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Efficient route planning technology is the core support for ensuring the successful execution of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight missions. In this paper, the coordination issue of global route planning and local real-time obstacle avoidance in complex mountainous environments is studied. To deal with this issue, a hierarchical route planning framework is designed, including global route planning and AI-based local route re-planning using deep reinforcement learning, exhibiting both flexible versatility and practical coordination and deployment efficiency. Throughout the entire flight, the local route re-planning task triggered by dynamic threats can be executed in real time. Meanwhile, a multi-model DQN (MMDQN) agent with a Monte Carlo traversal iterative learning (MCTIL) strategy is designed for local route re-planning. Compared to existing methods, this agent can be directly used to generate local obstacle avoidance routes in various scenarios at any time during the flight, which simplifies the complicated structure and training process of conventional deep reinforcement learning (DRL) agents in dynamic, complex environments. Using the framework structure and MMDQN agent for local route re-planning ensures the safety and efficiency of the mission, as well as local obstacle avoidance during global flights. These performances are verified through simulations based on actual terrain data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in AI Large Models for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles)

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29 pages, 2156 KB

Open AccessArticle

Electro-Actuated Customizable Stacked Fin Ray Gripper for Adaptive Object Handling

by Ratchatin Chancharoen, Kantawatchr Chaiprabha, Worathris Chungsangsatiporn, Pimolkan Piankitrungreang, Supatpromrungsee Saetia, Tanarawin Viravan and Gridsada Phanomchoeng

Actuators 2026, 15(1), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/act15010052 (registering DOI) - 13 Jan 2026

Abstract

Soft robotic grippers provide compliant and adaptive manipulation, but most existing designs address actuation speed, adaptability, modularity, or sensing individually rather than in combination. This paper presents an electro-actuated customizable stacked Fin Ray gripper that integrates these capabilities within a single design. The gripper employs a compact solenoid for fast grasping, multiple vertically stacked Fin Ray segments for improved 3D conformity, and interchangeable silicone or TPU fins that can be tuned for task-specific stiffness and geometry. In addition, a light-guided, vision-based sensing approach is introduced to capture deformation without embedded sensors. Experimental studies—including free-fall object capture and optical shape sensing—demonstrate rapid solenoid-driven actuation, adaptive grasping behavior, and clear visual detectability of fin deformation. Complementary simulations using Cosserat-rod modeling and bond-graph analysis characterize the deformation mechanics and force response. Overall, the proposed gripper provides a practical soft-robotic solution that combines speed, adaptability, modular construction, and straightforward sensing for diverse object-handling scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soft Actuators and Robotics—2nd Edition)

29 pages, 1590 KB

Open AccessArticle

Structural Characterization and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of an Alginate Extracted from the Brown Seaweed Ericaria amentacea

by Maha Moussa, Serena Mirata, Lisa Moni, Valentina Asnaghi, Marina Alloisio, Simone Pettineo, Maila Castellano, Silvia Vicini, Mariachiara Chiantore and Sonia Scarfì

Mar. Drugs 2026, 24(1), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/md24010041 (registering DOI) - 13 Jan 2026

Abstract

Brown algae of the Cystoseira genus are recognized as valuable sources of bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides. Within the framework of current restoration efforts regarding damaged Ericaria amentacea populations in the Mediterranean Sea, the valorization of apices derived from ex situ cultivation waste represents a sustainable opportunity for industrial and biomedical applications. In this study, sodium alginate (SA) was extracted from E. amentacea apex by-products using a hydrothermal–alkaline method and subsequently chemically characterized. FTIR analysis showed O-H, C-H, and COO- stretching compatible with commercial alginates, while 1H-NMR spectroscopy indicated high β-D-mannuronic acid content, with an M/G ratio of 2.33. The extracted SA displayed a molecular weight of 1 × 10⁴ g/mol and a polydispersity index of 3.5. The bioactive properties of the SA extract were investigated in chemico and in vitro. SA exhibited remarkable antioxidant activity, showing significant DPPH and nitric oxide-radical-scavenging capacity. Furthermore, SA demonstrated a strong anti-inflammatory effect in LPS-stimulated macrophages through modulation of several inflammatory mediators (i.e., IL-6, IL-8/CXCL5, MCP-1, and TNF-α). In particular, SA promoted a striking iNOS gene expression inhibition, which, paired with its direct NO-scavenging ability, paves the way for future pharmacological use of E. amentacea derivatives, particularly if sustainably obtained from restoration activity waste. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Extraction and Application of Functional Components in Algae)

