Search Results (12,426)

Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797), an omnivorous crop pest worldwide, reproduces prolifically. Validamycin, a competitive natural inhibitor of trehalase, is regarded as an effective and safe insecticide. Pupae were injected with a validamycin gradient (0.5–10 µg/µL) to block trehalase; enzyme activity and the Vitellogenin gene (Vg)/its receptor gene (VgR) expression (rpL10 reference) were subsequently quantified to determine the compound’s impact on S. frugiperda ontogeny and fecundity. Validamycin directly inhibited pupal membrane-bound trehalase, sharply lowering glycogen. Both pupal and adult mortality rose with dose, yielding marked abnormalities versus the Control Check (CK) group. At 0.5 μg/μL validamycin, eggs blackened and clumped in the lateral oviduct, blocking release; treated females produced far fewer eggs by day 4, exhibited ovarian atrophy, shorter lifespan, and low hatchability. The expression levels of Vg and VgR in the ovaries of the fall armyworm were consistent with the changes in the ovarian developmental phenotype. Validamycin significantly inhibited the activity of trehalase in S. frugiperda, severely hindering their normal eclosion and lowering the potential reproductive capacity of S. frugiperda. Simultaneously, it directly affects ovarian development and the lifespan of female moths. The results provide data to support the development of new methods for controlling S. frugiperda. Full article

This work was inspired by quercetin, a natural bioflavonoid with well-known neuroprotective properties. We synthesized a new functional monomer, 3-acryloxy-3′,4′,5,7-tetramethylquercetin 1, and used it to prepare, for the first time, a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) selective for donepezil, the main drug used in Alzheimer’s disease therapy. The polymer was designed to be fluorescent and responsive to pH changes, aiming for controlled drug release. The optimized MIP-4, produced from a 1:1 mixture of the monomer 1 and acrylic acid, was characterized by FTIR-ATR, fluorescence spectroscopy, SEM, and DLS, confirming its chemical composition, morphology, particle size distribution and zeta potential. Adsorption studies showed higher donepezil binding capacity for MIP than for NIP, highlighting the polymer’s selective recognition. In vitro release experiments at pH 3, 5.5, and 7 revealed a pH-dependent behaviour, with nearly 98% cumulative donepezil release at pH 7. The polymer was non-cytotoxic and successfully released donepezil in in vitro assays, enabling effective inhibition of eeAChE. These results provide a proof of concept supporting the potential of quercetin-derived fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymers as selective and stimuli-responsive platforms for donepezil delivery. Full article

In response to the growing demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable yet functional technical textiles, this research developed a spun-bonded nonwoven from the biodegradable thermoplastic starch-based biopolymer BIOPLAST^®, incorporating fruit extracts as natural sources of polyphenolic compounds and surface-active additives. Extracts from Vaccinium myrtillus L. and Sambucus nigra L. were applied onto a nonwoven’s surface via aerographic spraying using a water/ethanol system. The resulting materials were characterized in terms of morphology, physicochemical and mechanical behavior, surface characteristics, and stability under accelerated ageing and hydrolytic conditions. Treatment with the extracts increased the tensile strength by roughly 38% and elongation at break by about 50%, and it changed the surface from hydrophobic (contact angle of 115°) to hydrophilic, with contact angles of 83° for the blueberry-modified nonwoven and 55° for the elderberry-modified nonwoven. The modified nonwovens also showed sustained release of polyphenolic compounds over 72 h, which is beneficial for biomedical, healthcare, and cosmetic applications, where short-term use, controlled release of active compounds, and bioactivity are more important than long-term durability. Overall, the results indicate that BIOPLAST^®-based spun-bonded nonwovens can serve as fully bio-based carriers for fruit extracts in MedTech-related technical textiles, offering a straightforward way to introduce additional functionality into biodegradable nonwovens. Full article

