Search Results (5,285)

Plant-derived exosome-like extracellular vesicles (PELVs) have recently emerged as novel bioactive materials. Although members of the Orchidaceae family have been reported to possess various biological activities and are widely used as cosmetic ingredients, no studies to date have investigated exosome-like extracellular vesicles derived from Phalaenopsis species. In the present study, we report for the first time a novel exosome-like extracellular vesicles preparation isolated from Phalaenopsis aphrodite (called Exorigin^® OR) and characterize its physical and biological properties. The purified vesicles exhibited a spherical shape surrounded by a bilayered membrane with an average particle size of approximately 98 nm and expressed a CD9 marker. Fluorescent labeling with BODIPY TR indicated that Exorigin^® OR can be internalized by cells. In in vitro assays, Exorigin^® OR alleviated hydrogen peroxide-induced damage in keratinocytes and inhibited melanin production in melanocytes, possibly associated with the downregulation of Tyrp1 expression as shown by qPCR analysis. Moreover, reconstructed human epidermis and cornea-like epithelium models demonstrated that Exorigin^® OR is non-irritant. Collectively, these findings suggest that Exorigin^® OR represent a promising and safe bioactive ingredient for promoting skin health in cosmeceutical applications. Full article

New alternatives in the construction industry are essential for economic, sustainable, and environmental progress. In this context, this work investigated three sets of sustainable mortars incorporating industrial lamination waste, assessing their chemical, physical, microstructural, and mechanical properties to inform their development. Cylindrical and prismatic specimens were produced using the following incorporation methods: a reference mortar, mortars with mill scale addition, partial cement replacement with mill scale, and partial sand replacement with mill scale, at proportions of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%. Additionally, analyses including X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) were performed. Physical and mechanical tests, including bulk density, consistency index, capillary water absorption, axial compressive strength, and flexural tensile strength, were also conducted. XRF results indicated an increase in iron oxide content and a decrease in calcium oxide with the addition of mill scale. XRD confirmed the presence of compounds, such as alite and portlandite, which are common in cementitious mortars. FTIR spectra exhibited characteristic functional groups through absorption bands related to Si–O stretching. SEM micrographs revealed slight morphological changes in the composites as the quantity of industrial lamination waste increased, and EDS data supported the XRF findings. The addition of industrial lamination waste affected the spread index and density of the mixtures, while capillary water absorption decreased in some formulations with mill scale. The strength of the mortars increased with the incorporation of industrial lamination waste. In conclusion, using industrial lamination waste in mortars is a technically and environmentally feasible alternative that aligns with the principles of sustainable development and the circular economy in the construction industry. Full article

This study focuses on preparing mullite grogs derived from selected waste materials and kaolin treated with advanced technologies to achieve high thermal resistance and low thermal expansion. The investigated waste materials include dust removal RON, slurry DE, feldspar dust removal from Halamky, and waste generated during the feldspar grinding at the Halamky I deposit. These materials (Red kaolin from Vidnava, Slurry DE, Dust-off RON, Feldspar dust-off Halamky) were processed into grogs and subsequently applied for the production of high-mullite ceramics. The influence of cristobalite admixture was also assessed. The chemical composition was determined by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), while the phase composition was analysed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Amorphous mullite grogs with mullite contents greater than 40% were successfully prepared. Despite the relatively high iron content, the resulting products exhibited the desired white colour after firing and demonstrated properties that make them promising candidates for advanced refractory applications. The study highlights the potential to valorise industrial waste materials for high-value ceramic applications. Full article

Human carboxylesterases (CES) are enzymes that play a central role in the metabolism and biotransformation of diverse endogenous substances and xenobiotics. The two most relevant isoforms, CES1 and CES2, are crucial in clinical pharmacotherapy as they catalyze the hydrolysis of numerous approved drugs and prodrugs. Elucidating the structural basis of CES isoform substrate specificity is essential not only for understanding and anticipating the biological fate of administered drugs, but also for designing prodrugs with optimized site-specific bioactivation. Additionally, this knowledge is also important for the design of biomedically useful molecules such as subtype-targeted CES inhibitors and fluorescent probes. In this context, both experimental and computational methodologies have been used to explore the mechanistic and thermodynamic properties of CES-mediated catalysis. Experimental designs commonly employ recombinant CES or human tissue microsomes as enzyme sources, utilizing quantification methods such as spectrophotometry (UV and fluorescence) and mass spectrometry. Computational approaches fall into two categories: (1) modeling substrate: CES recognition and affinity (molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and free-energy binding calculations), and (2) modeling substrate: CES reaction coordinates (hybrid QM/MM simulations). While experimental and theoretical approaches are highly synergistic in studying the catalytic properties of CES subtypes, they represent distinct technical and scientific fields. This review aims to provide an integrated discussion of the key concepts and the interplay between the most commonly used wet-lab and dry-lab strategies for investigating CES catalytic activity. We hope this report will serve as a concise resource for researchers exploring CES isoform specificity, enabling them to effectively utilize both experimental and computational methods. Full article

