were assessed through FTIR and XRD. Transmittance testing of the SA-AgNNPs films confirmed they have good UV barrier properties. SA-AgNNPs films exhibited excellent high antibacterial activity against foodborne pathogens including L. monocytogenes, S. enterica, and E. coli at the concentration of 500 µg/mL. Moreover, during the storage of bananas, SA-AgNNPs nanocomposite coatings act as a barrier to microbial contamination and slow down the ripening of bananas. As a result, compared with SA-coated and uncoated bananas, SA-AgNNPs-coated bananas exhibited the lowest weight loss and lowest total bacterial colonies, thus greatly extending their shelf life. Particularly when coated with SA-AgNNPs films, total bacterial colonies (TBC) in the banana peel and pulp were as low as 1.13 × 103 and 51 CUF/g on the ninth day of storage, respectively. Our work offers an efficient strategy to improve the quality of bananas during the postharvest period, with extensive applications in fruit preservation and food packing.

Synthesis of Starch-Based Ag2[Fe (CN)5NO] Nanoparticles for Utilization in Antibacterial and Wound-Dressing Applications.

Bacterial infections can lead to the formation of chronic wounds and delay the wound-healing process. Therefore, it is important to explore safe and efficient antimicrobial agents that have wound-healing and biocompatible properties. In this study, novel starch-fabricated silver nitroprusside nanoparticles (S-AgNP NPs) were prepared for biocompatible wound-healing applications. The study showed that S-AgNP NPs are spherical, with an average size of 356 ± 22.28 d. nm and zeta potential of -27.8 ± 2.80 mV, respectively. Furthermore, the FTIR and XRD results showed that S-AgNP NPs have functional groups and crystal structures from the silver nitroprusside nanoparticles (AgNP NPs) and starch. Additionally, S-AgNP NPs showed excellent bacterial and biofilm inhibition on B. cereus (15.6 µg/mL), L. monocytogenes (15.6 µg/mL), S. aureus (31.3 µg/mL), E. coli (31.3 µg/mL) and S. enterica (62.5 µg/mL). Moreover, S-AgNP NPs promoted cell migration and proliferation at a concentration of 62.5 µg/mL compared to AgNP NPs. Meanwhile, S-AgNP NPs had good biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity compared to AgNP NPs. Therefore, this study provided new ideas for the development of wound-healing agents with bacteriostatic properties in chronic wounds.

Multifunctional chitosan-bimetallic nanocarrier deliver 5-fluorouracil for enhanced treatment of pancreatic and triple-negative breast cancer.

This work aimed to prepare multifunctional aptamer-conjugated, photothermally responsive 5-fluorouracil (5fu)-loaded chitosan-bimetallic (Au/Pd) nanoparticles (APT-CS-5fu-Au/Pd NPs) for improved cytotoxicity in two cancer cell lines (PANC-1 and MDA-MD 231). The CS-5fu-Au/Pd NPs were polydispersed with a size of 34.43 ± 1.59 nm. FTIR analysis indicated the presence of CS, 5fu in CS-5fu-Au/Pd NPs. The 2 theta degrees in CS-5fu-Au/Pd NPs accounted for CS and Au/Pd. Additionally, AGE revealed the conjugation of APT in CS-5fu-Au/Pd NPs. The APT-CS-5fu-Au/Pd NPs (180 µg/mL) with NIR treatment increased the temperature to >50 °C. The optimized 5fu input was 0.075 % in CS-5fu-Au/Pd NPs, exhibiting a hydrodynamic size of 112.96 ± 17.23 nm, DEE of 64.2 ± 3.77 %, and DLE of 11.1 ± 0.65 %. A higher level of 5fu release (69.8 ± 2.78 %) was observed under pH 5.4 at 74 h. In conclusion, NIR-APT-CS-5fu-Au/Pd NPs did not cause toxicity to RBC and Egg CAM, but increased cytotoxicity in MDA-MB 231 and PANC-1 cells by triggering oxidative stress-mediated cell death.

In situ, synthesis of chitosan fabricated tellurium nanoparticles for improved antimicrobial and anticancer applications.