Since their discovery in the 1960s, liposomes have become a versatile platform for drug delivery in cancer research, capable of carrying both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. Throughout the past decades, liposomes have evolved to improve stability, blood circulation time, and targeting ability, overcoming many disadvantages of early formulations. Lipid–polymer hybrid liposomes (LPHLs), a third-generation nanoparticle model, are vesicles where polymers are incorporated in or around the lipid bilayer to increase their stability, to control drug release, and to provide multifunctional capabilities. More recently, cell membrane-coated (CMC) liposomes, which consist of “core” liposomes (preformed liposomes) cloaked in natural cell membranes, have emerged as an even more innovative approach, offering superior immune evasion and highly selective targeting, which are both particularly promising for cancer therapy. Preclinical studies in cancer models demonstrate that these advanced liposomal systems improve pharmacokinetics and therapeutic outcomes. They hold significant potential for developing next-generation, personalized nanomedicines for cancer and other complex diseases. However, challenges related to large-scale production, long-term stability, and safety evaluation remain. Full article

Mechanical deep fertilization is an efficient fertilization method. However, the effects of different types of nitrogen fertilizer on rice grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency under deep-application conditions remain unclear. In this study, field experiments were carried out in 2021 and 2022. The experimental treatments consisted of three types of nitrogen fertilizer, i.e., urea (T1), slow/controlled-release fertilizer (T2), and super rice special fertilizer (T3), applied at a rate of 150 kg N ha⁻¹ via mechanical deep placement using Meixiangzhan 2 (MX) and Y liangyou 1378 (YL) as experimental materials. No fertilizer application was used as a control (T0) to calculate nitrogen use efficiency. The T2 treatment produced 29.03% and 25.52% higher grain yield for MX and YL because of the increase in productive panicles per ha and spikelet number per panicle, 21.20% and 13.68% higher nitrogen recovery efficiency, and 24.57% and 23.29% higher nitrogen agronomy efficiency than T1, respectively. In addition, the T2 treatment significantly improved the leaf area index and total aboveground biomass at the panicle initiation and heading stages. We also found that the POD, CAT, NR, and GOGAT of T2 for MX and YL at the heading stage were significantly enhanced compared to other treatments. Significant interaction was also observed in spikelet per panicle and 1000-grain weight between rice variety and nitrogen fertilizer type. Therefore, slow/controlled-release fertilizer application at the rate of 150 kg N per ha is a more feasible nitrogen fertilizer management strategy under mechanical deep placement, with the merit of increasing grain yield and improving nitrogen use efficiency in South China. Full article

The severe decrease in natural sturgeon stocks has led to intensified efforts toward the development of sturgeon aquaculture and the application of reproductive biotechnologies to ensure sustainable production. In cultured male Acipenser ruthenus (sterlet), spermiation must be hormonally induced to obtain high-quality semen; however, reducing hormonal dosages while maintaining or improving sperm quality remains a major challenge. In this study, we investigated the effects of reduced doses of carp pituitary extract (CPE) and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist (LH-RH) combined with Apilarnil supplementation on spermiation and semen quality in A. ruthenus. Semen volume, pH, sperm concentration, total sperm output, total motility, and spermatozoa velocity were evaluated. Administering a reduced CPE dose (1.1 mg·kg⁻¹) combined with 1 g of Apilarnil significantly increased semen volume, sperm concentration, and total sperm output, as well as improved sperm kinematic parameters (total motility and velocity) compared with the conventional hormonal protocol. Furthermore, treatments using 50% of the standard LH-RH dose supplemented with 1 g or 2 g of Apilarnil resulted in significantly higher sperm motility and velocity than observed in the control group. These results demonstrate that Apilarnil supplementation allows for a substantial reduction in exogenous hormonal doses while enhancing spermiation efficiency and semen quality in sterlet, supporting the spermiation-induction protocol for sturgeon aquaculture. Full article

