Speciation analysis and toxicity evaluation of arsenolipids-an overview focusing on sea food.

Arsenic, which can be divided into inorganic and organic arsenic, is a toxic metalloid that has been identified as a human carcinogen. A common source of arsenic exposure in seafood is arsenolipid, which is a complex structure of lipid-soluble organic arsenic compounds. At present, the known arsenolipid species mainly include arsenic-containing fatty acids (AsFAs), arsenic-containing hydrocarbons (AsHCs), arsenic glycophospholipids (AsPLs), and cationic trimethyl fatty alcohols (TMAsFOHs). Furthermore, the toxicity between different species is unique. However, the mechanism underlying arsenolipid toxicity and anabolism remain unclear, as arsenolipids exhibit a complex structure, are present at low quantities, and are difficult to extract and detect. Therefore, the objective of this overview is to summarize the latest research progress on methods to evaluate the toxicity and analyze the main speciation of arsenolipids in seafood. In addition, novel insights are provided to further elucidate the speciation, toxicity, and anabolism of arsenolipids and assess the risks on human health.

Biomimetic triumvirate nanogel complexes via peptide-polysaccharide-polyphenol self-assembly.

Self-assembled peptide and polysaccharide nanogels are excellent candidates for bioactive delivery vectors. However, there are still significant challenges in the application of nanogels as delivery tools for bioactive elements. This study aims to deliver, and control the release of a hydrophobic bioactive flavonoid hesperidin. Using the self-assembling peptide (SAP) Fmoc-FRGDF, extracellular matrix mimicking nanofibrils were fabricated, which were decorated and bolstered with immunomodulatory polysaccharide strands of fucoidan and infused with hesperidin. The mechanical properties, secondary structure, and microscopic morphologies of the composite hydrogels were characterized using rheometer, FTIR, XRD, and TEM, etc. The encapsulation efficiency (EE) and release behavior of hesperidin were determined. Coassembly of the SAP with fucoidan improved the mechanical properties (from 9.54 Pa of Fmoc-FRGDF hydrogel to 7735 Pa of coassembly hydrogel at 6 mg/mL fucoidan concentration), formed thicker nanofibril bundles at 4 and 6 mg/mL fucoidan concentration, improved the EE of hesperidin from 72.86 % of Fmoc-FRGDF hydrogel to over 90 % of coassembly hydrogels, and showed effectively controlled release of hesperidin in vitro. Intriguingly, the first order kinetic model predicted an enhanced hydrogel retention and release of hesperidin. This study revealed a new approach for bioengineered nanogels that could be used to stabilize and release hydrophobic payloads.

Determining the potent immunostimulation potential arising from the heteropolysaccharide structure of a novel fucoidan, derived from Sargassum Zhangii.

A preliminary study was conducted of the chemical, structural properties and immunomodulatory activities of fucoidan isolated from Sargassum Zhangii (SZ). Sargassum Zhangii fucoidan (SZF) was determined to have a sulfate content of 19.74 ± 0.01% (w/w) and an average molecular weight of 111.28 kDa. SZF possessed a backbone structure of (1,4)-α-d-linked-galactose, (3,4)-α-l-fucose, (1,3)-α-d-linked-xylose, ß-d-linked-mannose and a terminal (1,4)-α-d-linked-glucose. The main monosaccharide composition was determined as (w/w) 36.10% galactose, 20.13% fucose, 8.86% xylose, 7.36% glucose, 5.62% mannose, and 18.07% uronic acids, respectively. An immunostimulatory assay showed that SZF, compared to commercial fucoidans (Undaria pitnnaifida and Fucus vesiculosus sources), significantly elevated nitric oxide production via up-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase at both gene and protein levels. These results suggest that SZ has the potential to be a source of fucoidan with enhanced properties that may act as a useful ingredient for functional foods, nutritional supplements, and immune enhancers.

Simple Complexity: Incorporating Bioinspired Delivery Machinery within Self-Assembled Peptide Biogels.

Bioinspired self-assembly is a bottom-up strategy enabling biologically sophisticated nanostructured biogels that can mimic natural tissue. Self-assembling peptides (SAPs), carefully designed, form signal-rich supramolecular nanostructures that intertwine to form a hydrogel material that can be used for a range of cell and tissue engineering scaffolds. Using the tools of nature, they are a versatile framework for the supply and presentation of important biological factors. Recent developments have shown promise for many applications such as therapeutic gene, drug and cell delivery and yet are stable enough for large-scale tissue engineering. This is due to their excellent programmability-features can be incorporated for innate biocompatibility, biodegradability, synthetic feasibility, biological functionality and responsiveness to external stimuli. SAPs can be used independently or combined with other (macro)molecules to recapitulate surprisingly complex biological functions in a simple framework. It is easy to accomplish localized delivery, since they can be injected and can deliver targeted and sustained effects. In this review, we discuss the categories of SAPs, applications for gene and drug delivery, and their inherent design challenges. We highlight selected applications from the literature and make suggestions to advance the field with SAPs as a simple, yet smart delivery platform for emerging BioMedTech applications.

