Search Results (414)

Bacillus species have shown the potential to recover rare earth elements (REEs), but strains with adsorption selectivity for terbium(III) remain understudied. In this study, six Bacillus strains with the capability for efficient adsorption of Tb(III) were screened from an ionic rare earth mine and were identified based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Adsorption experiments showed that Bacillus sp. DW011 exhibited exceptional Tb(III) adsorption efficiency, with an adsorption rate of 90.45% and adsorption selectivity for heavy rare earth elements. Notably, strain DW011 was also found to be tolerant against Tb(III) with the 24 h 50% lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of 2.62 mM. The biosorption mechanisms of DW011 were investigated using adsorption kinetics, SEM-EDS, and FTIR. The results indicated that the adsorption of strain DW011 conforms to the second-order kinetic model, and the teichoic acid–peptidoglycan network (phosphate-dominated) serves as the primary site for heavy REE adsorption, while carboxyl/amino groups in the biomembrane matrix provide secondary sites for LREEs. This study provides new information that Bacillus strains isolated from ionic rare earth mine deposits have potential as green adsorbents and have high selectivity for the adsorption of heavy REEs, providing a sustainable strategy for REE recovery from wastewaters. Full article

The development of ceria (CeO_2−x)-based nanoantioxidants requires fine-tuning of structural and surface properties for enhancing antioxidant behavior in biological environments. In this contest, here ultrasmall water-dispersible CeO_2−x nanoparticles (NPs), characterized by a high Ce³⁺/Ce⁴⁺ ratio, were synthesized in a non-polar solvent and phase-transfer to an aqueous environment through ligand-exchange reactions using citric acid (CeO_2−x@Cit) and post-treatment with dopamine hydrochloride (CeO_2−x@Dopa). The concept behind this work is to enhance via surface engineering the intrinsic antioxidant properties of CeO_2−x NPs. For this purpose, thanks to electron transfer reactions between dopamine and CeO_2−x, the CeO_2−x@Dopa was obtained, characterized by increased surface Ce³⁺ sites and surface functionalized with polydopamine bearing o-quinone structures as demonstrated by complementary spectroscopic (UV–vis, FT-IR, and XPS) characterizations. To test the antioxidant properties of CeO_2−x NPs, the scavenging activity before and after dopamine treatment against artificial radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^·) and the ability to reduce the reactive oxygen species in Diencephalic Immortalized Type Neural Cell line 1 were evaluated. CeO_2−x@Dopa demonstrated less efficiency in DPPH^· scavenging (%radical scavenging activity 13% versus 42% for CeO_2−x@Cit before dopamine treatment at 33 μM DPPH^· and 0.13 mg/mL loading of NPs), while it markedly reduced intracellular ROS levels (ROS production 35% compared to 66% of CeO_2−x@Cit before dopamine treatment with respect to control—p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). While steric hindrance from the dopamine-derived polymer layer limited direct electron transfer from CeO_2−x NP surface to DPPH^·, within cells the presence of o-quinone groups contributed with CeO_2−x NPs to break the autoxidation chain of organic substrates, enhancing the antioxidant activity. The functionalization of NPs with o-quinone structures represents a valuable approach to increase the inherent antioxidant properties of CeO_2−x NPs, enhancing their effectiveness in biological systems by promoting additional redox pathways. Full article

Background: Wound healing in diabetic individuals is a prolonged process, often complicated by infections and impaired tissue regeneration. Innovative strategies combining natural bioactive compounds are needed to enhance repair. Methods: This study reports the development and characterization of natural latex-based biomembranes (NLBs) incorporated with liposome-encapsulated curcumin and papain. The therapeutic efficacy of these composite dressings, in combination with red light-emitting diode (LED) phototherapy, was evaluated in a diabetic rat model. NLBs were produced by blending natural latex with multilamellar liposomes containing either curcumin, papain, or both. In vivo wound healing was assessed by applying the biomembranes to the dorsal lesions and administering red LED irradiation (650 ± 20 nm, 10 min every 48 h) over 11 days. Results: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed that the integration of liposomes did not induce significant chemical alterations to the latex matrix. The treated diabetic rats exhibited enhanced wound contraction, with the curcumin and papain groups demonstrating up to 99% and 95% healing, respectively. Plasma fructosamine levels were significantly reduced (p < 0.05), indicating improved glycemic control. Conclusions: Combining NLBs with bioactive-loaded liposomes and phototherapy accelerated wound healing in diabetic rats. This multifunctional platform shows promise for the treatment of chronic wounds in diabetic patients. Full article

