Search Results (675)

The structural and immunomodulatory properties of arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) from edible medicinal plants remain largely unexplored. Here, A homogenous AG-II-like arabinogalactan protein (CTSP-W2, 9862 Da) was isolated from Cynanchum thesioides via hot-water extraction, ethanol precipitation, and column chromatography. Its structure was thoroughly characterized by high-performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Congo-red, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), methylation analysis. The mechanism of immune activity was examined using specific inhibitors, Western blotting, and molecular docking. It comprises galactose, arabinose, glucose, galacturonic acid, xylose, and 18 amino acids (asparagine-rich), with a backbone of →3,6)-Galp-(1→ and →6)-Galp-(1→. CTSP-W2 significantly enhanced macrophage proliferation, phagocytosis, and secretion of Nitric oxide (NO), Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and Interleukin-6 (IL-6). Inhibitor assays showed that Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4,TAK-242) and Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9 ,E6446) antagonists markedly reduced CTSP-W2-induced TNF-α, IL-6, and NO in a dose-dependent manner, whereas Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) inhibition (C29) unexpectedly upregulated these mediators. Western blot revealed that CTSP-W2 upregulated TLR4 and TLR9 protein expression and increased phosphorylation of Inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B alpha (IκBα), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB p65), and p38, indicating activation of the TLR4/9–NF-κB–p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling axis. Furthermore, Molecular docking analysis further indicated that CTSP-W2 forms extremely strong hydrogen-bonding and hydrophobic interactions with TLR4 through its galactose chains. This study elucidates the immunoregulatory mechanism of CTSP-W2 and establishes a molecular basis for arabinogalactan proteins as potential natural immunomodulators. Full article

In this study, a CFRP@NiO composite was successfully synthesized via a hydrothermal process using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as a surfactant. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the formation of face-centered cubic (FCC) NiO. Morphological characterization revealed that the CFRP exhibited a tube-like structure with an average diameter of approximately 6 μm, uniformly decorated with NiO nanoparticles. The presence of SDS promoted the introduction of hydroxyl (–OH) functional groups onto the CFRP surface, enhancing its surface functionality and facilitating the homogeneous deposition of NiO nanoparticles. This surface modification also contributed to the improved thermal stability of the CFRP@NiO composite. Electrochemical measurements demonstrated a remarkable enhancement in capacitive performance. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) results showed that the specific capacitance increased from 10 to 135 F g⁻¹ at a scan rate of 5 mV s⁻¹ after NiO incorporation. Furthermore, galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) analysis revealed significantly extended charge–discharge times, confirming the superior energy storage capability of the CFRP@NiO composite compared with pristine CFRP. Full article

Fish scales are collagen-rich processing by-products with considerable potential as a sustainable source of non-mammalian gelatin. This study aimed to extract gelatin from Rohu (Labeo rohita) fish scales and comprehensively characterize its physicochemical, thermal, structural, rheological, textural and functional properties for potential food and industrial applications. Gelatin was extracted by acid demineralization followed by hot-water extraction and characterized using physicochemical analyses, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE), texture profile analysis (TPA) and functional property measurements. The extracted gelatin exhibited a yield of 21.86%, a protein content of 88.37%, an ash content of 1.5%, a gel strength of 182.82 g, a viscosity of 6.56 cP, a solubility of 87.49%, a melting temperature of 23.38 °C, a setting temperature of 20.4 °C and a setting time of 660 s. FTIR and SDS–PAGE confirmed the characteristic structural features of type I collagen-derived gelatin with well-preserved α₁, α₂ and β chains. The gelatin also demonstrated favorable water-holding capacity (169.70%), fat-binding capacity (188.50%), foaming capacity (193.33%) and foaming stability (77.65%), while emulsion capacity and stability increased with gelatin concentration, reaching 44.11% and 42.15%, respectively, at a gelatin concentration of 2.0%. These findings demonstrate the potential of Rohu fish scale gelatin as a sustainable, value-added non-mammalian biomaterial for food, packaging, pharmaceutical and related industrial applications while promoting the valorization of fish-processing waste. Full article