Study on the Application of Sediment-Based Embankment Building and Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) Preparation in the Resource Utilization of Yellow River Sediment.

The Yellow River is difficult to control. Little water and a large amount of sediment results in sediment accumulation in its lower reaches as sediment inflow exceeds transport capacity. Reducing this sediment deposition is essential for harnessing the Yellow River. Included in this process is the rational use of the sediment. Many researchers have investigated usage of Yellow River sediment as an aggregate material for concrete production, but there are still some problems (e.g., low resource utilization and low strength of the concrete made from Yellow River sediment). To make up the deficiency in the existing research, this study proposes two methods of sediment utilization. One is to use Yellow River sediment to build embankments, and the other is to use ultra-fine Yellow River sand to prepare ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). Test results reveal that the prepared high-strength concrete performs well in each test, including: fluidity, mechanical properties, pore structure, ecological evaluation, microscopic measurement of the interface transition zone, and economic analysis.

Extraction Optimization, UHPLC-Triple-TOF-MS/MS Analysis and Antioxidant Activity of Ceramides from Sea Red Rice Bran.

As a new type of salt-tolerant rice, sea red rice contains more minerals, proteins, and lipid compounds, and, in particular, its by-product rice bran may be used to replace other commercial rice brans as the main source of ceramides (Cers). However, the extraction rate of Cers is generally low, and it is crucial to seek an efficient extraction method. This study optimized the ultrasonic-assisted extraction of Cers from sea red rice bran using response surface methodology (RSM) and obtained a Cers yield of 12.54% under optimal conditions involving an extraction temperature of 46 °C, an extraction time of 46 min, and a material-to-liquid ratio of 5 g/mL. The Cers content in sea red rice bran was preliminarily analyzed using thin-layer chromatography, and the Cers content was determined via UHPLC-Triple-TOF-MS/MS after purification and separation using silica column chromatography. Forty-six different types of Cers were identified in sea red rice bran, of which Cer 18:0/24:0 (2OH), Cer 18:0/26:0, Cer 18:0/26:0 (2OH), and Cer 18:0/24:0 accounted for 23.66%, 17.54%, 14.91%, and 11.96%. Most of the Cers structures were mainly composed of sphingadienine. A biological activity assay indicated that Cers extracted from sea red rice bran had significant antioxidant and anti-aging properties. These findings indicate that the extracted Cers show great potential for applications in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

Chitosan/Alginate Nanoparticles for the Enhanced Oral Antithrombotic Activity of Clam Heparinoid from the Clam Coelomactra antiquata.

Chitosan/alginate nanoparticles (DG1-NPs and DG1/Cur-NPs) aiming to enhance the oral antithrombotic activity of clam heparinoid DG1 were prepared by ionotropic pre-gelation. The influence of parameters, such as the concentration of sodium alginate (SA), chitosan (CTS), CaCl2, clam heparinoid DG1, and curcumin (Cur), on the characteristics of the nanoparticles, were investigated. Results indicate that chitosan and alginate can be used as polymer matrices to encapsulate DG1, and nanoparticle characteristics depend on the preparation parameters. Nano-particles should be prepared using 0.6 mg/mL SA, 0.33 mg/mL CaCl2, 0.6 mg/mL CTS, 7.2 mg/mL DG1, and 0.24 mg/mL Cur under vigorous stirring to produce DG1-NPS and DG1/Cur-NPS with small size, high encapsulation efficiency, high loading capacity, and negative zeta potential from approximately -20 to 30 mV. Data from scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry, and differential scanning calorimetry analyses showed no chemical reaction between DG1, Cur, and the polymers; only physical mixing. Moreover, the drug was loaded in the amorphous phase within the nanoparticle matrix. In the acute pulmonary embolism murine model, DG1-NPs enhanced the oral antithrombotic activity of DG1, but DG1/Cur-NPs did not exhibit higher antithrombotic activity than DG1-NPs. Therefore, the chitosan/alginate nanoparticles enhanced the oral antithrombotic activity of DG1, but curcumin did not further enhance this effect.

Chemical Characterization and Immunomodulatory Activity of Fucoidan from Sargassum hemiphyllum.