The emergence of antibiotic resistance has had a severe impact on human health and economic burdens, drawing attention to the development of novel antimicrobial therapies. Polymer-metal composites have shown evidence of therapeutic applications by exerting antimicrobial effects and delivering these antimicrobials with biocompatibility. Therefore, this study prepared and characterized chitosan (CS)-fabricated tellurium nanoparticles (Te NPs) for enhanced antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxicity applications. The CS-Te NPs were spherical, polydisperse, and distributed within the CS matrix with an average size of 37.48 ± 14.56 nm, as confirmed by TEM analysis. CS-Te NPs exhibited positive zeta potential in neutral (pH 7.0: 7.90 ± 1.86 mV) and acidic environment. XRD analysis confirmed the crystalline nature of CS-Te NPs, and these nanoparticles exhibited good thermal and less porosity. A higher release of Te ions occurred from CS-Te NPs at an acidic pH. Further, CS-Te NPs displayed stronger antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against E. coli and S. enterica. Furthermore, CS-Te NPs exhibited significant free radical scavenging activity against ABTS and DPPH free radicals. Moreover, these nanoparticles demonstrated cytotoxicity against cancerous cells (A549 and PC3 cells) when compared to normal cells (NIH3T3 cells). Therefore, this study suggests that CS-Te NPs could serve as a substantial therapeutic agent.

Metal nanoparticles and carbohydrate polymers team up to improve biomedical outcomes.

The convergence of carbohydrate polymers and metal nanoparticles (MNPs) holds great promise for biomedical applications. Researchers aim to exploit the capability of carbohydrate matrices to modulate the physicochemical properties of MNPs, promote their therapeutic efficiency, improve targeted drug delivery, and enhance their biocompatibility. Therefore, understanding various attributes of both carbohydrates and MNPs is the key to harnessing them for biomedical applications. The many distinct types of carbohydrate-MNP systems confer unique capabilities for drug delivery, wound healing, tissue engineering, cancer treatment, and even food packaging. Here, we introduce distinct physicochemical/biological properties of carbohydrates and MNPs, and discuss their potentials and shortcomings (alone and in combination) for biomedical applications. We then offer an overview on carbohydrate-MNP systems and how they can be utilized to improve biomedical outcomes. Last but not least, future perspectives toward the application of such systems are highlighted.

Unveiling the Structural Characteristics and Bioactivities of the Polysaccharides Extracted from Endophytic Penicillium sp.

Polysaccharides are abundantly present in fungi and are gaining recognition for their exceptional bioactivities. Hence, the present study aimed to extract intracellular polysaccharides (IPS-1 and IPS-2) from the endophytic Penicillium radiatolobatum and compare their physicochemical and bioactive attributes. The monosaccharide composition analysis revealed the existence of galactose, glucose, and mannose in both the IPS, while a trace amount of xylose was found in IPS-1. Further, FT-IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR analysis suggested that the IPS-2 was mainly composed of the ß-(1→4)-D-Galactose and ß-(1→4)-D-Glucose as the main chain, with the ß-(1→6)-D-mannose as branched chains. Compared to IPS-1, the IPS-2 showed higher antioxidant activities with an IC50 value of 108 ± 2.5 µg/mL, 272 ± 4.0 µg/mL, and 760 ± 5.0 µg/mL for ABTS+ scavenging, DPPH radical scavenging, and ferric reducing power, respectively. In addition, the IPS-2 inhibited the viability of prostate cancer (PC-3) cells (IC50; 435 ± 3.0 µg/mL) via apoptosis associated with mitochondrial membrane potential collapse and altered morphological features, which was revealed by cellular staining and flow cytometric analysis. Moreover, no apparent cytotoxic effects were seen in IPS-2-treated (1000 µg/mL) non-cancerous cells (HEK-293 and NIH3T3). Overall, the findings of this study suggest that P. radiatolobatum could be a potent source of polysaccharides with promising antioxidant and anticancer activity.

Research progress in green synthesis of manganese and manganese oxide nanoparticles in biomedical and environmental applications - A review.

Nanomaterials and nanotechnology have proven unassailable positions for environmental remediation and medicine. Currently, global environmental pollution and public health problems are increasing and need to be urgently addressed. Manganese (Mn) is one of the essential metal elements for plants and animals, it is necessary to integrate with nanotechnology. Mn and Mn oxide (MnO) nanoparticles (NPs) have applications in dye degradation, biomedicine, electrochemical sensors, plant and animal growth, and catalysis. However, the current research is limited, especially in terms of optimal synthesis of Mn and MnO NPs, separation, purification conditions, and the development of potential application areas is too basic and do not support by in-depth studies. Hence, this review comprehensively discusses the classification, green synthesis methods, and applications of Mn and MnO NPs in biomedical, environmental, and other fields and gives a perspective for the future.