Emulsified collectors (ECs) have attracted increasing attention in coal slime flotation because of their superior dispersion characteristics and collecting performance compared with conventional hydrocarbon collectors. However, the relationship between flotation performance and the effects of ECs on microorganisms in circulating water remains poorly understood. In this study, four ECs were prepared using cationic (dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB)), anionic (sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)), nonionic (Tween-80), and solid particle-based (β-cyclodextrin (CD)) emulsifiers. The droplet size distribution, flotation performance, adsorption behavior, and microbial response were systematically evaluated. The results showed that ECs significantly improved coal slime flotation compared with conventional kerosene. Among the surfactant-based ECs, smaller oil droplet sizes resulted in higher clean coal recovery, demonstrating the critical role of collector dispersion in flotation performance. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy provided qualitative evidence of stronger relative adsorption of ECs on coal surfaces than that of conventional kerosene. Yeast survival tests revealed that all ECs exhibited less adverse impact on microorganisms than kerosene. However, for surfactant-based ECs, microbial survival decreased as flotation performance increased. A preliminary negative correlation (R² = 0.9323, n = 4, where “n” denotes the number of collector formulations tested) was observed between the yeast survival rate and the number of oil droplets, suggesting that fine oil droplets remaining in the aqueous phase may have contributed to reduced microbial viability. In contrast, the β-CD-stabilized Pickering emulsion achieved both the highest flotation efficiency index (56.22) and the highest yeast survival rate (66.49%), outperforming Tween-80-EC (54.90 and 58.65%), SDS-EC (50.95 and 61.45%), DTAB-EC (50.08 and 63.31%), and conventional kerosene (40.32 and 53.35%). These findings demonstrate the importance of balancing flotation performance and environmental compatibility in the design of sustainable flotation collectors for coal processing. Full article

The growing demand for sustainable protein sources is driving the development of marine by-product utilization. Mussel byssus, which is currently discarded during mussel processing, could be used to produce collagen-derived biomaterials. This study tested the hypothesis that ultrasound-assisted extraction could improve collagen recovery by comparing its efficiency with that of conventional pepsin-assisted extraction. The latter is time-consuming and inefficient. While conventional pepsin-assisted extraction achieved a higher collagen-derived material recovery yield (10.7%) than ultrasound-assisted extraction (5.1%), ultrasound reduced the extraction time from 72 h to just two hours. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed that the characteristic amide bands were preserved in the collagen-derived material extracted using both methods. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed thermal transitions at 59 °C for pepsin-assisted extracts and 57 °C for ultrasound-assisted extracts, indicating comparable thermal stability. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed predominantly low-molecular-weight protein fragments (<20 kDa), suggesting the presence of collagen-derived peptides rather than intact native collagen. Overall, ultrasound-assisted extraction preserved the structural and thermal characteristics of the extracted material while drastically reducing processing time. This highlights its potential as a rapid, environmentally friendly and sustainable technology for the valorization of mussel byssus within a circular bioeconomy. Full article

This work investigates the photo-Fenton degradation of azo dyes in an aqueous medium rich in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), using methyl orange (MO) as a model contaminant. Chemometric modeling was integrated with mechanistic analysis to elucidate the role of the micellar pseudophase in radical distribution, dye partitioning, and overall reaction efficiency. A sequential experimental design strategy was applied, combining fractional factorial design and response surface methodology (RSM) to evaluate the individual and interactive effects of key operational variables and determine the optimal operating conditions for maximum degradation efficiency. Under optimized conditions (pH 2.85, [H₂O₂] = 100 mM, [Fe²⁺] = 0.5 mM, [SDS] = 13 mM, [MO] = 0.01 mM), MO degradation reached 98.4% in 5 min. Spectroscopic and partitioning studies revealed a strong affinity of MO for the micellar interface, indicating preferential localization in a microheterogeneous environment. Radical scavenging experiments confirmed that hydroxyl radicals are the dominant oxidizing species in water, while the reduction observed in the presence of SDS suggested secondary radical pathways derived from the surfactant under micellar conditions. Kinetic analyses highlighted the role of intermolecular interactions and micellar compartmentalization in radical generation. The optimized system was successfully extended to other azo dyes, underscoring the potential of surfactant-rich organized media to enhance photo-Fenton reactions in complex aqueous environments. Full article

