Protective effect of water-soluble nervonic acid micro-powder coated with chitosan oligosaccharide and silk fibroin on hippocampal neuronal HT22 cells.

Nervonic acid (NA) is an extremely long chain monounsaturated fatty acid that plays a crucial biological role in brain development and repair. However, its low solubility reduced bioavailability and limited its applications. In this study, spherical water-soluble nervonic acid composite micro-powder (NA-WM) was constructed by layer-by-layer self-assembly technology under electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bond, in which electronegative NA was used as the core material, and electropositive COS (Chitosan oligosaccharide) with neuroprotective properties and electronegative SF (Silk fibroin) with biocompatibility and anti-inflammatory synergism were used as the wall material. In the preparation process, the electronegative NA was first combined with electropositive COS by antisolvent method, and then the electropositive COS-NA complex was encapsulated with electronegative SF to form NA-WM. The optimal preparation conditions were screened and optimized via single-factor and BBD method. Under the optimum conditions, the average particle size of NA-WM was 420 ±â€¯35 nm. The results of TGA (Thermogravimetric), SEM (Scanning electron microscopy), and FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) confirmed that NA-WM had good thermal stability and spherical-defined layer-to-layer structure. Additionally, at pH 1.5, the NA release rate of NA-WM was as high as 89.54 % within 2.5 h. Through measuring the levels of MDA (Malondialdehyde), CAT (Catalase), SOD (Superoxide dismutase), GSH-Px (Glutathione peroxidase), and LDH (Lactate dehydrogenase), as well as flow cytometry and SEM analysis, it was confirmed that NA-WM could protect Aß1-42-induced HT22 by inhibiting oxidative stress and reducing mitochondrial membrane potential. This study provided data support for the development and application of NA.

Study on preparation of "ping-pong" ball shaped chitosan oligosaccharide - based hollow mesoporous carbon carrier for efficient anthocyanins loading.

Carriers for efficient loading and delivery of compounds are urgently needed. A multifunctional nanoplatform of ordered hollow mesoporous carbon (HMC) was developed to load anthocyanins (AN) efficiently. The morphology, specific surface area, binding mode, and biocompatibility of HMC were verified. HMCs were uniformly spherical with well-defined cavities and mesoporous shells, similar to a "ping-pong" ball shape, and this shape of HMC provided a more spatial location for the load of the AN. And the best loading result of AN was 33.39% ± 3.00%. Coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CGMD) simulations showed that HMC and AN may bind by electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonding, the binding process indicated that HMC contributed to the loading of AN, and the cytotoxicity results showed no significant toxicity of the complex. The homogeneous morphology and good biocompatibility of HMC offer new probabilities for the high effectiveness of oral delivery of active substances.

Renal-Targeted Drug Delivery by Chitosan Oligosaccharide Micelles with HSA-Enriched Protein Corona for the Treatment of Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Acute Kidney Injury.

Renal-specific nanoparticulate drug delivery systems have shown great potential in reducing systemic side effects and improving the safety and efficacy of treatments for renal diseases. Here, stearic acid-grafted chitosan oligosaccharide (COS-SA) was synthesized as a renal-targeted carrier due to the high affinity of the 2-glucosamine moiety on COS to the megalin receptor expressed on renal proximal tubular epithelial cells. Specifically, COS-SA/CLT micelles were prepared by encapsulating celastrol (CLT) with COS-SA, and different proportions of human serum albumin (HSA) were then adsorbed onto its surface to explore the interaction between the protein corona and cationic polymeric micelles. Our results showed that a multilayered protein corona, consisting of an inner "hard" corona and an outer "soft" corona, was formed on the surface of COS-SA/CLT@HSA8, which was beneficial in preventing its recognition and phagocytosis by macrophages. The formation of HSA protein corona on COS-SA/CLT micelles also increased its accumulation in the renal tubules. Furthermore, the electropositivity of COS-SA/CLT micelles affected the conformation of adsorbed proteins to various degrees. During the adsorption process, the protein corona on the surface of COS-SA/CLT@HSA1 was partially denatured. Overall, COS-SA/CLT and COS-SA/CLT@HSA micelles demonstrated sufficient safety with renal targeting potential, providing a viable strategy for the management of ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury.