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10 pages, 648 KB

Open AccessCommunication

How Dairy Cows Are Culled from Freestall-Housed Dairy Herds in Wisconsin

by Kaitlin I. Buterbaugh, Thomas B. Naze and Nigel B. Cook

Animals 2026, 16(2), 238; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16020238 (registering DOI) - 13 Jan 2026

Abstract

Efforts to improve efficiency and profitability on dairy farms have renewed focus on how culling practices affect herd sustainability and economic outcomes. This study surveyed decision-makers on 60 high-producing, freestall-housed dairy farms in Wisconsin, with a mean (SD) turnover rate of 36.0 (8.0)%. Using a structured questionnaire, we examined herd management, culling criteria, and motivations. Most farms (93%) used on-farm management systems to guide culling, yet only 48% used designated reports, relying instead on individual cow records. Milk production, infertility, and somatic cell count were the top culling criteria, with high milk yield cited as the most difficult factor in removal decisions. While 54% recorded the most obvious reason for culling, only 7% documented multiple causes. Cull cows were typically transported by third parties; 80% farms sent cows directly to slaughter, while 52% sent them to auction. One-third of farms sold cows for continued dairy use. Euthanasia was performed on 93% of farms, mostly by employees, with minimal veterinary input. The study aimed to investigate producer perspectives on the culling decision-making process on commercial dairy farms. The findings highlight opportunities for improved veterinary involvement and the use of structured herd-level reports to support more strategic culling decisions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Animal System and Management)

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14 pages, 5887 KB

Open AccessArticle

Trisferrocenyltrithiophosphite-Copper(I) Bromide Composites for Electrochemical CO₂ Reduction

by Mikhail Khrizanforov, Ilya Bezkishko, Anastasiia Samorodnova, Ruslan Shekurov, Radis Gainullin, Kirill Kholin, Igor Yanilkin, Aidar Gubaidullin, Alexey Galushko and Vasili Miluykov

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(2), 789; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27020789 (registering DOI) - 13 Jan 2026

Abstract

Copper-based catalysts have emerged as promising materials for electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reactions, owing to copper’s unique ability to facilitate multi-electron transfer processes and produce valuable products such as methanol and ethanol. In this study, novel trisferrocenyltrithiophosphite–copper(I) bromide composites with Cu-to-ligand molar ratios of 1:1 and 2:1 were synthesized and evaluated for their catalytic performance. The composites were characterized by a combination of techniques, including powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), potentiostatic testing, chromatographic analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Electrochemical measurements demonstrated significant current enhancements in the presence of CO₂, highlighting the composites’ catalytic activity. Potentiostatic tests revealed excellent stability, with only a 9% decline in current density over 5 h of electrolysis. Product analysis via gas chromatography indicated the formation of methanol for the 1:1 composite and ethanol for the 2:1 composite with Faradaic efficiencies of 5.79% and 9.26%, respectively. While absolute efficiencies remain modest due to competitive hydrogen evolution, these results demonstrate a tunable catalytic performance based on the Cu-to-ligand ratio. SEM and XPS studies further supported the formation of active catalytic centers and changes in the oxidation states of copper during CO₂ reduction. PXRD analysis confirmed the retention of structural integrity for both composites before and after catalytic testing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Electrochemical-Related Materials)

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19 pages, 4811 KB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Structure and Electromagnetic Properties of a Dual-Channel Coupled Radial Magnetic Field Resolver

by Hao Wang, Jundi Wang, Hong Chen and Changchao Li

Vehicles 2026, 8(1), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/vehicles8010018 (registering DOI) - 13 Jan 2026