Information security and anti-counterfeiting are crucial across various industries. To address the limitations of traditional anti-counterfeiting materials, including low responsiveness, easy replication, and poor environmental stability, a fluorescein (Flu) loaded zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) photothermal-responsive anti-counterfeiting hydrogel was designed. Flu was first confined within ZIF-8 via a one-pot method and then embedded into a polyacrylamide/lauryl methacrylate (PAM/LMA) network. This hydrogel emits intense green luminescence under 365 nm UV illumination. Its fluorescence can be quenched by Fe³⁺ and recovered upon exposure to PO₄³⁻, which endows the material with rewritable data storage capacity. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sodium chloride (NaCl) in the hydrogel provide a temperature-dependent reversible transparency transition, allowing multi-level information encryption through the synergistic action of temperature, ions, and UV light. In addition, the hydrogel also features low toxicity, degradability, and an environmentally friendly solvent-free synthesis. This work demonstrates a multi-stimuli responsive strategy that overcomes the limitation of traditional single-responsive anti-counterfeiting materials, offering a promising approach for the design of rewritable and eco-friendly intelligent anti-counterfeiting systems and serving as a reference for the development of multifunctional responsive materials. Full article

Controlling the interfacial behavior is essential for understanding the efficiency of surfactant–nanoparticle systems in practice. In this study, we investigate how silica (SiO₂) nanoparticles alter the surface and interfacial properties of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solutions at water–air and water–hexane interfaces, as well as their impact on the formation and stabilization of foams. While the negatively charged SiO₂ nanoparticles alone exhibit negligible surface activity, their combination with SDS leads to the formation of composite interfacial layers with enhanced surface pressure and dilational viscoelasticity. The increase in interfacial pressure reflects a high surface concentration and denser packing of SDS–SiO₂ associates. Interfacial rheology measurements show that SDS–SiO₂ nanofluids form more elastic interfacial films compared to pure SDS, with a maximum dilational elasticity at intermediate surfactant concentrations. This indicates the formation of mechanically stronger interfacial layers capable of resisting deformation. Foam experiments demonstrate that silica nanoparticles significantly improve foam formation and foam stability. These improvements correlate with increased surface pressure and interfacial elasticity, demonstrating that foam stability is primarily determined by the formation of robust interfacial layers and not solely by a reduction in surface tension. Overall, this study demonstrates how the presence of silica nanoparticles can affect the adsorption of SDS via hydrophobic interaction, leading to the formation of stronger interfacial films, improved foam stability, and expanded potential for applications in industrial processes, such as foam flooding based on nanoparticle/surfactant solutions to enhance oil–gas recovery. Full article

This work investigates the effect of specific electrolytes (NaCl, KCl, MgCl₂, and CaCl₂) on bubble coalescence and the stability of the resulting foam caps in aqueous sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solutions. At low concentrations, we observe that all electrolytes studied exhibited a similar effect on bubble coalescence, driven primarily by the electrostatic screening of the repulsion between bubbles. However, a distinct divergence in behavior emerges at higher concentrations: KCl and CaCl₂ destabilize the foam, while NaCl and MgCl₂ act as foam boosters. By applying Pitzer’s theory and the concept of cohesive pressure, we propose that foam stability is governed by the hydration compatibility between the surfactant head groups and the salt ions. We describe a mechanism in which the “cohesive pressure” of the water matrix determines the efficiency of the SDS adsorption layer. Specifically, strong kosmotropic ions (e.g., Mg²⁺) preserve the hydration shell of the sulfate head groups, thereby preventing film collapse, whereas ions with lower dehydration energy (e.g., Ca²⁺) are proposed to facilitate the formation of contact ion pairs, thereby promoting rapid coalescence. Full article

Osteomyelitis remains one of the most persistent challenges in orthopedic and trauma surgery, often requiring removal of infected bone tissue segments and leaving critical size defects. Reimplantation of sterilized autologous bone may combine optimal anatomical fit with biological compatibility. This study investigates sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) in combination with high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) as a physicochemical sterilization approach for Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, two of the predominant pathogens associated with osteomyelitis. SDS/EDTA dose determination assays were performed prior to inactivation of different staphylococcal species via HHP with additives. Planktonic S. aureus ATCC 35556 and S. epidermidis ATCC 35984 and ATCC 12228 were exposed to HHP (250 MPa and 350 MPa) in pressure-transmitting media with SDS and EDTA. Furthermore, inactivation of S. aureus and S. epidermidis within biofilms on human trabecular bone cylinders was quantified based on logarithmic reduction factors and evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Under HHP, planktonic S. aureus displayed pronounced pressure tolerance, whereas both S. epidermidis strains were fully inactivated at 350 MPa even in 0.9% saline. The addition of SDS/EDTA, which exhibited additive effects (fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) = 0.7) in planktonic S. aureus, significantly enhanced pressure-induced killing, particularly in biofilms typically limiting sterilization efficiency. SEM revealed substantial membrane deformation and cell wall disruption following the treatment. HHP combined with SDS/EDTA effectively inactivated planktonic and biofilm-associated staphylococci, providing a promising strategy for safe autologous bone reimplantation after infection with the potential to improve clinical outcomes. Full article