Cotinus coggygria Scop., a member of the Anacardiaceae family, is known for its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties. In the present study, the ethyl acetate/water leaf extract of C. coggygria was evaluated for antioxidant and anticancer activities. The extract exhibited strong radical-scavenging potential, effectively neutralizing DPPH, ABTS^•+, and superoxide radicals in a concentration-dependent manner. The cytotoxic effects of the extract on human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells were also investigated. Flow cytometry revealed significant S-phase cell cycle arrest, while fluorescent microscopy and annexin V-FITC/PI staining demonstrated induction of apoptosis. DNA damage was confirmed by alkaline comet assay. Molecular docking was used to evaluate the binding affinity and inhibitory potential of penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose, a representative of gallotannins found in C. coggygria extracts, towards cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and checkpoint kinase 1. A high inhibition ability was demonstrated, which could explain the observed cell cycle block. Collectively, these findings suggest that C. coggygria extract exerts strong antioxidant capacity and selective antiproliferative activity in HepG2 cells. The anticancer effects of C. coggygria extract were associated with DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, and apoptosis induction. The results show the potential of the herb as a natural therapeutic agent for hepatocellular carcinoma. Full article

Whey protein concentrate (WPC-80) was reconstituted to 10% (m/v) and pumped through a pulsed electric field (PEF) system using three treatment conditions. The PEF-treated whey solution was assessed for viscosity, whereas dried whey was resolubilized and tested for protein structure integrity by circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and functionality was assessed by measuring solubility, foamability, emulsification, and particle size. PEF treatment resulted in a reduction in apparent viscosity (from 2.74 cP down to 2.57 cP) and particle size (from 325.9 nm down to 297.6 nm), and increased solubility (from 90.41% up to 92.34%) and emulsification stability (from 1727 min up to 4821 min), while emulsification stability decreased initially (from 1.645 m²/g to 1.283 m²/g) then increased at the high treatment level (1.915 m²/g). The foamability and molecular weight profile did not change with PEF treatment. Exposure to PEF resulted in no statistically significant changes to protein structure based on data obtained from CD, fluorescence, or DSC. This study represents the first instance of a WPC-80 being treated with a commercially available, scalable, continuous flow PEF system at a higher concentration (10% m/v), resulting in favorable changes to the physical and functional properties of the whey solution and dried powder. Full article

The Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Aiton.) Hassk. berry is rich in structurally diverse polysaccharides with potential biological activity. However, its immunomodulatory properties remain understudied, limiting our current understanding of its functional significance. Two structurally distinct polysaccharides from Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (RTP-1 and RTP-2) were evaluated for immunostimulatory activity in RAW264.7 macrophages. Phagocytic function was assessed by neutral red assay, nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species were measured using the Griess assay and fluorescent probes, and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β) were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Analysis of RNA-seq data using weighted gene co-expression network analysis revealed co-expression modules. The selected transcripts were independently validated by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). The results showed that both polysaccharides enhanced phagocytosis, increased NO/ROS levels, and promoted cytokine secretion. Transcriptome results indicated that RTP-2 activated the MEturquoise co-expression module containing 222 hub genes, whereas RTP-1 was mainly associated with the MECyan module containing 49 hub genes. Module enrichment for RTP-2 revealed links with mitophagy–immune regulation, proteostasis/stress, and innate immune signaling. RT-qPCR further confirmed that in the RTP-2 group, Dram1 expression was upregulated approximately 121 times, Bmf1 expression was upregulated approximately 18 times, and Bnip3 was significantly downregulated, whereas Bnip3l expression remained unchanged. Overall, RTP-2 exhibited a more pronounced and coherent macrophage-stimulating profile in vitro, supporting its potential as a macrophage-targeted immunostimulatory ingredient. Full article

We developed an efficient and modular route to 2- and 6-(1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)azulenes to expand the synthetic accessibility and functional scope of azulene-based π-systems with stimulus-responsive photophysics. Readily accessible 2- and 6-azidoazulenes, prepared in excellent yields via S_NAr reactions of haloazulenes, were subjected to Cu(I)-catalyzed Huisgen [3 + 2] cycloaddition with a broad range of terminal alkynes to afford the corresponding triazolylazulenes in good to high yields, followed by acid-mediated decarboxylation and Staudinger reduction to enable further diversification to 2-azulenyltriazoles and a 6-aminoazulene derivative. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed substitution-position-dependent torsional arrangements and variations in π-conjugation between the azulene and triazole units. Photophysical characterization by UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy showed pronounced halochromism under acidic conditions, and selected derivatives displayed substantially enhanced fluorescence quantum yields. Overall, these results establish the azulene–1,2,3-triazole motif as a versatile building block for designing optoelectronic π-systems with acid-responsive emission properties. Full article