Biodegradation of dibutyl phthalate in liquid fermentation by endophytic Penicillium species and the toxicity evaluation of the by-product.

The production and use of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) are increasing, and the resulting health and environmental problems are of concern. Therefore, the present study focused on the biodegradation of DBP in liquid fermentation using endophytic Penicillium species and evaluated the cytotoxic, ecotoxic, and phytotoxic effects of the fermented filtrate (by-product). Higher biomass yield was observed in fungal strains grown in DBP-containing media (DM) compared to DBP-free (control) media (CM). The highest esterase activity was observed at 240 h during fermentation with Penicillium radiatolobatum (PR) grown in DM (PR-DM). As per gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) results, the PR degraded 99.986 % of DBP after 288 h of fermentation. Furthermore, compared to DM treatment, the fermented filtrate of PR-DM demonstrated negligible toxicity in HEK-293 cells. Besides, the treatment of PR-DM in Artemia salina indicated >80 % viability and showed a trivial ecotoxic effect. However, compared to the control, the fermented filtrate of PR-DM treatment resulted in ~90 % of the roots and shoots growth of Zea mays seeds, indicating no phytotoxicity. Overall, the findings of this study suggested that PR can degrade DBP in liquid fermentation without generating toxic byproducts.

Bimetallic (Ag and MgO) nanoparticles, Aloe vera extracts loaded xanthan gum nanocomposite for enhanced antibacterial and in-vitro wound healing activity.

We prepared nanocomposite (XG-AVE-Ag/MgO NCs) using the bimetallic Ag/MgO NPs, Aloe vera extract (AVE), and biopolymer (xanthan gum (XG)) to archive a synergetic antibacterial and wound healing activity. The changes in XRD peaks at 20° of XG-AVE-Ag/MgO NCs indicated the XG encapsulation. The XG-AVE-Ag/MgO NCs showed the zeta potential and zeta size of 151.3 ± 3.14 d.nm and -15.2 ± 1.08 mV with a PDI of 0.265 while TEM showed an average size of 61.19 ± 3.89 nm. The EDS confirmed the co-existence of Ag, Mg, carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen in NCs. XG-AVE-Ag/MgO NCs displayed higher antibacterial activity in terms of zone of inhibition, at 15.00 ± 0.12 mm for B. cereus and 14.50 ± 0.85 mm for E. coli. Moreover, NCs exhibited MICs of 2.5 µg/mL for E. coli, and 0.62 µg/mL for B. cereus. The in vitro cytotoxicity and hemolysis assays indicated the non-toxic properties of XG-AVE-Ag/MgO NCs. The higher wound closure activity was observed with the treatment of XG-AVE-Ag/MgO NCs (91.19 ± 1.87 %) compared to the control, untreated group (68.68 ± 3.54 %) at 48 h of incubation. These findings revealed that XG-AVE-Ag/MgO NCs was promising, non-toxic, antibacterial, and wound-healing agent that deserved further in-vivo studies.

Phytochemical profiling, in vitro antioxidants, and antidiabetic efficacy of ethyl acetate fraction of Lespedeza cuneata on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

In the recent past, phytomolecules are exponentially applied in discovering the antidiabetic drug due to less adverse effects. This work screened the active solvent fraction of Lespedeza cuneata based on the phytochemical, enzyme inhibition, and antioxidant properties. The antioxidant efficacy of the different fractions of the L. cuneata was assessed by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), ferric reducing power, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays. The digestive enzyme (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) inhibitory activity was also evaluated. The phytochemical composition of ethyl acetate fraction of L. cuneata (Lc-EAF) was studied by UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. The effect of Lc-EAF treatments on glucose uptake was studied in insulin resistance HepG2 cells (IR-HepG2). Further, the antidiabetic effect of Lc-EAF in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice were demonstrated. Ethyl acetate, hexane, and methanol fractions of the L. cuneata showed notable antioxidant, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibitory properties. Among the fractions, Lc-EAF was found to be the most potent. The Lc-EAF exhibited an IC50 of 205.32 ± 23.47 µg/mL and 105.32 ± 13.93 µg/mL for α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition, respectively. In addition, 75 µg/mL of Lc-EAF exposure enhanced glucose uptake (68.23%) in IR-HepG2 cells. In vivo study indicated that treatment of Lc-EAF (100 mg/kg b.wt) maintained the blood glucose level through reduced insulin level while improving the lipid profile, hepatic, and renal markers. These findings suggest that Lc-EAF could be considered a prominent source for antidiabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-ROS potentials.