Metastasis is still the leading cause of cancer-related death. It happens when disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) successfully navigate a series of steps and adapt to the unique conditions of distant organs. In this review, key molecular and immune mechanisms that shape metastatic spread, long-term survival, and eventual outgrowth are examined, with a focus on how tumor-intrinsic programs interact with extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, angiogenesis, and immune regulation. Gene networks that sustain tumor-cell plasticity and invasion are described, including EMT-linked transcription factors such as SNAIL and TWIST, as well as broader transcriptional regulators like SP1. Also, how epigenetic mechanisms, such as EZH2 activity, DNA methylation, chromatin remodeling, and noncoding RNAs, lock in pro-metastatic states and support adaptation under therapeutic pressure. Finally, proteases and matrix-modifying enzymes that physically and biochemically reshape tissues, including MMPs, uPA, cathepsins, LOX/LOXL2, and heparinase, are discussed for their roles in releasing stored growth signals and building permissive niches that enable seeding and colonization. In parallel, immune-evasion strategies that protect circulating and newly seeded tumor cells are discussed, including platelet-mediated shielding, suppressive myeloid populations, checkpoint signaling, and stromal barriers that exclude effector lymphocytes. A major focus is metastatic dormancy, cellular, angiogenic, and immune-mediated, framed as a reversible survival state regulated by stress signaling, adhesion cues, metabolic rewiring, and niche constraints, and as a key determinant of late relapse. Tumor-specific metastatic programs across mesenchymal malignancies (osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and liposarcoma) and selected high-burden cancers (melanoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, glioblastoma, and breast cancer) are highlighted, emphasizing shared principles and divergent organotropisms. Emerging therapeutic strategies that target both the “seed” and the “soil” are also discussed, including immunotherapy combinations, stromal/ECM normalization, chemokine-axis inhibition, epigenetic reprogramming, and liquid-biopsy-enabled minimal residual disease monitoring, to prevent reactivation and improve durable control of metastatic disease. Full article

Thrombotic cardiovascular diseases are frequent side effects of cancer therapy with cytotoxic drugs such as Doxorubicin. Endothelial cell senescence is emerging as a critical mechanism underlying endothelial dysfunction in this context. Senescent cells, although unable to proliferate, secrete bioactive molecules that alter the tissue microenvironment, a feature known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Besides soluble molecules, senescent cells also release extracellular vesicles (EVs). Previous studies indicate that senescent endothelial cells produce a secretome that promotes platelet activation; however, the contribution of EVs remains unclear. Here, we show that human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) exposed to Doxorubicin undergo senescence, display endothelial dysfunction, and release EVs. We found no differences in the concentration or size distribution of EVs from senescent and non-senescent cells. Nevertheless, EVs from senescent HMEC-1 promoted platelet activation more strongly than EVs from control cells. Notably, EVs alone did not induce platelet aggregation, suggesting that soluble factors are also required to support platelet-dependent hemostasis. These findings reveal that EVs from senescent endothelial cells contribute to platelet activation, a process that may favor thrombosis in patients receiving Doxorubicin-based chemotherapy. Full article

Ionic liquids (ILs) have emerged as multifunctional compounds with low volatility, high thermal stability, and tunable solvation capabilities, making them highly promising for biomedical applications. First explored in the late 1990s and early 2000s for enhancing the thermal stability of enzymes, antimicrobial agents, and controlled release systems, ILs have since gained significant attention in drug delivery, antimicrobial treatments, medical imaging, and biosensing. This review examines the diverse functions of ILs in contemporary therapeutics and diagnostics, highlighting their transformative capabilities in improving drug solubility, bioavailability, transdermal permeability, and pathogen inactivation. In drug delivery, ILs improve solubility of bioactive compounds, with several IL formulations achieving substantial solubility enhancements for poorly soluble drugs. Bio-ILs, in particular, show promise in enhancing drug delivery systems, such as improving transdermal permeability. ILs also exhibit significant antimicrobial and antiviral activity, offering new avenues for combating resistant pathogens. Despite their broad potential, challenges such as cytotoxicity, long-term metabolic effects, and the stability of ILs in physiological conditions persist. While much research has focused on their physicochemical properties, biological activity and in vivo studies are still underexplored. The future directions for ILs in biomedical applications include the development of bioengineered ILs and hybrid ILs, combining functional components like nanoparticles and polymers to create multifunctional materials. These ILs, derived from renewable resources, show great promise in personalized medicine and clinical applications. Further research is necessary to evaluate their pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and long-term safety to fully realize their biomedical potential. This study emphasizes the potential of ILs to transform therapeutic and diagnostic technologies by highlighting present shortcomings and offering pathways for clinical translation, while also debating the need for continuous research to fully utilize their biomedical capabilities. Full article

