A Microsphere Immunoassay for the Quantitative Detection of Antigens in Cell Culture Supernatant.

Quantitative immunoassays, such as the traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), are used to determine concentrations of an antigen in a matrix of unknown antigen concentration. Magnetic immunoassays, such as the Luminex xMAP technology, allow for the simultaneous detection of multiple analytes and offer heightened sensitivity, specificity, low sample volume requirements, and high-throughput capabilities. Here, we describe a quantitative immunoassay using the Luminex MAGPIX® System to determine the antigen concentration from liquid samples with unknown concentrations. In detail, we describe a newly developed assay for determining production yields of Drosophila S2-produced Marburg virus (MARV) glycoprotein in insect-cell-culture-derived supernatant. The potential applications of this assay could extend to the quantification of viral antigens in fluids derived from both in vitro and in vivo models infected with live MARV, thereby providing additional applications for virological research.

Environment-responsive dendrobium polysaccharide hydrogel embedding manganese microsphere as a post-operative adjuvant to boost cascaded immune cycle against melanoma.

Rationale: Surgical resection is a primary treatment for solid tumors, but high rates of tumor recurrence and metastasis post-surgery present significant challenges. Manganese (Mn2+), known to enhance dendritic cell-mediated cancer immunotherapy by activating the cGAS-STING pathway, has potential in post-operative cancer management. However, achieving prolonged and localized delivery of Mn2+ to stimulate immune responses without systemic toxicity remains a challenge. Methods: We developed a post-operative microenvironment-responsive dendrobium polysaccharide hydrogel embedded with Mn2+-pectin microspheres (MnP@DOP-Gel). This hydrogel system releases Mn2+-pectin microspheres (MnP) in response to ROS, and MnP shows a dual effect in vitro: promoting immunogenic cell death and activating immune cells (dendritic cells and macrophages). The efficacy of MnP@DOP-Gel as a post-surgical treatment and its potential for immune activation were assessed in both subcutaneous and metastatic melanoma models in mice, exploring its synergistic effect with anti-PD1 antibody. Result: MnP@DOP-Gel exhibited ROS-responsive release of MnP, which could exert dual effects by inducing immunogenic cell death of tumor cells and activating dendritic cells and macrophages to initiate a cascade of anti-tumor immune responses. In vivo experiments showed that the implanted MnP@DOP-Gel significantly inhibited residual tumor growth and metastasis. Moreover, the combination of MnP@DOP-Gel and anti-PD1 antibody displayed superior therapeutic potency in preventing either metastasis or abscopal brain tumor growth. Conclusions: MnP@DOP-Gel represents a promising drug-free strategy for cancer post-operative management. Utilizing this Mn2+-embedding and ROS-responsive delivery system, it regulates surgery-induced immune responses and promotes sustained anti-tumor responses, potentially increasing the effectiveness of surgical cancer treatments.

Preparation of Microsponge Drug Delivery System (MSDDS) Followed by a Scale-Up Approach.

In 1987, Won invented the solid-phase porous microsphere (MS), which stores bioactive compounds in many interconnected voids. Spherical particles (5-300 µm), MS, may form clusters of smaller spheres, resulting in many benefits. The current investigation focussed on gel-encased formulation, which can be suitable for dermal usage. First, quasi-emulsion (w/o/w) solvent evaporation was used to prepare 5-fluorouracil (5 FU) MS particles. The final product was characterized (SEM shows porous structure, FTIR and DSC showed drug compatibility with excipients, and gel formulation is shear-thinning) and further scaled up using the 8-fold method. Furthermore, CCD (Central Composite Design) was implemented to obtain the optimized results. After optimizing the conditions, including the polymer (600 mg, ethyl cellulose (EC), eudragit RS 100 (ERS)), stirring speed (1197 rpm), and surfactant concentration (2% w/v), we achieved the following results: optimal yield (63%), mean particle size (152 µm), drug entrapment efficiency (76%), and cumulative drug release (74.24% within 8 h). These findings are promising for industrial applications and align with the objectives outlined in UN Sustainable Development Goals 3, 9, and 17, as well as the goals of the G20 initiative.