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies, in part due to its profound metabolic adaptability, which underlies drug resistance and therapeutic failure. This study explores the metabolic rewiring associated with resistance to treatment using a systems metabolomics approach. Exposure to the redox-disrupting agent erastin revealed key metabolic vulnerabilities but failed to produce lasting growth suppression. Combinatorial treatments with methotrexate or alpelisib significantly impaired proliferation and triggered marked metabolic shifts. Systems-level analyses identified serine metabolism as a central adaptive pathway in resilient cells. Metabolic tracing and gene expression profiling showed increased de novo serine biosynthesis and uptake, supporting redox homeostasis, biosynthetic activity, and epigenetic regulation. Notably, cells that resumed growth after drug withdrawal exhibited transcriptional reprogramming involving serine-driven pathways, along with elevated expression of genes linked to survival, proliferation, and migration. These findings establish serine metabolism as a functional biomarker of metabolic plasticity and adaptive resilience in pancreatic cancer, suggesting that targeting this adaptive axis may enhance therapeutic efficacy. Full article

The aims of the present study were to analyze the taxonomic profile and to evaluate the functional effects of sheep FF cultivable microbiota on prepubertal lamb oocytes PLOs developmental potential. Ovarian FFs were recovered from slaughtered adult sheep via the aspiration of developing follicles and used for microbiota propagation. Bacterial pellets underwent 16S rRNA gene sequencing and targeted culturomics, whereas cell-free supernatants were used as supplements for the in vitro maturation (IVM) of slaughtered PLOs. For the first time, bacteria presence in adult sheep FF was detected, with the first report of Streptococcus infantarius subsp. infantarius (as a species) and Burkholderia cepacia (as a genus and species) in either animal or human FF. The short- and long-term effects of bacterial metabolites on PLO maturation and embryonic development were demonstrated. As short-term effects, the addition of FF microbiota metabolites did not affect the oocyte nuclear maturation and mitochondria distribution pattern, except in one of the examined supernatants, which reduced all quantitative bioenergetic/oxidative parameters. As long-term effects, one of them reduced the total cleavage rate after in vitro embryo culture (IVC). In conclusion, microbiota/bacteria are present in adult sheep FF and may influence reproductive outcomes in vitro. Future studies may reveal the beneficial in vitro effects using the microbiome from preovulatory follicles. Full article

Superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄) have garnered considerable interest due to their unique magnetic properties and potential for integration into multifunctional biomaterials. In particular, their incorporation into bacterial cellulose (BC) matrices offers a promising route for developing sustainable and high-performance magnetic composites. Numerous studies have explored BC-magnetite systems; however, innovations combining ex situ coprecipitation synthesis within BC matrices, tailored reagent molar ratios, stirring protocols, and purification processes remain limited. This study aimed to optimize the ex situ coprecipitation method for synthesizing superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles embedded in BC membranes, focusing on enhancing particle stability and crystallinity. BC membranes containing varying concentrations of magnetite (40%, 50%, 60%, and 70%) were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The resulting magnetic BC membranes demonstrated homogenous dispersion of nanoparticles, improved crystallite size (6.96 nm), and enhanced magnetic saturation (Ms) (50.4 emu/g), compared to previously reported methods. The adoption and synergistic optimization of synthesis parameters—unique to this study—conferred greater control over the physicochemical and magnetic properties of the composites. These findings position the optimized BC-magnetite nanocomposites as highly promising candidates for advanced applications, including electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, electronic devices, gas sensors, MRI contrast agents, and targeted drug delivery systems. Full article

The amino acid membrane transporters of grape species take part in metabolic pathways that play crucial roles in nitrogen trafficking and in the synthesis of secondary metabolites. Therefore, identifying these amino acid transporters and defining their functional properties might have further applications in crop improvement and, hence, relevance to human nutrition. The VvCAT2 (Cation Amino acid Transporter) transporter cDNA has been isolated and cloned into a specific plasmid for over-expression in Escherichia coli. The expressed protein, after purification by Ni²⁺-chelating chromatography, has been functionally characterized in an experimental model of proteoliposomes by measuring the uptake of radiolabeled compounds. Arginine was revealed to be the best substrate, confirming the role of CAT2 in nitrogen trafficking in plant cells and within sub-cellular spaces, given its plausible localization in vacuoles. The transporter activity is modulated by pH, osmotic imbalance and ATP. The transport kinetics have been measured. Overall, the obtained data indicate the capacity of VvCAT2 in transporting arginine, making it a possible target for crop improvement with a relevance to human health. Full article