Abstract

This paper presents a kind of dual-channel coupled radial magnetic field resolver (DCCRMFR). The exciting winding and signal winding of this resolver adopt the structure of orthogonal phase. The number of turns and distribution of the four phase signal winding have been designed. The rotor has a double-wave magnetic conductive material structure. The variable reluctance mechanism between the stator and the rotor is derived by analytical method, and the feasibility of changing the coupling area for variable reluctance is obtained. The inductance of DCCRMFR was theoretically derived through the winding function method and combined with the finite element simulation method to obtain the inductance variation law and verify the correctness of the resolver design. Then simulation analysis was conducted on the output signal of DCCRMFR to extract the total harmonic distortion (THD) of the envelope of the electromotive force (EMF) output from the signal winding. Taking THD as the optimization objective, the optimized DCCRMFR simulation model is obtained by analyzing the air-gap length between the stator and the rotor and the thickness ratio of rotor. Finally, experimental measurements were conducted on a prototype model of a two pole pairs DCCRMFR, and the measurement results were compared and analyzed with simulation results to verify the correctness of the structural design and optimization of this DCCRMFR. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Next-Generation Power Electronics and Charging Technologies for Electric Vehicles)

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20 pages, 33907 KB

Open AccessArticle

GLCN: Graph-Aware Locality-Enhanced Cross-Modality Re-ID Network

by Junjie Cao, Yuhang Yu, Rong Rong and Xing Xie

J. Imaging 2026, 12(1), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/jimaging12010042 (registering DOI) - 13 Jan 2026

Abstract

Cross-modality person re-identification faces challenges such as illumination discrepancies, local occlusions, and inconsistent modality structures, leading to misalignment and sensitivity issues. We propose GLCN, a framework that addresses these problems by enhancing representation learning through locality enhancement, cross-modality structural alignment, and intra-modality compactness. Key components include the Locality-Preserved Cross-branch Fusion (LPCF) module, which combines Local–Positional–Channel Gating (LPCG) for local region and positional sensitivity; Cross-branch Context Interpolated Attention (CCIA) for stable cross-branch consistency; and Graph-Enhanced Center Geometry Alignment (GE-CGA), which aligns class-center similarity structures across modalities to preserve category-level relationships. We also introduce Intra-Modal Prototype Discrepancy Mining Loss (IPDM-Loss) to reduce intra-class variance and improve inter-class separation, thereby creating more compact identity structures in both RGB and IR spaces. Extensive experiments on SYSU-MM01, RegDB, and other benchmarks demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infrared Image Processing with Artificial Intelligence: Progress and Challenges)

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18 pages, 10340 KB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Study on Thermal–Flow Characteristics of Liquid Metal Blankets in a Magnetic Field

by Shuaibing Chang, Feng Li and Jiewen Deng

Magnetochemistry 2026, 12(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/magnetochemistry12010010 (registering DOI) - 13 Jan 2026

Abstract

The tokamak is a toroidal device that utilizes magnetic confinement to achieve controlled nuclear fusion. One of the major technical challenges hindering the development of this technology lies in effectively dissipating the generated heat. In this study, the inner blanket structure of a tokamak is selected as the research object, and a multi–physics numerical model coupling magnetic field, temperature field, and flow field is established. The effects of background magnetic field strength, blanket channel width, and inlet velocity of the liquid metal coolant on the thermal–flow characteristics of the blanket were systematically investigated. The results indicate that compared with the L-shaped channel, the U-shaped channel reduces flow resistance in the turning region by 6%, exhibits a more uniform temperature distribution, and decreases the outlet–inlet temperature difference by 4%, thereby significantly enhancing the heat transfer efficiency. An increase in background magnetic field strength suppresses coolant flow but has only a limited impact on the temperature field. When the background magnetic field reaches a certain strength, the magnetic field has a certain hindering effect on the flow of the working fluid. Increasing the thickness of the blankets appropriately can alleviate the hindering effect of the magnetic field on the flow and improve the velocity distribution in the outlet area. Full article

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46 pages, 3979 KB

Open AccessArticle

GeoMIP: A Geometric-Topological and Dynamic Programming Framework for Enhanced Computational Tractability of Minimum Information Partition in Integrated Information Theory

by Jaime Díaz-Arancibia, Luz Enith Guerrero, Jeferson Arango-López, Luis Fernando Castillo and Ana Bustamante-Mora