Development, Optimization and Evaluation of Mucoadhesive Microspheres of Amoxicillin for the Treatment of H.Pylori by Full Factorial Design.

OBJECTIVE: This work is aimed to formulate and evaluate Mucoadhesive Microspheres contain Amoxicillin for the effective use in the treatment of H.Pylori. METHODS: Microspheres were prepared using Emulsification-cross linking technique. To this guar gum (GG) and sodium alginate (SA) was dissolved in 200 ml of water and allowed to swell for 24 h at room temperature. And separately chitosan (CH) was dissolved in 2% (v/v) glacial acetic acid and this also kept for 24 h to swell or dissolve properly. After 24 h this swelled mixture was mixed under magnetic stirrer (Remi, India) at specific stirring rate for 1 h in order to find homogeneous mass of both the gum. Then slurry of chitosan also was homogenized for half an hour. The drug, Amoxicillin (1g) was then added to the chitosan solution and mixed homogeneously. RESULTS: The aim of the study was to formulate and evaluate microspheres, for SR of the chosen drug. The particle size of microspheres was in the range of 200-500 µ, maximum mucoadhesive property observed was 57.41% for Optimized formulation F-9, Drug release 68.52% till 8 h, and the maximum entrapment was 94.87% for F-9 formulation. The work also aims to study various parameters affecting the behavior of microspheres in oral dosage form. CONCLUSION: Drugs with short half life that are absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) are eliminated rapidly from the blood flow. To avoid this, the oral SR was developed as this formulation released the drug slowly into the GIT and maintained a stable drug concentration in the serum for a longer duration of time.

Nanofibrous Microspheres: A Biomimetic Platform for Bone Tissue Regeneration.

Bone, a fundamental constituent of the human body, is a vital scaffold for support, protection, and locomotion, underscoring its pivotal role in maintaining skeletal integrity and overall functionality. However, factors such as trauma, disease, or aging can compromise bone structure, necessitating effective strategies for regeneration. Traditional approaches often lack biomimetic environments conducive to efficient tissue repair. Nanofibrous microspheres (NFMS) present a promising biomimetic platform for bone regeneration by mimicking the native extracellular matrix architecture. Through optimized fabrication techniques and the incorporation of active biomolecular components, NFMS can precisely replicate the nanostructure and biochemical cues essential for osteogenesis promotion. Furthermore, NFMS exhibit versatile properties, including tunable morphology, mechanical strength, and controlled release kinetics, augmenting their suitability for tailored bone tissue engineering applications. NFMS enhance cell recruitment, attachment, and proliferation, while promoting osteogenic differentiation and mineralization, thereby accelerating bone healing. This review highlights the pivotal role of NFMS in bone tissue engineering, elucidating their design principles and key attributes. By examining recent preclinical applications, we assess their current clinical status and discuss critical considerations for potential clinical translation. This review offers crucial insights for researchers at the intersection of biomaterials and tissue engineering, highlighting developments in this expanding field.

Nano-immuno-conjugates inspired by hydrophilic perovskite fluorescent spheres and magnetic assisted for detection of hepatitis B surface antigen.