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) affect 25% of diabetes patients, with high risks of amputation (70%), recurrence (65% within 3–5 years), and mortality (50–70% at 5-years). Current treatments are limited by persistent inflammation, oxidative stress, and cost barriers. This study evaluates a bioactive dressing combining a natural latex-based (NLB) biomembrane (Hevea brasiliensis) with curcumin-loaded liposomes, exhibiting angiogenic and antimicrobial properties, and red LED (light-emitting diode) phototherapy (635–640 nm) to address these challenges. Methods: A pilot clinical trial randomized 15 DFU participants into three groups: Control (CG, n = 5, standard care); Experimental Group 1 (EG1, n = 5, NLB + LED, daily treatment); and Experimental Group 2 (EG2, n = 5, NLB-curcumin liposomes + LED, daily treatment). Outcomes included wound closure, inflammatory/oxidative markers, and therapy feasibility. Assessments at D0, D22, and D45 included hematological/biochemical profiling, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and wound area measures. Results: On day 45, GE2 showed an average ulcer contraction of 89.8%, while CG showed 32.8%, and GE1 showed 9.7%. Systemic ROS and biomarkers (C-reactive protein, leukocytes) showed no significant changes (p > 0.05), though transient inflammatory spikes occurred. The combined therapy (EG2) accelerated healing without direct biomarker correlations. Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of this combined therapy as an accessible, cost-effective DFU treatment, warranting larger studies to optimize home-based protocols and elucidate mechanisms. Full article

Nymphaeol A (NYA) is a tetrahydroxyflavanone anchored to a hydrophobic geranyl group, isolated from different sources and a component of propolis, a complex mixture produced by honeybees and used since ancient times as a healthy drug. This complex exhibits significant antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer and antimicrobial properties and NYA is one of its main components. NYA is a lipophilic molecule with two domains, one polar and one hydrophobic. NYA can be inserted into membranes, and its membrane properties depend not only on its location but also on the membrane’s lipid composition. This work uses molecular dynamics to obtain the dynamics, orientation, location and interactions of NYA in a complex biomembrane. This work shows that in an aqueous solution, NYA forms high-order aggregates where the molecules are joined together by the hydrophobic chain. In the presence of a membrane but initially located in the aqueous media, NYA is capable of inserting itself spontaneously into the membrane. Inside the membrane, NYA can be found in the monomeric form, as well as forming aggregates, tending to remain in its most extended conformation. NYA moves along the x-, y- and z-axes, with the movement along the z-axis larger than that of the membrane’s lipids. NYA forms an approximate angle of 35° perpendicular with respect to the membrane and is inserted between the phospholipid hydrocarbon chains, slightly increasing membrane fluidity. Furthermore, NYA prefers POPC and PSM but not POPE or CHOL. NYA’s location and movement within the membrane should be well-suited for its potent bioactivity. Full article

Saffron is a high-cost spice due to the specific conditions for optimal growth and because of being harvested by hand. The massive income from commercializing saffron substituted with other plant parts or low-cost spices makes this spice the main target of fraudsters. Background: Different methods have been developed for detecting saffron adulteration. Most of them are time consuming and complex, and in some types of analysis, the whole untargeted dataset is combined with advanced chemometric tools to differentiate authentic from non-authentic saffron. The official method, combining UV–vis spectroscopy and LC to determine the colour strength and the crocin content, is unable to detect saffron adulterants (safflower, marigold, or turmeric) added at a level lower than 20% (w/w). As a result, innovative approaches based on rapid, high-throughput methods for the identification of adulterated saffron samples are urgently demanded to counteract food frauds. Methods: This paper describes, for the first time, the development of a method combining Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART) with the triple quadrupole MS EVOQ based on the detection of specific MS/MS transitions, promoting a rapid, robust and chromatography-free method capable of monitoring safflower and turmeric adulteration in saffron. Results: The method proved to reach low LODs, allowing the determination of tiny amounts of turmeric and safflower powder in saffron as low as 3% and 5%, respectively, speeding up the whole analytical workflow and enabling us to perform 20 analyses in 10 min. Finally, the greenness of the method was also assessed according to the 0.88 score achieved by submitting it to the greenness calculator AGREE. Conclusions: Given its speed, simplicity, and robustness, this method stands out as a strong candidate for routine implementation in testing laboratories as a rapid screening tool to detect saffron adulteration with safflower or turmeric. Full article

The whey protein (WP) fraction represents 18–20% of the total milk nitrogen content. It was originally considered a dairy industry waste, but upon its chemical characterization, it was found to be a precious source of bioactive components, growing in popularity as nutritional and functional food ingredients. This has generated a remarkable increase in interest in applications in the different sectors of nutrition, food industry, and pharmaceutics. WPs comprise immunoglobulins and proteins rich in branched and essential amino acids, and peptides endowed with several biological activities (antimicrobial, antihypertensive, antithrombotic, anticancer, antioxidant, opioid, immunomodulatory, and gut microbiota regulation) and technological properties (gelling, water binding, emulsification, and foaming ability). Currently, various process technologies and biotechnological methods are available to recover WPs and convert them into BioActive Peptides (BAPs) for commercial use. Additionally, in silico approaches could have a significant impact on the development of novel foods and/or ingredients and therapeutic agents. This review provides an overview of current and emerging methods for the production, selection, and application of whey peptides, offering insights into bioactivity profiling and potential therapeutic targets. Recent updates in legislation related to commercialized WPs-based products are also presented. Full article