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(2), 809; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16020809 (registering DOI) - 13 Jan 2026

Abstract

The computational tractability of Integrated Information Theory (IIT) is fundamentally constrained by the exponential cost of identifying the Minimum Information Partition (MIP), which is required to quantify integrated information (Φ). Existing approaches become impractical beyond ~15–20 variables, limiting IIT analyses on realistic neural and complex systems. We introduce GeoMIP, a geometric–topological framework that recasts the MIP search as a graph-based optimization problem on the n-dimensional hypercube graph: discrete system states are modeled as graph vertices, and Hamming distance adjacency defines edges and shortest-path structures. Building on a tensor-decomposed representation of the transition probabilities, GeoMIP constructs a transition-cost (ground cost) structure by dynamic programming over graph neighborhoods and BFS-like exploration by Hamming levels, exploiting hypercube symmetries to reduce redundant evaluations. We validate GeoMIP against PyPhi, ensuring reliability of MIP identification and Φ computation. Across multiple implementations, GeoMIP achieves 165–326× speedups over PyPhi while maintaining 98–100% agreement in partition identification. Heuristic extensions further enable analyses up to ~25 variables, substantially expanding the practical IIT regime. Overall, by leveraging the hypercube’s explicit graph structure (vertices, edges, shortest paths, and automorphisms), GeoMIP turns an intractable combinatorial search into a scalable graph-based procedure for IIT partitioning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graph-Based Methods in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, 2nd Edition)

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11 pages, 1901 KB

Open AccessArticle

Serial Expression of Pro-Inflammatory Biomarkers in Acute Lung Injury During the Post-Resuscitation Periods in Rats with Cardiac Arrest

by Han-Ping Wu, Kuan-Miao Lin and Mao-Jen Lin

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(2), 786; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27020786 (registering DOI) - 13 Jan 2026

Abstract

Acute lung injury may occur after cardiac arrest (CA), with innate immunity likely playing an important role in lung inflammation after CA. This study aimed to survey serial changes in the toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 signaling pathway in post-resuscitation lung injury in CA rats. A randomized animal study was conducted in rats with CA followed by successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The expression of TLR4 pathway biomarkers was analyzed and compared to the sham controls at different time points after CA with CPR. Lung tissues were collected for histological analysis to assess structural damage. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was analyzed to quantify inflammatory cytokines and to assess changes in regulatory B cells (Bregs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs). Histological examination revealed marked pulmonary hemorrhage and structural injury shortly after CA. CA with CPR increased myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) mRNA and protein expression compared to controls at 2 h after CA. Cytokine analysis of BALF showed elevated IFN-γ, interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-10 at 2 h after CA. A reduction in Bregs was noted at 2 h, whereas Tregs transiently increased between 2 and 4 h but declined at 6 h after CA. The MyD88-dependent signaling pathway appears to be rapidly activated in rats with CA after CPR, which may contribute to the early pulmonary inflammation observed as soon as 2 h after CA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Biology)

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22 pages, 6235 KB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental and Numerical Investigation on Mechanical Behavior of Corrugated Steel–Concrete Composite Bridge Decks

by Fanlei Kong, Rongrong Bai, Junlong He, Mingzhe Li and Zhen Wang

Buildings 2026, 16(2), 330; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16020330 (registering DOI) - 13 Jan 2026

Abstract

This study presents an experimental and numerical investigation into the mechanical behavior of corrugated steel–concrete composite bridge decks with composite dowel shear connectors. Four full-scale specimens were fabricated and subjected to flexural tests to obtain and analyze the load–deflection and load–strain curves. A finite element model was developed and validated against the experimental results. The validated model was subsequently applied to analyze the load-carrying process and to perform parametric sensitivity analysis. The effects of the concrete strength grade, steel strength, corrugated steel plate thickness, concrete slab thickness, and corrugated steel plate height on the ultimate bearing capacity were evaluated. The results indicate that corrugated steel–concrete composite bridge decks were subjected to concrete shear failure. The ultimate bearing capacity of the bridge deck reached approximately 3.36 times the design value, demonstrating a high safety reserve. Throughout the entire flexural failure process, the shear connectors performed effectively, with only minimal relative slip observed at the steel–concrete interface. At the instance of failure, only partial areas of the corrugated steel plate yielded. To fully exploit the structural potential, the key design parameters require rational coordination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Building Structures)