This study investigates a metakaolin-based geopolymer matrix in which two types of non-recyclable mirror glass waste (MGW) were used as alternative aggregates. The composition, properties and contents of MGW materials as well as their impact on the structure and performance of the geopolymer composites (MGW-Gs) have been characterized using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Mechanical properties, porosity and thermal conductivity have been evaluated, and compared with silica sand reference composites. The results show that MGW-based composites achieved flexural strengths of 3.9–5.7 MPa and compressive strengths of 60–70 MPa, which are lower than those of sand-based materials (8–11 MPa and up to 93.5 MPa, respectively) but remain adequate performance for applications with moderate load. FTIR analysis has indicated that the incorporation of MGW does not adversely affect the geopolymer network. All composites display similar porosity (approximately 18–22%) and water absorption (12–14%), while MGW incorporation has improved their thermal stability and significantly reduced their thermal conductivity to values below 0.53 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹, compared with up to 1.09 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹ for sand-based composites, emphasizing their insulation potential and sustainability benefits. The findings indicate that MGW aggregates can influence the microstructure, mechanical performance, and thermal properties of geopolymer composites, suggesting their potential use in specific construction applications. Full article

Cadmium sulfide is an important II-VI semiconductor known for its valuable photocatalytic properties ascribable to its band gap energy, which allows light absorption in the visible domain. Nonetheless, the application of cadmium sulfide in wastewater organic pollutant degradation is restricted due to its high toxicity to humans, soil, and marine life. To address this issue, we developed new composite materials by depositing CdS on a bentonite support in a 1:9 mass ratio to develop a photocatalyst with lower toxicity. In the first step, bentonite was activated using an aqueous HCl solution; for the deposition of CdS powder, we proposed the trituration method and compared it with chemical precipitation and hydrothermal synthesis, using thioacetamide as a sulfide ion source. The modified bentonite underwent characterization using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence, UV-Vis, and FTIR spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity was tested in the degradation of Congo red (CR), a persistent diazo dye. The efficiency of removing CR with CdS–bentonite composites depended on the deposition method of CdS, and it was higher than that of pristine CdS and of only adsorption onto acid-activated bentonite. The photocatalytic degradation mechanism was estimated by the scavenger test using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt, ascorbic acid, ethanol, and silver nitrate as radical scavengers. Full article

Functional properties of coastal halophytes are important for development of salt-tolerant cash crop cultures. The study of salt tolerance in coastal dune-building grass Leymus arenarius holds significant importance for its application in land reclamation, soil stabilization, and enhancing crop resilience to salinity stress. We used two accessions (LA1 and LA2) of L. arenarius to compare effects of salinity caused by NaCl and NaNO₃ on growth, ion accumulation and mineral nutrition in controlled conditions. L. arenarius plants exhibited high tolerance to sodium salts, with distinct effects on growth and development observed between chloride and nitrate treatments. While both salts negatively impacted root biomass, nitrate treatment (50–100 mmol L⁻¹) increased leaf number and biomass in LA2 plants, whereas chloride treatment decreased tiller and leaf sheath biomass. Despite individual variations, salinity treatments showed comparable effects on traits like tiller and leaf count, as well as leaf blade and sheath biomass. Salinity increased water content in leaf blades, sheaths, and roots, with LA2 plants showing the most pronounced effects. Chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements indicated a positive impact of NaNO₃ treatment on photosynthesis at intermediate salt concentrations, but a decrease at high salinity, particularly in LA2 plants. The accumulation capacity for Na⁺ in nitrate-treated plants reached 30 and 20 g kg⁻¹ in leaves and roots, respectively. In contrast, the accumulation capacity in chloride-treated plants was significantly lower, approximately 10 g kg⁻¹, in both leaves and roots. Both treatments increased nitrogen, phosphorus, and manganese concentrations in leaves and roots, with varying effects on calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and copper concentrations depending on the type of salt and tissue. These findings highlight the potential of L. arenarius for restoring saline and nitrogen-contaminated environments and position it as a valuable model for advancing research on salt tolerance mechanisms to improve cereal crop resilience. Full article