The rampant hepatitis B virus (HBV) seriously endangers human health, and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is its early diagnostic marker. Therefore, it is crucial to construct a fast and highly sensitive HBsAg detection method. Based on high-efficiency magnetic separation technology and fluorescent composite material labelling technology, an accurate, fast and sensitive fluorescent immunosensing system for HBsAg detection was developed. Immunomagnetic beads constructed from carboxyl-functionalized Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4-COOH) with excellent magnetic response performance were used as efficient capture carriers for HBsAg. Immunofluorescence composite microspheres constructed based on ultra-stable polystyrene-coated CsPbBr3 perovskite nanocrystals (CPB@PSAA) with high hydrophilic properties, were excellent fluorescent markers for HBsAg. Using this sensitive sandwich fluorescence sensing system a good linear relationship within the range of 0.2-15 ng/mL was established between HBsAg concentration and fluorescence intensity with a limit of detection (LOD) of  0.05 ng/mL. The system obtained satisfactory results when tested on real human serum samples. The magnetic-assisted fluorescence immune-sandwich sensor system has broad application prospects in biomedicine such as rapid and early diagnosis and effective prevention of infectious diseases.

Real-Time pH Sensor in Bacterial Microenvironments Using Liquid Crystal Core-Shell Microspheres.

It is well-known that the bacterial microenvironment imposes restrictions on the growth and behavior of bacteria. The localized monitoring of microenvironmental factors is appreciated when consulting bacterial adaptation and behavior in the presence of chemical or mechanical stimuli. Herein, we developed a novel liquid crystal (LC) biosensor in a microsphere configuration for real-time 3D monitoring of the bacteria microenvironment, which was implemented by a microfluidic chip. As a proof of concept, a LC gel (LC-Gel) microsphere biosensor was prepared and employed in the localized pH changes of bacteria by observing the configuration change of LC under polarized optical microscopy. Briefly, the microsphere biosensor was constructed in core-shell configuration, wherein the core contained LCE7 (a nematic LC) doped with 4-pentylbiphenyl-4'-carboxylic acid (PBA), and the shell encapsulated the bacteria. The protonation of carboxyl functional groups of the PBA induced a change in charge density on the surface of LCE7 and the orientation of E7 molecules, resulting in the transitions of the LC nucleus from axial to bipolar. The developed LC-Gel microspheres pH sensor exhibited its dominant performance on localized pH real-time sensing with a resolution of 0.1. An intriguing observation from the prepared pH biosensor was that the diverse bacteria impelled distinct acidifying or alkalizing effects. Overall, the facile LC-Gel microsphere biosensor not only provides a versatile tool for label-free, localized pH monitoring but also opens avenues for investigating the effects of chemical and mechanical stimuli on cellular metabolism within bacterial microenvironments.

Development of a local controlled release system for therapeutic proteins in the treatment of skeletal muscle injuries and diseases.

The present study aims to develop and characterize a controlled-release delivery system for protein therapeutics in skeletal muscle regeneration following an acute injury. The therapeutic protein, a membrane-GPI anchored protein called Cripto, was immobilized in an injectable hydrogel delivery vehicle for local administration and sustained release. The hydrogel was made of poly(ethylene glycol)-fibrinogen (PEG-Fibrinogen, PF), in the form of injectable microspheres. The PF microspheres exhibited a spherical morphology with an average diameter of approximately 100 micrometers, and the Cripto protein was uniformly entrapped within them. The release rate of Cripto from the PF microspheres was controlled by tuning the crosslinking density of the hydrogel, which was varied by changing the concentration of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEG-DA) crosslinker. In vitro experiments confirmed a sustained-release profile of Cripto from the PF microspheres for up to 27 days. The released Cripto was biologically active and promoted the in vitro proliferation of mouse myoblasts. The therapeutic effect of PF-mediated delivery of Cripto in vivo was tested in a cardiotoxin (CTX)-induced muscle injury model in mice. The Cripto caused an increase in the in vivo expression of the myogenic markers Pax7, the differentiation makers eMHC and Desmin, higher numbers of centro-nucleated myofibers and greater areas of regenerated muscle tissue. Collectively, these results establish the PF microspheres as a potential delivery system for the localized, sustained release of therapeutic proteins toward the accelerated repair of damaged muscle tissue following acute injuries.

Hard Gelatin Capsules with Alginate-Hypromellose Microparticles as a Multicompartment Drug Delivery System for Sustained Posaconazole Release.