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease caused by Leishmania parasites and leads to chronic, non-healing skin lesions. Although current drugs can control the disease, their use is limited by systemic side effects, low efficacy, and inadequate lesion penetration. Therefore, innovative local delivery systems are required to enhance drug penetration and reduce systemic toxicity. To address these challenges, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using propolis extract through a green synthesis approach, and a tri-layer wound dressing composed of polyvinyl alcohol and gelatin containing synthesized AgNPs and Glucantime was fabricated by electrospinning. Characterization (SEM-EDX, FTIR, TGA) confirmed uniform morphology, chemical structure, and thermal stability; the wound dressing exhibited hydrophilicity, antioxidant activity, and biphasic release. Biological evaluations against Leishmania tropica demonstrated significant antiparasitic activity. Promastigote viability decreased from 76.3% in neat fibers to 31.6% in nanofibers containing AgNPs and 7.9% in tri-layer nanofibers containing both AgNPs and Glucantime. Similarly, the amastigote infection index dropped from 410 in controls to 250 in neat nanofibers, 204 in AgNPs-containing nanofibers, and 22 in tri-layer nanofibers containing AgNPs and Glucantime. The tri-layer nanofibers demonstrated enhanced antileishmanial activity over AgNPs-containing fibers, confirming synergistic efficacy. All nanofibers were biocompatible, supporting their use as a safe platform for cutaneous leishmaniasis treatment. Full article

Aiming at the problems of tree vigor decline and unstable fruit quality caused by soil impoverishment and easy nutrient loss in the Ziziphus jujuba Mill. ‘Huizao’ (Huizao) producing areas of southern Xinjiang, the application effect of bag-controlled slow-release fertilizer (BCSRF) in this region remains unclear. In this study, a field experiment was conducted with four fertilization concentration gradients, including CK (0 kg/ha), T1 (22 kg/ha), T2 (44 kg/ha), and T3 (66 kg/ha), to investigate the effects of BCSRF on soil nutrient dynamics and plant growth, as well as the fruit yield and quality of Huizao. The results showed that BCSRF could effectively maintain the supply levels of soil alkali-hydrolysable nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium during key growth periods, among which the T3 treatment exhibited the most significant effect. This treatment not only significantly increased the yield per plant of Huizao by 39.34% compared with the control, but also markedly enhanced the contents of the endogenous substance, including soluble sugar and cyclic adenosine monophosphate. This study confirms that under the condition of sandy loam soil in southern Xinjiang, a single basal application of an appropriate amount of BCSRF can achieve continuous nutrient supply, simultaneously improve soil fertility and fruit quality, providing a theoretical basis and technical guidance for simplified and efficient fertilization in local jujube orchards. Full article

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) causes morbidity and mortality in sickle cell disease (SCD). The release of heme during hemolysis triggers endothelial dysfunction and contributes to PH. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) may play a pivotal role in endothelial dysfunction and PH pathogenesis. This study assessed the regulatory role of the lncRNA–heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1) axis in SCD-associated PH pathogenesis. Total RNAs were isolated from the lungs of 15–17-week-old sickle cell (SS) mice and littermate controls (AA) mice and subjected to lncRNA expression profiling using the Arrystar™ lncRNA array. Volcano plot filtering was used to screen for differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs with statistical significance (fold change > 1.8, p < 0.05). A total of 3915 lncRNAs were upregulated and a total of 3545 lncRNAs were downregulated in the lungs of SS mice compared to AA mice. To validate differentially expressed lncRNAs, six upregulated lncRNAs and six downregulated lncRNAs were selected for quantitative PCR. MALAT1 expression was significantly upregulated in the lungs of SS mice and in hemin-treated human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAECs), suggesting that hemolysis induces MALAT1. Functional studies revealed that MALAT1 depletion increased, while MALAT1 overexpression decreased, the endothelial dysfunction markers endothelin-1 (ET-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM1), indicating a protective role of MALAT1 in maintaining endothelial homeostasis. In vivo, adenoviral MALAT1 overexpression attenuated PH, right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH), vascular remodeling, and reduced ET-1 and VCAM1 expression in SS mice. Given that HMOX1 protects endothelial cells during hemolysis, we observed that HMOX1 expression and activity were elevated in SS mouse lungs and hemin-treated HPAECs. HMOX1 knockdown enhanced ET-1 and VCAM1 expression, confirming its endothelial-protective function. Importantly, MALAT1 overexpression increased HMOX1 expression and activity, whereas MALAT1 knockdown reduced HMOX1 levels and mRNA stability. Collectively, these findings identify MALAT1 as a protective regulator that mitigates endothelial dysfunction, vascular remodeling, and PH in SCD, at least in part through the induction of HMOX1. These results suggest that SCD modulates the MALAT1–HMOX1 axis, and further characterization of MALAT1 function may provide new insights into SCD-associated endothelial dysfunction and PH pathogenesis, as well as identify novel therapeutic targets. Full article