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have attracted remarkable interest in display and lighting. To effectively address triplet exciton harvesting and enhance external quantum efficiency (EQE), delayed fluorescence AIEgens have gained significant prominence. The primary luminescence mechanism involves the efficient harvesting of triplet excitons via reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) channels, categorized into three types: thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF), hybridized local and charge transfer (HLCT), and triplet–triplet annihilation (TTA). In this review, we summarize the recent development of doped and non-doped delayed fluorescent AIEgens-based OLEDs. This review mainly discusses the molecular design strategies and photophysical properties of delayed fluorescent AIEgens and the electroluminescent properties of OLEDs as emitting layers. Finally, the challenges and prospects of delayed fluorescent AIEgens for the fabrication of OLEDs are also briefly discussed. Full article

Photodynamic therapy is a cancer treatment that relies on a photosensitizer (PS) to generate reactive oxygen species upon light activation, thereby destroying cancer cells. The photophysical properties of porphyrins make them effective PSs, while nanoparticles (NPs) enhance their delivery and stability. The bioavailability and targeting efficiency of NPs-PS complexes may be improved through transport via human serum albumin (HSA). This study investigates the HSA binding affinity with 5,10,15,20-(Tetra-4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP) and with TiO₂-TCPP complexes. The interactions were analyzed using UV-Vis absorption, laser-induced fluorescence (LIF), and FTIR spectroscopy. Molecular docking was performed and provided consistent binding constant values for the TCPP–HSA complex with UV-Vis absorption measurements. LIF data revealed a slightly lower affinity when compare free porphyrin with TiO₂-TCPP, possibly due to competitive binding between TiO₂ and HSA. Docking simulations indicated that TCPP favorably interacts with amino acid residues located in subdomains IB and IIIA of HSA, supporting a preferential binding near Sudlow site I. FTIR measurements revealed conformational changes in HSA for both its interactions with TCPP and TiO₂-TCPP, including alterations in α-helical content and reorganization of the hydrogen bonding network within the polypeptide backbone. Full article

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) play crucial roles in the growth and survival of microorganisms. However, the lack of effective evaluation for extraction methods has limited further investigations and applications of EPS. This study established a quantitative assessment system for algal EPS thermal extraction methods based on extraction yield, cell integrity, and EPS chemical properties. An extraction efficiency parameter (ε) was introduced to quantify the relationship between EPS yield and cell rupture. Thermal treatment proved to be an effective approach for algal EPS extraction. Using the proposed evaluation system, the extraction methods for EPS of Microcystis were compared and optimized, including the following treatments: NaOH, NaCl, and buffer solutions (borate, phosphate, Tris-HCl). The results demonstrated that heating at 55 °C for 30 min with borate buffer achieved the highest extraction efficiency for EPS, with an ε value of 11.06 ± 1.13. In contrast, NaOH treatment at 60 °C for 30 min resulted in 30.4% cell rupture and the lowest ε value (9.7 ± 0.81). Furthermore, the modeled cell rupture rates aligned with flow cytometry and three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy analyses. The EPS extraction evaluation system developed in this study was empirically validated as a robust tool for optimizing extraction protocols for algal EPS. Full article

Background/Objectives: Formation of tight contacts between oral soft tissue and dental implants is a significant challenge in contemporary implantology. An essential role in this process is played by oral epithelial cells. In the present study, we investigated how titanium and zirconia surfaces with different roughness influence various parameters of oral epithelial cells in vitro. Methods: We used the human oral squamous carcinoma Ca9-22 cell line and cultured them on the following surfaces: machined smooth titanium (TiM) and zirconia (ZrM) surfaces, as well as sandblasted and acid-etched titanium moderately rough (SLA) and zirconia (ZLA) surfaces. Cell proliferation/viability was measured by CCK-8 assay, and cell morphology was analyzed by fluorescent microscopy. The gene expression of interleukin (IL)-8, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, E-cadherin, integrin (ITG)-α6, and ITG-β4 was measured by qPCR, and the content of IL-8 in conditioned media by ELISA. Results: At the initial culture phase, cell proliferation was promoted by rougher surfaces. Differences in cell attachment were observed between machined and moderately rough surfaces. Machined surfaces were associated with slightly higher IL-8 levels (p < 0.05). Furthermore, both ZLA and SLA surfaces promoted the expression of (ITG)-α, ITG-β4, and ICAM-1 in Ca9-22 cells (p < 0.05). Surface material had no impact on the investigated parameters. Conclusions: Under the limitations of this in vitro study, some properties of oral epithelial cells, particularly the immunological and barrier function, are moderately modified by roughness but not by material. Hence, the roughness of the implant surface might play a role in the quality of the peri-implant epithelium. Full article