Microparticles as a multicompartment drug delivery system are beneficial for poorly soluble drugs. Mucoadhesive polymers applied in microparticle technology prolong the contact of the drug with the mucosa surface enhancing drug bioavailability and extending drug activity. Sodium alginate (ALG) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (hypromellose, HPMC) are polymers of a natural or semi-synthetic origin, respectively. They are characterized by mucoadhesive properties and are applied in microparticle technology. Spray drying is a technology employed in microparticle preparation, consisting of the atomization of liquid in a stream of gas. In this study, the pharmaceutical properties of spray-dried ALG/HPMC microparticles with posaconazole were compared with the properties of physical mixtures of powders with equal qualitative and quantitative compositions. Posaconazole (POS) as a relatively novel antifungal was utilized as a model poorly water-soluble drug, and hard gelatin capsules were applied as a reservoir for designed formulations. A release study in 0.1 M HCl showed significantly prolonged POS release from microparticles compared to a mixture of powders. Such a relationship was not followed in simulated vaginal fluid (SVF). Microparticles were also characterized by stronger mucoadhesive properties, an increased swelling ratio, and prolonged residence time compared to physical mixtures of powders. The obtained results indicated that the pharmaceutical properties of hard gelatin capsules filled with microparticles were significantly different from hard gelatin capsules with mixtures of powders.

Inhalable Polymeric Microparticles for Phage and Photothermal Synergistic Therapy of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Pneumonia.

Acute methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pneumonia is a common and serious lung infection with high morbidity and mortality rates. Due to the increasing antibiotic resistance, toxicity, and pathogenicity of MRSA, there is an urgent need to explore effective antibacterial strategies. In this study, we developed a dry powder inhalable formulation which is composed of porous microspheres prepared from poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), internally loaded with indocyanine green (ICG)-modified, heat-resistant phages that we screened for their high efficacy against MRSA. This formulation can deliver therapeutic doses of ICG-modified active phages to the deep lung tissue infection sites, avoiding rapid clearance by alveolar macrophages. Combined with the synergistic treatment of phage therapy and photothermal therapy, the formulation demonstrates potent bactericidal effects in acute MRSA pneumonia. With its long-term stability at room temperature and inhalable characteristics, this formulation has the potential to be a promising drug for the clinical treatment of MRSA pneumonia.

Radioactive Hydroxyapatite Microspheres Empower Sustainable In Situ Tumor Vaccination.

Tumor in situ vaccination (ISV) strategies have emerged in clinical trials as promising approaches, involving the release of tumor antigens through local radiotherapy and intratumorally adjuvant injections. However, the current fabrication strategy for achieving a sustainable immune response to ISV remains a pressing challenge. In this study, we present an empowered sustainable ISV method for antitumor therapy using 177Lu-labeled manganese-doped mesoporous hydroxyapatite (177Lu/Mn-HAP) microspheres. The ISV enables the sustained utilization of tumor antigens, leading to the activation of dendritic cells and polarization of macrophages toward the M1 subtype. Consequently, it facilitates the generation of potent CD8+ T-cell responses, enhancing the antitumor effects of internal radiation in both primary and distant tumors. Importantly, this approach achieves complete remission in all tumor-bearing mice and stimulates immune memory to prevent tumor recurrence. Our study highlights a universal and safe ISV strategy capable of inducing potent tumor-specific and sustainable immune response.

Endogenous stem cell mobilization and localized immunosuppression synergistically ameliorate DSS-induced Colitis in mice.