A set of procedures was developed for the simple synthesis of phytyl phenolipids, which resulted in high yields (70–95%) of phytyl esters of caffeic, protocatechuic, homoprotocatechuic, and dihydrocaffeic acids. Initial characterization revealed that these new compounds exhibited similar radical scavenging activity and liposolubility to α-tocopherol, a key antioxidant present in membranes. Cyclic voltammetry analysis indicated that the phytyl derivatives had lower anodic peak potentials compared to the original phenolic acids, with electron transfer following an adsorption-controlled mechanism. In phosphatidylcholine large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs), phytyl esters demonstrated remarkable efficiency in preventing liposome autoxidation when compared to α-tocopherol. Despite their strong radical scavenging capacity and membrane penetration ability, the antioxidant effectiveness of the phytyl esters in liposomes was influenced by the structure of their polyphenolic moiety. These new compounds are considered promising candidates for future pharmacological applications against oxidative stress in lipoproteins and cells, warranting further evaluation of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in cellular models and in vivo. Full article

In this review article I briefly describe lipid self-assembly, interfacial curvature, and lyotropic phase diagrams. I then go on to describe how the phase behaviour can be controlled, and the structure of lyotropic phases can be tuned, by various parameters such as temperature, hydrostatic pressure, or the addition of amphiphilic molecules such as fatty acids, diacylglycerols, and cholesterol. I then give a few illustrations of how such structures/phases may play roles in lipid-based biotechnologies, and in biomembrane systems. Full article

Raman spectroscopy is one of the best techniques for obtaining information concerning the physical–chemical interactions between a lipid and a solvent. Phospholipids in water are the main elements of cell membranes and, by means of their chemical and physical structures, their cells can interact with other biological molecules (i.e., proteins and vitamins) and express their own biological functions. Phospholipids, due to their amphiphilic structure, form biomimetic membranes which are useful for studying cellular interactions and drug delivery. Synthetic systems such as DPhPC-based liposomes replicate the key properties of biological membranes. Among the different models, phospholipid mimetic membrane models of lamellar vesicles have been greatly supported. In this work, a biomimetic system, a deuterium solution (50 mM) of the synthetic phospholipid 1,2-diphytanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPhDC), is studied using μ-Raman spectroscopy in a wide temperature range from −181.15 °C up to 22.15 °C, including the following temperatures: −181.15 °C, −146.15 °C, −111.15 °C, −76.15 °C, −61.15 °C, −46.15 °C, −31.15 °C, −16.15 °C, −1.15 °C, 14.15 °C, and 22.15 °C. Based on the Raman evidence, phase transitions as a function of temperature are shown and grouped into five classes, where the corresponding Raman modes describe the stretching of the (C−N) bond in the choline head group (gauche) and the asymmetric stretching of the (O−P−O) bond. The acquisition temperature of each Raman spectrum characterizes the rocking mode of the methylene of the acyl chain. These findings enhance our understanding of the role of artificial biomimetic lipids in complex phospholipid membranes and provide valuable insights for optimizing their use in biosensing applications. Although the phase stability of DPhPC is known, the collected Raman data suggest subtle molecular rearrangements, possibly due to hydration and second-order transitions, which are relevant for membrane modeling and biosensing applications. Full article

The neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) plays a pro-carcinogenic role in various cancer types, including prostate cancer (PCa). The existing body of knowledge concerning the mechanisms that underpin the protumoral role of ACh in PCa is limited. Glyoxalase 1 (Glo1) is a metabolic enzyme that removes methylglyoxal (MG), an endogenous post-translational modification agent, generating 5-hydro-5-methylimidazolone (MG-H1). The Glo1/MG-H1 axis is involved in PCa tumorigenesis and progression. By using LNCaP and PC3 PCa cells, representing extensively studied cell models of poorly aggressive and bone metastasis-derived PCa, respectively, we found that ACh specifically sustains LNCaP cell migration, invasion and proliferation through Glo1-dependent MG-H1 accumulation with the involvement of osteopontin (OPN), thus providing a novel mechanism underlying ACh’s protumoral role in PCa cells. The findings of this study unveil a hitherto unidentified mechanism implicated in the progression of PCa, which is initiated by ACh and involves both the Glo1/MG-H1 axis and OPN. This discovery provides the basis for new avenues of in vivo investigation into the physiological relevance of the roles of the ACh-driven Glo1/MG-H1 axis and OPN in PCa progression and for further research aimed at exploring new ways of managing PCa progression, with the aim of preventing the disease from becoming incurable. Full article