Tanshinone IIA Loaded Inhaled Polymer Nanoparticles Alleviate Established Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal respiratory disease characterized by chronic, progressive scarring of the lung parenchyma, leading to an irreversible decline in lung function. Apart from supportive care, there is currently no specific treatment available to reverse the disease. Based on the fact that tanshinone IIA (TAN) had an effect on protecting against TGF-ß1-induced fibrosis through the inhibition of Smad and non-Smad signal pathways to avoid myofibroblasts activation, this study reported the development of the inhalable tanshinone IIA-loaded chitosan-oligosaccharides-coated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (CPN@TAN) for enhancing the pulmonary delivery of tanshinone IIA to treat pulmonary fibrosis. The CPN@TAN with a size of 206.5 nm exhibited excellent in vitro aerosol delivery characteristics, featuring a mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of 3.967 ± 0.025 µm and a fine particle fraction (FPF) of 70.516 ± 0.929%. Moreover, the nanoparticles showed good stability during atomization and enhanced the mucosal penetration capabilities. The results of confocal spectroscopy confirmed the potential of the nanoparticles as carriers that facilitated the uptake of drugs by NIH3T3, A549, and MH-S cells. Additionally, the nanoparticles demonstrated good in vitro biocompatibility. In a mouse model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, noninvasive inhalation of aerosol CPN@TAN greatly suppressed collagen formation and facilitated re-epithelialization of the destroyed alveolar epithelium without causing systemic toxicity compared with intravenous administration. Consequently, our noninvasive inhalation drug delivery technology based on polymers may represent a promising paradigm and open the door to overcoming the difficulties associated with managing pulmonary fibrosis.

Methotrexate-Loaded Chitosan Oligosaccharide-ES2 for Targeted Cancer Therapy.

Cancer presents a significant health threat, necessitating the development of more precise, efficient, and less damaging treatment approaches. To address this challenge, we employed the 1-ethyl-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide/N-hydroxy succinimide (EDC/NHS) catalytic system and utilized quaternized chitosan oligosaccharide (HTCOSC) as a drug carrier to construct a nanoparticle delivery system termed HTCOSC-cRGD-ES2-MTX (CREM). This system specifically targets integrin αvß3 on tumor cell surfaces and enables simultaneous loading of the antiangiogenic agent ES2 (IVRRADRAAVP) and the chemotherapy drug methotrexate (MTX). Due to its amphiphilic properties, CREM self-assembles into nanoparticles in aqueous solution, exhibiting an average diameter of 179.47 nm. Comparative studies demonstrated that CREM, in contrast to free ES2 and MTX-free nanoparticles (CRE), significantly suppressed the proliferation of EAhy926 endothelial cells and B16 melanoma cells in vitro, resulting in inhibition rates of 71.18 and 82.25%, respectively. Furthermore, CREM exhibited a hemolysis rate below 2%, indicating excellent in vitro antiangiogenic and antitumor activity as well as favorable blood compatibility. Additionally, both CRE and CREM demonstrated favorable tumor targeting capabilities through the specific binding action of cyclic RGD (cRGD) to integrin αvß3. Further in vivo investigations revealed that CREM induced apoptosis in tumor cells via the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and reduced the expression of angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), thereby inhibiting tumor angiogenesis. This potent antitumor effect was evident through a tumor suppression rate of 80.19%. Importantly, histopathological staining (HE staining) demonstrated the absence of significant toxic side effects of CREM on various organs compared to MTX. In conclusion, the CREM nano drug delivery system synergistically enhances the therapeutic efficacy of antiangiogenic drugs and chemotherapeutic agents, thus offering a novel targeted approach for cancer treatment.

Multiple omics integration analysis reveals the regulatory effect of chitosan oligosaccharide on testicular development.