BACKGROUND: Stem cell therapy is a promising alternative for inflammatory diseases and tissue injury treatment. Exogenous delivery of mesenchymal stem cells is associated with instant blood-mediated inflammatory reactions, mechanical stress during administration, and replicative senescence or change in phenotype during long-term culture in vitro. In this study, we aimed to mobilize endogenous hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) using AMD-3100 and provide local immune suppression using FK506, an immunosuppressive drug, for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases. METHODS: Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive FK506-loaded thioketal microspheres were prepared by emulsification solvent-evaporation method. Thioketal vehicle based FK506 microspheres and AMD3100 were co-administered into male C57BL6/J mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced colitis. The effect of FK506-loaded thioketal microspheres in colitis mice were evaluated using disease severity index, myeloperoxidase activity, histology, flow cytometry, and gene expression by qRT-PCR. RESULTS: The delivery of AMD-3100 enhanced mobilization of HSCs from the bone marrow into the inflamed colon of mice. Furthermore, targeted oral delivery of FK506 in an inflamed colon inhibited the immune activation in the colon. In the DSS-induced colitis mouse model, the combination of AMD-3100 and FK506-loaded thioketal microspheres ameliorated the disease, decreased immune cell infiltration and activation, and improved body weight, colon length, and epithelial healing process. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the significant increase in the percentage of mobilized hematopoietic stem cells in the combination therapy of AMD and oral FK506 microspheres may contribute to a synergistic therapeutic effect. Thus, low-dose local delivery of FK506 combined with AMD3100 could be a promising alternative treatment for inflammatory bowel diseases.

Poly-l-lactic acid microspheres delay aging of epidermal stem cells in rat skin.

Objective: Injectable skin fillers offer a wider range of options for cutaneous anti-aging and facial rejuvenation. PLLA microspheres are increasingly favored as degradable and long-lasting fillers. The present study focused solely on the effect of PLLA on dermal collagen, without investigating its impact on the epidermis. In this study, we investigated the effects of PLLA microspheres on epidermal stem cells (EpiSCs). Methods: Different concentrations of PLLA microspheres on epidermal stem cells (EpiSCs) in vitro through culture, and identification of primary rat EpiSCs. CCK-8 detection, apoptosis staining, flow cytometry, Transwell assay, wound healing assay, q-PCR analysis, and immunofluorescence staining were used to detect the effects of PLLA on EpiSCs. Furthermore, we observed the effect on the epidermis by injecting PLLA into the dermis of the rat skin in vivo. Results: PLLA microspheres promote cell proliferation and migration while delaying cell senescence and maintaining its stemness. In vitro, Intradermal injection of PLLA microspheres in the rat back skin resulted in delayed aging, as evidenced by histological and immunohistochemical staining of the skin at 2, 4, and 12 weeks of follow-up. Conclusion: This study showed the positive effects of PLLA on rat epidermis and EpiSCs, while providing novel insights into the anti-aging mechanism of PLLA.

Robust Photocatalytic MICROSCAFS® with Interconnected Macropores for Sustainable Solar-Driven Water Purification.

Advanced oxidation processes, including photocatalysis, have been proven effective at organic dye degradation. Tailored porous materials with regulated pore size, shape, and morphology offer a sustainable solution to the water pollution problem by acting as support materials to grafted photocatalytic nanoparticles (NPs). This research investigated the influence of pore and particle sizes of photocatalytic MICROSCAFS® on the degradation of methyl orange (MO) in aqueous solution (10 mg/L). Photocatalytic MICROSCAFS® are made of binder-less supported P25 TiO2 NPs within MICROSCAFS®, which are silica-titania microspheres with a controlled size and interconnected macroporosity, synthesized by an adapted sol-gel method that involves a polymerization-induced phase separation process. Photocatalytic experiments were performed both in batch and flow reactors, with this latter one targeting a proof of concept for continuous transformation processes and real-life conditions. Photocatalytic degradation of 87% in 2 h (batch) was achieved, using a calibrated solar light simulator (1 sun) and a photocatalyst/pollutant mass ratio of 23. This study introduces a novel flow kinetic model which provides the modeling and simulation of the photocatalytic MICROSCAFS® performance. A scavenger study was performed, enabling an in-depth mechanistic understanding. Finally, the transformation products resulting from the MO photocatalytic degradation were elucidated by high-resolution mass spectrometry experiments and subjected to an in silico toxicity assessment.