Adsorption of methyl orange dye by SiO2 mesoporous nanoparticles: adsorption kinetics and eco-toxicity assessment in Zea mays sprout and Artemia salina.

Herein, we prepared the silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) by a modified Stober's method for methyl orange (MO) removal. The SiO2 NPs were found to be spherical with a zeta size of 152.5 d. nm, a PDI of 0.377, and a zeta potential of -5.59 mV. The effect of different parameters (initial dye concentration, reaction time, temperature, and pH) on the adsorption of MO by SiO2 NPs was determined. The adsorption pattern of SiO2 NPs was highly fitted with the Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich-Peteroen, and Temkin isotherm models. The highest adsorption rate was recorded at 69.40 mg/g of SiO2 NPs. Furthermore, the toxic effect of before and after removal of MO in aqueous solution was tested in terms of phytotoxicity and acute toxicity. The SiO2 NPs treated MO dye solution were not exhibited significant toxicity to corn seeds and Artemia salina. These results indicated that SiO2 NPs can be used for the adsorption of MO.

Enhancing the Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Wound Healing Effects of Melaleuca alternifolia Oil by Microencapsulating It in Chitosan-Sodium Alginate Microspheres.

In this study, antibacterial and antioxidant molecules-rich Melaleuca alternifolia oil (tea tree oil (TTO)) loaded chitosan (CS) based nanoemulsions (NEMs) were prepared and encapsulated by sodium alginate (SA) microsphere for antibacterial wound dressing. CS-TTO NEMs were prepared by oil-in-water emulsion technique, and the nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) confirmed that the CS-TTO NEMs had an average particle size of 89.5 nm. Further, the SA-CS-TTO microsphere was confirmed through SEM analysis with an average particle size of 0.76 ± 0.10 µm. The existence of TTO in CS NEMs and SA encapsulation was evidenced through FTIR analysis. The XRD spectrum proved the load of TTO and SA encapsulation with CS significantly decreased the crystalline properties of the CS-TTO and SA-CS-TTO microsphere. The stability of TTO was increased by the copolymer complex, as confirmed through thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Furthermore, TTO was released from the CS-SA complex in a sustained manner and significantly inhibited the bacterial pathogens observed under confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). In addition, CS-TTO (100 µg/mL) showed antioxidant potential (>80%), thereby increasing the DPPH and ABTS free radicals scavenging ability of SA-CS-TTO microspheres. Moreover, CS and SA-CS-TTO microsphere exhibited negligible cytotoxicity and augmented the NIH3T3 cell proliferation confirmed in the in vitro scratch assay. This study concluded that the SA-CS-TTO microsphere could be an antibacterial and antioxidant wound dressing.

Ampicillin-resistant bacterial pathogens targeted chitosan nano-drug delivery system (CS-AMP-P-ZnO) for combinational antibacterial treatment.

Drug-resistant microorganisms are defeated using combinational drug delivery systems based on biopolymer chitosan (CS) and metal nanoparticles. Hence, PEGylated zinc oxide nanoparticles (P-ZnO NPs) decorated chitosan-based nanoparticles (CS NPs) were prepared to deliver ampicillin (AMP) for improved antibacterial activity. In comparison to ZnO NPs, P-ZnO NPs exhibit less aggregation and more stable rod morphologies in TEM. The size of the P-ZnO NPs decreased and was engulfed by the spherical CS-AMP NPs. The zeta potential of the CS-AMP-P-ZnO NPs was determined to be -32.93 mV and the hydrodynamic size to be 210.2 d. nm. Further, DEE and DLE of CS-AMP (2.0:0.2 w/w) showed 79.60 ± 2.62 % and 15.14 ± 2.11 %, respectively. The cumulative AMP release was observed at >50 % at 48 h at pH 5.4 and 7.4. Additionally, when compared to AMP, CS-AMP-P-ZnO NPs had better antibacterial activity against E. coli, due to the alternation of cell membrane permeability by CS and ZnO NPs. Moreover, the hemolytic properties of ZnO NPs were attenuated because of PEGylation and CS. Furthermore, due to the biocompatible behavior of CS, CS-AMP-P-ZnO NPs did not exhibit toxicity on HEK-293 cells, erythrocytes, and chick embryos. Hence, this study concludes that CS-AMP-P-ZnO NPs could be a promising antibacterial agent.