Background: Viral vectors are indispensable tools in gene therapy and neural circuit mapping, offering promising therapeutic strategies for diverse genetic diseases and advancing neuroscience research. To achieve high transduction efficiency while mitigating impurity-induced immunogenicity, the development of viral vectors with improved purity and quality is essential. However, this critical requirement is often unmet by conventional purification methods such as ultracentrifugation, which are time-consuming and frequently result in limited product purity. The pseudorabies virus (PRV) is extensively employed as a viral tool for mapping neural circuits, where improved purity contributes to enhanced accuracy of neural tracing. PRV531 is a retrograde trans-synaptic tracer modified from the PRV Bartha strain, specifically designed to facilitate the precise visualization of hierarchical neural networks. Methods: In this study, we developed a method for the concentration and purification of PRV531 by integrating hollow fiber ultrafiltration (HF) with Capto^TM Core 700 (CC700) chromatography. Initially, to concentrate the viral supernatant, a 500 kDa HF membrane was employed, maintaining a feed flow rate of 80 mL/min, a shear rate ranging from 2000 to 6000 s⁻¹, and a transmembrane pressure (TMP) between 0.5 and 1 bar. Following concentration, the virus underwent purification through CC700 chromatography, operating at linear flow rates ranging from 100 to 300 cm/h. Results: Sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed distinct bands consistent with the expected sizes of major PRV structural proteins, each with molecular weights ranging from 25 kDa to 150 kDa, concurrently demonstrating a substantial reduction in host cell proteins (HCPs) contamination. The purified PRV531 achieved a high final infectious titer of 3.55 × 10⁹ PFU/mL, with an overall functional virus recovery of 8.88% from the crude supernatant to the final product. Conclusion: These data demonstrate that TFF combined with CC700 resin can efficiently purify retrograde trans-synaptic PRV tracer. Furthermore, this approach provides a promising strategy for purifying other viral-based tracers that traditionally rely on conventional centrifugation methods. Full article

The increasing discharge of cobalt-containing effluents from metallurgical, electroplating, and battery-related industries necessitates the development of efficient and stable separation technologies. In this study, a sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-assisted micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) process was systematically evaluated for the removal of Co²⁺ from aqueous solutions using a flat-sheet polyethersulfone (PES) membrane operated under crossflow conditions. The effects of surfactant concentration, initial solution pH, cobalt concentration, background electrolyte, and extended filtration time were examined to assess process performance and operational stability. Direct ultrafiltration of 50 mg L⁻¹ Co²⁺ without surfactant resulted in limited rejection (~18%). The introduction of SDS markedly improved removal efficiency, achieving >99% rejection at and above 1 critical micelle concentration (CMC). An SDS dosage of 1 CMC provided an optimal balance between permeate flux (~155 L m⁻² h⁻¹) and cobalt removal (>99%). The system maintained high rejection efficiency across a pH range of 3–9, demonstrating robust cobalt–micelle interactions. Increasing the initial cobalt concentration from 10 to 50 mg L⁻¹ caused a moderate decline in flux but did not significantly affect rejection efficiency. In contrast, elevated ionic strength due to NaNO₃ addition reduced both flux and cobalt removal, highlighting the influence of competing ions on micelle-mediated separation. Long-term continuous operation for 40 h showed stable permeate flux and sustained cobalt rejection above 99%, indicating minimal fouling. FTIR and SEM–EDS analyses confirmed membrane chemical stability and negligible cobalt deposition. These findings demonstrate that SDS-based MEUF is an effective and operationally stable approach for cobalt removal from contaminated water systems. Full article