Establishment of a microspheres-based homogeneous fluorescence immunoassay for the rapid detection of cardiac troponin I.

Myocardial infarction occurs rapidly, and thus the rapid detection of cTnI levels is the key to its diagnosis. Most current assays take 10-30 min. In this study, we developed a method for accurately measuring cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels in human sera with amplified luminescence neighborhood homogeneous assay (AlphaLISA). The method involves coupling two cTnI antibodies targeting different epitopes to the surface of carboxylated donor and acceptor beads. The final signal values were detected by the double-antibody sandwich method, and the best reaction conditions were obtained by optimizing the experimental conditions. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and precision of the method were evaluated. Results showed that the method requires only 3 min to produce the results, the detection sensitivity is 27.06 ng L-1, and the measurement range is 34.56-62 500 ng L-1. cTnI-AlphaLISA has an intra-assay precision of 2.18-4.57% (<10%) and an inter-assay precision of 5.60-6.95% (<10%). The relative recovery rates are within reasonable limits. In addition, the serum assay results of the method were compared with chemiluminescence immunoassay, and the results are in agreement with one another (ρ = 0.8803; P < 0.0001). The method is expected to be developed as a routine method, but further studies and evaluations are needed.

Microplastics and Metabolism: Physiological Responses in Mice Following Ingestion.

Mice exposed orally to microspheres showed changes in lipid and other metabolic pathways, and the particles were detected in tissues throughout the body. Changes were greater after exposure to mixed microplastics compared with polystyrene alone.

Melt-extruded biocompatible surgical sutures loaded with microspheres designed for wound healing.

Sutures are commonly used in surgical procedures and have immense potential for direct drug delivery into the wound site. However, incorporating active pharmaceutical ingredients into the sutures has always been challenging as their mechanical strength deteriorates. This study proposes a new method to produce microspheres-embedded surgical sutures that offer adequate mechanical properties for effective wound healing applications. The study used curcumin, a bioactive compound found in turmeric, as a model drug due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-bacterial properties, which make it an ideal candidate for a surgical suture drug delivery system. Curcumin-loaded microspheres were produced using the emulsion solvent evaporation method with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as the aqueous phase. The microspheres' particle sizes, drug loading (DL) capacity, and encapsulation efficiency (EE) were investigated. Microspheres were melt-extruded with polycaprolactone and polyethylene glycol via a 3D bioplotter, followed by a drawing process to optimise the mechanical strength. The sutures' thermal, physiochemical, and mechanical properties were investigated, and the drug delivery and biocompatibility were evaluated. The results showed that increasing the aqueous phase concentration resulted in smaller particle sizes and improved DL capacity and EE. However, if PVA was used at 3% w/v or below, it prevented aggregate formation after lyophilisation, and the average particle size was found to be 34.32 ± 12.82 µm. The sutures produced with the addition of microspheres had a diameter of 0.38 ± 0.02 mm, a smooth surface, minimal tissue drag, and proper tensile strength. Furthermore, due to the encapsulated drug-polymer structure, the sutures exhibited a prolonged and sustained drug release of up to 14 d. Microsphere-loaded sutures demonstrated non-toxicity and accelerated wound healing in thein vitrostudies. We anticipate that the microsphere-loaded sutures will serve as an excellent biomedical device for facilitating wound healing.

Alginate-gelatine hydrogel microspheres protect NK cell proliferation and cytotoxicity under hypoxic conditions.