Fucoidan is a sulfated algal polyanionic polysaccharide that possesses many biological activities. In this paper, a fucoidan (SHF) polysaccharide was extracted from Sargassum hemiphyllum collected in the South China Sea. The SHF, with a molecular weight of 1166.48 kDa (44.06%, w/w), consisted of glucose (32.68%, w/w), galactose (24.81%, w/w), fucose (20.75%, w/w), xylose (6.98%, w/w), mannose (2.76%, w/w), other neutral monosaccharides, and three uronic acids, including glucuronic acid (5.39%, w/w), mannuronic acid (1.76%, w/w), and guronuronic acid (1.76%, w/w). The SHF exhibited excellent immunostimulatory activity. An immunostimulating assay showed that SHF could significantly increase NO secretion in macrophage RAW 264.7 cells via upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) levels based on both gene expression and protein abundance. These results suggest that SHF isolated from Sargassum hemiphyllum has great potential to act as a health-boosting ingredient in the pharmaceutical and functional-food fields.

Improvement of Sensing Properties for Copper Phthalocyanine Sensors Based on Polymer Nanofibers Scaffolds.

An effectual and understandable route for the fabrication techniques of stereoscopic NO2 sensor is provided in this work. As the gas-sensing layer of the sensor, copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) grew on the top of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibers (NFs). The sensitivity of the CuPc/PVA NFs stereoscopic sensors to NO2 was over 829%/ppm, while the sensitivity of the continuous CuPc films sensors was 2 orders of magnitude lower than that of the stereoscopic ones. To the responsivities at 25 ppm of NO2, the CuPc/PVA NFs stereoscopic sensors were about four times stronger than that of the continuous CuPc films sensors. For the recovery time, the CuPc/PVA NFs stereoscopic sensors were over eight times faster than the continuous CuPc films sensors. This general tactic can be used to prepare various toxic gas sensors to improve the overall performance of the devices.

Experimental Study on Wet Skid Resistance of Asphalt Pavements in Icy Conditions.

In this research, the durability of skid resistance during the ice melting process with temperature increasing from -5 °C to 10 °C was characterized by means of a British Pendulum Skid Tester. Four types of pavement surfaces were prepared and tested. The difference between two antiskid layers prepared with bitumen emulsion was the aggregate. The detailed angularity and form 2D index of fine aggregates used for antiskid surfaces, characterized by means of the Aggregate Image Measure System (AIMS) with micro image analysis methods, were then correlated with British Pendulum Number (BPN) values. Results indicate that skid resistance has the lowest value during the ice-melting process. The investigated antiskid layers can increase the surface friction during icy seasons. In icy conditions, the skid resistance behavior first worsens until reaches the lowest value, and then increases gradually with increasing temperature. Results from ice-melting conditions on four investigated pavement surfaces give the same temperature range where there will be lowest skid resistance. That temperature range is from 3 °C to 5 °C. A thicker ice layer will result in a lower skid resistance property and smaller "lowest BPN".

Bioinformatic analysis for structure and function of TCTP from Spirometra mansoni.

OBJECTIVE: To predict structure and function of translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) from Spirometra mansoni by bioinformatics technology, and to provide a theoretical basis for further study. METHODS: Open reading frame (ORF) of EST sequence from Spirometra mansoni was obtained by ORF finder and was translated into amino acid residue by DNAclub. The structure domain was analyzed by Blast. By the method of online analysis tools: Protparam, InterProScan, protscale, SignalP-3.0, PSORT II, BepiPred, TMHMM, VectorNTI Suite 9 packages and Phyre2, the structure and function of the protein were predicted and analyzed. RESULTS: The results showed that the EST sequence was Sm TCTP with 173 amino acid residues, theoretical molecular weight was 19 872.0 Da. The protein has the closest evolutionary status with Clonorchis sinensis, Schistosoma mansoni, and Schistosoma japonicum. Then it had no signal peptide site and transmembrane domain. Secondary structure of TCTP contained two α -helices and eight ß -strands. CONCLUSIONS: Sm TCTP was a variety of biological functions of protein that may be used as a vaccine candidate molecule and drug target.

[Construction and identification of a full-length cDNA library from Spirometra erinaceieuropaei].

The full-length pBluescript II SK cDNA library of adult Spirometra erinaceieuropaei was constructed by using the SMART method. Data showed that 95.5% of the library was recombinant and the titer of the library was 1.06 x 10(6). The average insert size of the library was about 1.4 kb. Forty-eight randomly selected clones were sequenced. A set of 36 effective expressed sequence tags (ESTs) with the average size of 674 bp was obtained after excluding clones shorter than 450 bp. The unigenes occupied 58.3% of the 36 ESTs. The rate of full-length cDNAs were 57.7% (15/26). The high-quality of full-length cDNA library could be used for large scale EST sequencing.