Korean native black goat is commonly consumed as thermally processed extracts and is widely perceived to exhibit health-promoting properties; however, the contribution of intrinsic muscle proteins to these functional characteristics remains unclear. This study evaluated the effects of thermal processing on the antioxidant activity of myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic protein fractions using a screening-based approach. Protein fractions were extracted and subjected to various thermal conditions (60–121 °C), followed by analyses of extractable protein, α-amino group content, and antioxidant activities, including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, iron-chelating ability, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Thermal processing increased α-amino group content, particularly in the myofibrillar fraction, indicating enhanced protein degradation. Antioxidant activities improved with increasing temperature, with myofibrillar proteins showing stronger activity than sarcoplasmic proteins. Sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) indicated fragmentation in myofibrillar proteins and aggregation in sarcoplasmic proteins. Cluster analysis supported fraction-dependent differences in antioxidant responses. These findings suggest that thermal processing enhances antioxidant activity in a protein fraction-dependent manner and provide practical insights for optimizing processing conditions of Korean native black goat extracts. Full article

This study examined the effects of several selected commercial detergents (cleaning cream, window cleaner liquid, lavender-scented dishwashing liquid, mint-scented dishwashing liquid, and pomegranate–verbena-scented dishwashing liquid) and the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on small aquatic invertebrates. The combined effects of these detergents with sodium chloride (NaCl) were also analysed. Acute toxicity tests were conducted on Chaoborus sp. larvae and Chironomus aprilinus Meigen larvae. These tests demonstrated that all tested substances were lethal to both taxa, although the effect on Chaoborus larvae was weaker. Tests involving sodium chloride combined with detergents yielded results similar to those obtained with detergents alone. LT₅₀ and 24 h LC₅₀ values were calculated. Chronic toxicity tests were conducted on meiobenthic assemblages sampled from two water bodies with contrasting ecological status: very good and eutrophic. Bray–Curtis faunal similarity analysis consistently separated control samples from detergent samples as a distinct cluster. The results indicated toxic effects at all tested dilutions and in samples from both water bodies. Among the observed taxa, Rotifera, Nematoda, Cladocera, Copepoda, Ostracoda, Insecta Diptera larvae, Insecta adult, Gastropoda, and Bivalvia, Ostracoda showed the greatest resistance to detergents, while Rotifera, Nematoda, Cladocera, and Copepoda demonstrated the highest sensitivity. A decrease in abundance and biodiversity was observed in all meiobenthic samples relative to the control samples. The results have a dual significance: 1. based on the obtained data, the developed procedures can be used as markers of detergent toxicity, and 2. in an economy based on sustainable development, commercial detergents should be considered as a serious source of surface water pollution affecting the ecological condition of water reservoirs and rivers. Detergents constitute a significant source of pollution and an obstacle to sustainable development in surface water protection. Full article

This study focused on the inhibitory effects of wheat bran feruloyl oligosaccharides (FOs) on the formation of AGEs in three bovine serum albumin (BSA)-based non-enzymatic glycation models, namely BSA-fructose, BSA-methylglyoxal (MGO), and BSA-glyoxal (GO). In the BSA-fructose model, FOs at 0.25 mg/mL achieved a 62% inhibition rate of fructosamine, equivalent to approximately 78% of the activity of the positive control aminoguanidine (AG), and reduced fluorescent AGEs by over 50% on day 12. Additionally, FOs suppressed the accumulation of α-dicarbonyl compounds, key intermediates in the glycation pathway. In the BSA-MGO and BSA-GO system, the decreased fluorescence intensity of tryptophan residues indicated that FOs bound to BSA, inducing conformational changes in the protein microenvironment; this binding also inhibited protein carbonyl formation and the loss of thiol groups, thereby modulating the protein glycation process. Compared with their precursors (ferulic acid, FA; xylooligosaccharides, XOS), FOs exhibited comparable or even superior inhibitory activity against specific AGE subtypes, suggesting a synergistic effect between the feruloyl and oligosaccharide moieties. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed that FOs reduced the band intensity of 90 kDa AGEs in the glycation system, indicating the inhibition of protein-fructose cross-linking. Fluorescence spectroscopy confirmed that FOs dynamically quenched BSA with a single binding site, and thermodynamic calculations demonstrated that the binding was spontaneous (ΔG < 0), primarily driven by hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces (ΔH < 0, ΔS < 0). This study systematically investigated the anti-glycation activities of FOs and their precursors. The findings demonstrate that FOs are promising natural glycation inhibitors and provide important theoretical and experimental support for related research. Furthermore, this study establish a basis for the green and high-value utilization of agricultural by-products like wheat bran. Full article