Infertility is a global health problem affecting millions of people of reproductive age worldwide, with approximately half caused by males. Chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) has strong antioxidant capacity, but its impact on the male reproductive system has not been effectively evaluated. To address this, we integrated RNA-seq, serum metabolomics and intestinal 16 S rDNA analysis to conduct a comprehensive investigation on the male reproductive system. The results showed that COS has potential targets for the treatment of oligospermia, which can promote the expression of meiotic proteins DDX4, DAZL and SYCP1, benefit germ cell proliferation and testicular development, enhance antioxidant capacity, and increase the expression of testicular steroid proteins STAR and CYP11A1. At the same time, COS can activate PI3K-Akt signaling pathway in testis and TM3 cells. Microbiome and metabolomics analysis suggested that COS alters gut microbial community composition and cooperates with serum metabolites to regulate spermatogenesis. Therefore, COS promotes male reproduction by regulating intestinal microorganisms and serum metabolism, activating PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, improving testicular antioxidant capacity and steroid regulation.

Physicochemical analysis of chitosan oligosaccharide revealed its usefulness in effective delivery of drugs.

Chitosan oligosaccharides are biopolymers with a wide range of potential applications in various fields. This biopolymer is diverse and promising, and current research is investigating its capabilities for improved drug delivery. As chitosan oligosaccharide has the potential to be used as a drug delivery option, the purpose of this study was to examine its physicochemical characteristics and its potential for drug delivery. In this study, the pharmacokinetic properties of chitosan oligosaccharide were studied through Insilco investigation, which revealed that it is an extremely soluble and effective drug delivery candidate because it does not inhibit CYP isoenzymes and has a log Kp of -12.10 cm/s. It belongs to toxicity class 6 for acute oral toxicity, with an average similarity of 87.5% and a prediction accuracy of 70.97%. Additionally, XRD peak analysis revealed that the material was amorphous, as the peak appeared at 2θ = 24.62°, indicating the absence of well-defined crystalline areas. This characteristic makes the material more suitable for customization in many applications such as drug delivery and tissue engineering. FTIR, SEM, and TGA analysis were performed to gain a better understanding. These findings also emphasize the distinctive qualities and benefits of the oligosaccharides in this domain. Application of chitosan oligosaccharides in the development of efficient drug delivery systems. In the future, it would be more effective, targeted, and safe, with potent therapeutic efficacy for drug delivery.

Effects of dietary Chitosan oligosaccharides supplementation on Th17/Treg balance and gut microbiota of early weaned pigeon squabs.

Our previous study found that early weaning is associated with decreased growth performance, intestinal barrier impairment, and an imbalance in Th17/Treg in pigeon squabs. Chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) has been substantiated to regulate gut microbiota and restore Th17/Treg equilibrium in mammals, thereby ameliorating growth performance. However, the potential effects of COS in altricial birds remain unclear. Three hundred healthy 7-day-old American king pigeon squabs were selected with similar body weights and randomly divided into 5 groups. The 5 treatment groups were as follows: the control group (CON), fed with artificial pigeon milk; 4 supplementation groups, fed with artificial pigeon milk +100 (COS1), 150 (COS2), 200 (COS3), and 250 (COS4) mg/kg COS, respectively. Results showed that dietary supplementation of COS significantly enhanced the growth performance of weaned squabs. Compared to the CON group, the COS groups exhibited increased villus length and villus area in the jejunum and ileum, accompanied by improvements in morphological structure and mucosal permeability. COS was found to reduce the levels of Th17-associated cytokines and increase the levels of Treg-associated cytokines. COS downregulated the expression of retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor C (RORC), a key transcription factor of Th17 cells, while upregulated the expression of Forkhead box protein P3 (FOXP3), a key transcription factor of Treg cells. Dietary COS supplementation increased gut bacterial diversity, altered the relative abundance of several bacteria taxa and enhanced the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). Correlation analysis demonstrated a close association between gut microbiota, SCFAs, and indicators related to the Th17/Treg balance. Moreover, we found that SCFAs correlated more strongly with Th17/Treg-related indexes than gut microbiota. These results demonstrated that COS could relieve early weaning stress in pigeon squabs and the optimal dosage of dietary COS supplementation was suggested to be 200 mg/kg. In addition, COS had a protective effect on maintaining intestinal immune balance by modulating microbiota and Th17/Treg related signaling pathways, in which SCFAs might play a crucial role as messengers.