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11 pages, 4409 KB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis and Characterization of Ibuprofen–TiO₂ Functionalized PCL Biomembranes as Candidate Materials for Wound Dressing Applications

by Jael Adrian Vergara-Lope Nuñez, Amaury Pozos-Guillén, Marine Ortiz-Magdaleno, Israel Alfonso Núñez-Tapia, Silvia Maldonado Frias, Marco Antonio Álvarez-Pérez and Febe Carolina Vazquez-Vazquez

Bioengineering 2026, 13(1), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering13010092 (registering DOI) - 13 Jan 2026

Abstract

Wound dressing coverages (WDC) play a key role in protecting skin lesions and preventing infection. Polymeric membranes have been widely explored as WDC due to their ability to incorporate bioactive agents, including antimicrobial nanoparticles and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In this study, polycaprolactone (PCL)-based membranes functionalized with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) and ibuprofen (IBP) were fabricated using a film manufacturing approach, and their structural and biocompatibility profiles were evaluated. The membranes were characterized by SEM, FTIR and XPS. Bands at 1725 cm⁻¹, 2950 cm⁻¹, 2955 cm⁻¹, 2865 cm⁻¹ and 510 cm⁻¹ proved molecular stability of reagents during manufacture. In SEM, the control shows the flattest surface, while the PCL-IBP and PCL-IBP-TiO₂ NPs groups had increased rugosity. In vitro biocompatibility was evaluated using human fetal osteoblasts (hFOB). On day 3, the cell adhesion response of hFOB seeded in PCL-IBP and PCL-IBP-TiO₂ NPs groups showed the biggest absorbances (p = 0.0014 and p = 0.0491, respectively). On day 7 PCL-IBP group had lower lectin binding than the control (p = 0.007) and the PCL-IBP-TiO₂ NPs (p = 0.015) membranes, but no evidence of cytotoxicity was observed in any group. Furthermore, the Live/Dead test adds more biocompatibility evidence to conveniently discriminate between live and dead cells. The PCL polymeric membrane elaborated in this study may confer antiseptic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, making these membranes ideal for skin lesions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Characterization, and Application of Biomacromolecules and Biobased Polymers)

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34 pages, 5223 KB

Open AccessArticle

Practical Arguments of Prospective Primary Education Teachers in Mathematical Modelling Problems

by Carlos Ledezma, Telesforo Sol, Alicia Sánchez and Vicenç Font

Educ. Sci. 2026, 16(1), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16010118 (registering DOI) - 13 Jan 2026

Abstract

This article studies practical argumentation in the context of designing application problems and transforming them into modelling problems. To this end, the practical arguments developed by prospective primary education teachers were analysed, using a scheme for structuring and representing these arguments and a modelling cycle for representing the solution plans proposed to these problems. This is a case study with three groups of prospective teachers who were taking a course on mathematical reasoning and activity in primary education, where problem solving and mathematical modelling were the two most relevant topics. For data collection, a questionnaire was applied to and an interview was conducted with the study subjects, thus identifying nine episodes of practical argumentation based on the justification of their pedagogical decisions made on the design and transformation of problems. Also, the written reports prepared by the study subjects were reviewed to analyse their solution plans proposed to the problems. The results showed that the study subjects developed practical arguments to justify the design of motivating learning situations and problems for students in realistic contexts close to their environment and the transformation of application problems into modelling problems by eliminating data from their statements and formulating an open-ended question. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Teacher Education)

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19 pages, 3620 KB

Open AccessArticle

Decoding iNOS Inhibition: A Computational Voyage of Tavaborole Toward Restoring Endothelial Homeostasis in Venous Leg Ulcers

by Naveen Kumar Velayutham, Chitra Vellapandian, Himanshu Paliwal, Suhaskumar Patel and Bhupendra G. Prajapati

Pharmaceuticals 2026, 19(1), 137; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph19010137 (registering DOI) - 13 Jan 2026