Comparative Analysis of the Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Antibacterial, Cytoprotective Potential and Metabolite Profile of Two Endophytic Penicillium spp.

The current study assessed the metabolite abundance, alpha (α)-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory, antioxidant, and antibacterial activity of the ethyl acetate extract (EAE) of endophytic Penicillium lanosum (PL) and Penicillium radiatolobatum (PR). A higher extract yield was found in EAE-PR with a total phenolic content of 119.87 ± 3.74 mg of GAE/g DW and a total flavonoid content of 16.26 ± 1.95 mg of QE/g DW. The EAE-PR inhibited α-amylase and scavenged ABTS+ radicals with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 362.5 and 37.5 µg/mL, respectively. Compared with EAE-PL, EAE-PR exhibited higher antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Treatment with EAE-PR (1000 µg/mL) did not cause significant toxicity in the HEK-293 cell line compared to the control cells (p < 0.05). EAE-PR treatments (250-1000 µg/mL) showed higher cytoprotective effects toward H2O2-stressed HEK-293 cells compared with ascorbic acid (AA). The UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of thiophene A (C13H8S), limonene (C10H16), and phenylacetic acid (C8H8O2) in EAE-PR. Furthermore, these compounds demonstrated substantial interactions with diabetes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase), oxidative stress (NADPH-oxidase), and bacteria (D-alanine D-alanine ligase)-related enzymes/proteins evidenced in silico molecular docking analysis.

Extraction of Chitosan with Different Physicochemical Properties from Cunninghamella echinulata (Thaxter) Thaxter for Biological Applications.

The conventional production of chitosan from crustaceans has many limitations. An attempt was made to optimize chitosan production from fungi. Soil fungi were isolated, identified, and screened for high glucosamine content. Among the fungal isolates tested, Cunninghamella echinulata showed high glucosamine content. The biomass production of C. echinulata was standardized under different growth parameters. The physicochemical characterization of derived chitosan isolates was distinctive and diverged as supported by the FT-IR, molecular mass distribution, degree of deacetylation, and crystallinity. Molecular mass distribution ranged from 1 to 9 mers. The degree of deacetylation was observed to be maximum in C6 (80.88%), which increased with the increase in alkali concentration. In the chitosan isolate, C1 was non-toxic to Vero cells up to 250 µg/mL. In the physicochemical and functional properties of chitosan isolate, C1 was found to be unique and diverse; further detailed investigations on this isolate might help to develop some biomaterials with improved biocompatibility.

Polysaccharides of Weissella cibaria Act as a Prebiotic to Enhance the Probiotic Potential of Lactobacillus rhamnosus.

This work aimed to investigate the effect of EPS (extracellular polysaccharide) of Weissella cibaria as a prebiotic to promote the growth and antibacterial properties of Lactobacillus rhamnosus. The morphological, growth behavior, and antibacterial properties of L. rhamnosus were determined in MRSB (de Man Rogosa Sharpe broth) supplemented with different concentrations of EPS (0.1-2%). The results revealed that the incorporation of the EPS (2%) in MRSA improved the bacterial growth in terms of colony-forming unit (CFU, 0.7 × 105 CFU/mL) compared to L. rhamnosus grown in bare MRSA. The SEM observation revealed that EPS incorporation in the MRSB culture media does not affect the morphological properties of L. rhamnosus. Moreover, it was confirmed that the extract of probiotics cultured in MRSA supplemented with EPS (2%) was exhibited strong antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against targeted pathogens. This L. rhamnosus extract was found to be biocompatible evidanced by erythrocyte hemolysis assay. These results confirmed that EPS regulates the growth of probiotics, resists pathogen infection, and biocompatibility.

Application of hyaluronic acid in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and nanomedicine: A review.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) plays a vital role in cellular processes and its contribution to physical and immunological barriers is considered to be an important property for the formulation of modern therapeutics. With the increasing demand for non-toxic and targeted therapy, HA-based materials could be utilized for biomedical applications due to their tendency to bio-mimic the hosts. Moreover, HA is a versatile compound in the fabrication of HA-based products such as hydrogels, nanofibers, and 3D materials. These have been implemented in various medical fields, such as bone and tissue regeneration, topical gels for wound healing, and cancer treatment via HA-loaded drug delivery approaches. Herein, we have discussed the characteristics of HA and its significance in drug delivery in addition to synergistic effects with other therapeutic compounds in the fields of nanomedicine, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.