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain tumor characterized by invasive growth, intrinsic drug resistance, and the presence of the blood–brain barrier. All of these features make treatment extremely challenging and underscore the need for developing effective combination strategies and advanced drug delivery systems. This study aimed to develop a bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticle (NP)-based delivery system to overcome the poor bioavailability and pharmacokinetic limitations of two potent anti-tumor agents, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and curcumin (CURC), and to evaluate their antitumor activity in U87-MG GBM cells. Drug-free and ATRA/CURC-loaded BSA-NPs were synthesized using an optimized desolvation method and characterized in terms of particle size, polydispersity index, morphology, drug encapsulation efficiency, and release behavior. The cytotoxic, anti-migratory, and pro-apoptotic effects of the NPs on U87-MG GBM cells were assessed using real-time proliferation and migration assays and Annexin V/PI staining followed by flow cytometry. Collectively, the findings indicated that the co-delivery of ATRA and CURC using BSA-NPs showed enhanced antiproliferative, antimigratory, and pro-apoptotic effects. With its controlled release profile, high loading capacity, and favorable nanoscale dimensions, the ATRA-CURC-BSA–NP system represents a promising nanoplatform for GBM therapy that warrants further in vivo investigation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating the inhibition of glioblastoma cell growth through the co-delivery of all-trans retinoic acid and curcumin using a bovine serum albumin-based nanoparticle system. Full article

This review synthesizes the literature on the degradation and decomposition of holopelagic Sargassum, with a focus on process dynamics, including microbial contribution, process descriptions, and ecological impacts. Our objective is to consolidate a robust knowledge framework to inform and optimize management strategies in affected areas. Overall, we observed that the current literature relies primarily on isolated field ecological descriptions rather than a coherent, unified research line; mechanistic studies, including bacterial pathways and factors controlling degradation, remain scarce. At the fine scale, microbial community shifts during decomposition are strongly linked to the sequential utilization of distinct organic substrates, thereby favoring the proliferation of microorganisms capable of degrading complex organic molecules and of bacterial groups involved in sulfur respiration, methanogenesis, and nutrient recycling. In the case of sulfur respiration, groups such as Desulfobacterales and Desulfovibrionales may be responsible for the reported H₂S emissions, which pose significant public health concerns. At a broad scale, degradation occurs both on beaches during emersion and in the water column during immersion, particularly during massive accumulations. The initial stages are characterized by the release of organic exudates and leachates. Experimental and observational studies confirm a strong early-stage release of H₂S until the substrate is largely depleted. Depending on environmental conditions, a significant amount of biomass can be lost; however, this loss is highly variable, with notable consequences for contamination studies. Leachates may also contain low but ecologically significant amounts of arsenic, posing a potential contamination risk. Decomposition contributes to water-quality deterioration and oxygen depletion, with impacts at the individual, population, and ecosystem levels, yet many remain imprecisely attributed. Although evidence of nutrient enrichment in the water column is limited, studies indicate biological nutrient uptake. Achieving a comprehensive understanding of degradation and decomposition, including temporal and spatial dynamics, microbiome interactions, by means of directed research, is critical for effective coastal management, improved mitigation strategies, industrial valorization, and accurate modeling of biogeochemical cycles. Full article

High penetration of wind farms into the power grid lowers system inertia and compromises stability. This paper proposes a grid-forming control strategy for Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG) wind turbines based on DC-link voltage matching and virtual inertia. First, a relationship between grid frequency and DC-link voltage is established, replacing the need for a phase-locked loop. Then, DC voltage dynamics are utilized to trigger a real-time switching of the power tracking curve, releasing the rotor’s kinetic energy for inertia response. This is further coordinated with a de-loading control that maintains active power reserves through over-speeding or pitch control. Finally, the MATLAB/Simulink simulation results and RT-LAB hardware-in-the-loop experiments demonstrate the capability of the proposed control strategy to provide rapid active power support during grid disturbances. Full article