Abstract

Background: Due to chronic venous insufficiency, venous leg ulcers (VLUs) develop as chronic wounds characterized by impaired healing, persistent inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. Nitrosative stress, mitochondrial damage, and tissue apoptosis caused by excess nitric oxide (NO) produced by iNOS in macrophages and fibroblasts are contributing factors in the chronic wound environment; therefore, pharmacological modulation of iNOS presents an attractive mechanistic target in chronic wound pathophysiology. Methods: Herein, we present the use of a structure-based computational strategy to assess the inhibition of tavaborole, a boron-based antifungal agent, against iNOS using human iNOS crystal structure (PDB ID: iNOS) by molecular docking using AutoDock 4.2, 500 ns simulation of molecular dynamics (MD), with equilibration within ~50 ns and analyses over full trajectory and binding free energy calculations through the MM-PBSA approach. Results: Docking studies showed favorable binding of tavaborole (–6.1 kcal/mol) in the catalytic domain, which stabilizes contacts with several key residues (CYS200, PRO350, PHE369, GLY371, TRP372, TYR373, and GLU377). MD trajectories for 1 ns showed stable structural configurations with negligible deviations (RMSD ≈ 0.44 ± 0.10 nm) and hydrogen bonding, and MM-PBSA analysis confirmed energetically favorable complex formation (ΔG_binding ≈ 18.38 ± 63.24 kJ/mol) similar to the control systems (L-arginine and 1400W). Conclusions: Taken together, these computational findings indicate that tavaborole can stably occupy the iNOS active site and interact with key catalytic residues, providing a mechanistic basis for further in vitro and ex vivo validation of its potential as an iNOS inhibitor to reduce nitrosative stress and restore endothelial homeostasis in venous leg ulcers, rather than direct therapeutic proof. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Boron-Containing Compounds: Identification, Synthesis, Biological Actions and Pharmacology)

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13 pages, 1671 KB

Open AccessArticle

Structural Elucidation and Moisturizing Potential of a Polysaccharide Derived from Tremella mesenterica

by Geu-Rim Song, Hye-Ryung Park, Hye-Won Lee, Seo-Young Choi, You-Ah Kim, Byoung-Jun Park and Kwang-Soon Shin

Molecules 2026, 31(2), 278; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31020278 (registering DOI) - 13 Jan 2026

Abstract

Tremella mesenterica, commonly known as the yellow brain or golden jelly fungus, has been traditionally used for its medicinal properties. In this study, we elucidated the structural characteristics of T. mesenterica polysaccharide (TMP) and evaluated its potential moisturizing mechanism in vitro, comparing it to Tremella fuciformis polysaccharide (TFP) and hyaluronic acid (HA). TMP was isolated through enzyme assisted extraction and it has a molecular weight (MW) of approximately 143 kDa. We investigated the composition of mannose, xylose, glucuronic acid, and glucose as a ratio of 59.8 ± 0.3, 24.0 ± 1.2, 11.0 ± 0.8, 5.2 ± 0.0, respectively. Through methylation and GC-MS analysis, we discovered TMP was composed of a main chain of β-(1→3)-linked mannopyranoside, substituted with various side chains such as xylopyranoside, glucuronopyranoside, glucopyranoside at the C-2 or C-4 positions of the backbone. TMP upregulated the expression of key moisturizing-related factors compared to TFP and HA, such as aquaporin-3 (AQP3) with 55% and 57% at 25 and 50 μg/mL and hyaluronic acid synthase-2 (HAS2) with 22% at 25 μg/mL, as confirmed through qRT-PCR analysis. Additionally, TMP significantly enhanced the expression of filaggrin (FLG), a critical protein involved in skin barrier function, with 22% at 25 μg/mL. Immunocytochemistry (ICC) analysis further revealed that TMP achieved the highest improvement in hyaluronic acid synthase-3 (HAS3) protein levels by 475% at 50 μg/mL. While further in vivo studies are required to substantiate its functional moisturizing efficacy, these findings suggest that TMP serves as a promising moisturizing agent. The structural and functional properties of TMP provide a potential foundation for its application in diverse industries, including cosmetics, food, biopolymers, and pharmaceuticals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspective on Polysaccharides: From Isolation to Biological Evaluation)

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