AIMS: This study aimed to encapsulate natural killer (NK) cells in a hydrogel to sustain their function within the hypoxic tumour microenvironments. METHODS: An alginate-gelatine hydrogel was generated via electrospray technology. Hydrogel biocompatibility was assessed through cell counting kit-8 and Live/Dead assays to ascertain cell. Moreover, we analysed lactate dehydrogenase assays to evaluate the cytotoxicity against tumours and utilised RT-qPCR to analyse cytokine gene level. RESULTS: Alginate and gelatine formed hydrogels with diameters ranging from 489.2 ± 23.0 µm, and the encapsulation efficiency was 34.07 ± 1.76%. Encapsulated NK cells exhibited robust proliferation and tumour-killing capabilities under normoxia and hypoxia. Furthermore, encapsulation provided a protective shield against cell viability under hypoxia. Importantly, tumour-killing cytotoxicity through cytokines upregulation such as granzyme B and interferon-gamma was preserved under hypoxia. CONCLUSION: The encapsulation of NK cells not only safeguards their viability but also reinforces anticancer capacity, countering the inhibition of activation induced by hypoxia.

A composite of AgNPs and lignin porous microspheres via in-situ reduction of Ag+ and its catalytic performance.

Despite the widespread utilization of nano silver composites in the domain of catalytic hydrogenation of aromatic pollutants in wastewater, certain challenges persist, including the excessive consumption of chemical reagents during the preparation process and the difficulty in recycling. In this study, silver ions were reduced in-situ by taking advantage of the adsorptive and reducing capacities of hydroxyls and amino groups on lignin porous microspheres (LPMs) under mild ultrasonic conditions, and lignin porous microspheres loaded with silver nanoparticles (Ag@LPMs) were conveniently prepared. Ag@LPMs had excellent catalytic and cycling performances for p-nitrophenol (4-NP), methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO). The 4-NP could be completely reduced to 4-AP within 155 s under the catalysis of Ag@LPMs, with a pseudo-first-order kinetic constant of 1.28 min-1. Furthermore, Ag@LPMs could still complete the catalytic reduction of 4-NP within 10 min after five cycles. Ag@LPMs with the particle size ranging from 100 to 200 µm conferred ease of recycling, and the porous structure effectively resolved the issue of sluggish mass transfer encountered during the catalytic process. At the same time, the binding force of nano silver and LPMs obtained by ultrasonic was stronger than that of heating, so the materials prepared by ultrasonic had better cycling performance. Silver ions concentration and pH value in the preparation process affected the catalytic performance of Ag@LPMs, 50 mmol/L Ag+ and pH value of 7 turned out to be the optimization conditions.

Functionalized nano cellulose double-template imprinted aerogel microsphere for the targeted enrichment of taxanes.

Paclitaxel, a diterpenoid isolated from the bark of Taxus wallichiana var. chinensis (Pilger) Florin, is currently showing significant therapeutic effects against a variety of cancers. Baccatin III (Bac) and 10-Deacetylbaccatin III (10-DAB) are in great demand as important precursors for the synthesis of paclitaxel. This work aims to develop a simple, rapid and highly selective, safe, and non-polluting molecularly imprinted material for 10-DAB and Bac enrichment. In this study, we innovatively prepared molecularly imprinted materials with nanocellulose aerogel microspheres and 2-vinylpyridine (2-VP) as a bifunctional monomer, and 10-DAB and Bac as bis-template molecules. In particular, functionalized nanocellulose dual-template molecularly imprinted aerogel microsphere (FNCAG-DMIM) were successfully synthesized by the bifunctional introduction of functional nanocellulose aerogel microsphere (FNCAG) modified with Polyethyleneimine (PEI) as a carrier and functional monomer, which provided a large number of recognition sites for bimodal molecules. FNCAG-DMIM showed high specificity for 10-DAB and Bac specific assays. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the adsorption capacities of FNCAG-DMIM for 10-DAB and Bac reached 52.27 mg g-1 and 53.81 mg g-1, respectively. In addition, it showed good reliability and practicality in the determination of real samples. The present study extends the research on the synthesis of natural functional monomers by molecularly imprinted materials and opens up new horizons for the targeted isolation of plant compounds by dual-template molecularly imprinted materials.