Coaxial nanofibrous aerogel featuring porous network-structured channels for ovarian cancer treatment by sustained release of chitosan oligosaccharide.

Ovarian cancer, the deadliest gynecological malignancy, primarily treated with chemotherapy. However, systemic chemotherapy often leads to severe toxic side effects and chemoresistance. Drug-loaded aerogels have emerged as a promising method for drug delivery, as they can improve drug solubility and bioavailability, control drug release, and reduce drug distribution in non-targeted tissues, thereby minimizing side effects. In this research, chitosan oligosaccharide (COS)-loaded nanofibers composite chitosan (CS) aerogels (COS-NFs/CS) with a porous network structure were created using nanofiber recombination and freeze-drying techniques. The core layer of the aerogel has a COS loading rate of 60 %, enabling the COS-NFs/CS aerogel to significantly inhibit the migration and proliferation of ovarian cancer cells (resulting in a decrease in the survival rate of ovarian cancer cells to 33.70 % after 48 h). The coaxial fiber's unique shell-core structure and the aerogel's porous network structure enable the COS-NFs/CS aerogels to release COS steadily and slowly over 30 days, effectively reducing the initial burst release of COS. Additionally, the COS-NFs/CS aerogels exhibit good biocompatibility, degradability (only retaining 18.52 % of their weight after 6 weeks of implantation), and promote angiogenesis, thus promoting wound healing post-oophorectomy. In conclusion, COS-NFs/CS aerogels show great potential for application in the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Enhancing plant fiber antibacterial and antiviral performance through synergistic action of amino and sulfonic acid groups.

As the most abundant renewable resource, cellulose fibers are potential candidates for use in health-protective clothing. Herein, we demonstrate a novel strategy for preparing cellulose fiber with prominent antibacterial and antiviral performance by the synergistic effect of amino groups and sulfonic acid groups. Specifically, guanylated chitosan oligosaccharide (GCOS) and N-sulfopropyl chitosan oligosaccharide (SCOS) were synthesized and chemically grafted onto cellulose fibers (CFs) to endow the fibers with antibacterial and antiviral properties. Moreover, a compounding strategy was applied to make the fibers with simultaneously high antibacterial and antiviral activity, especially in short contact time. The bacteriostatic rate (against S. aureus: 95.81 %, against E. coli: 92.07 %, 1 h) of the compounded fibers improved substantially when a few GCOS-CFs were mixed with SCOS-CFs; especially, it was much higher than both the individual GCOS-CFs and SCOS-CFs. By contrast, the improvement of the antiviral properties was less dramatic; however, even a few SCOS-CFs was mixed, the antiviral properties increased pronouncedly. Although the electrostatic interaction between SCOS and GCOS can make the SCOS-GCOS mixture lose some extent of antibacterial activity, the long chains of cellulose restrain the electrostatic interaction between sulfonic and amino groups, leading to their synergistic action and eventually superior antibacterial and antiviral effects.

Chitosan Oligosaccharide Laser Lithograph: A Facile Route to Porous Graphene Electrodes for Flexible On-Chip Microsupercapacitors.

In this study, a convenient chitosan oligosaccharide laser lithograph (COSLL) technology was developed to fabricate laser-induced graphene (LIG) electrodes and flexible on-chip microsupercapacitors (MSCs). With a simple one-step CO2 laser, the pyrolysis of a chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) and in situ welding of the generated LIGs to engineering plastic substrates are achieved simultaneously. The resulting LIG products display a hierarchical porous architecture, excellent electrical conductivity (6.3 Ω sq-1), and superhydrophilic properties, making them ideal electrode materials for MSCs. The pyrolysis-welding coupled mechanism is deeply discussed through cross-sectional analyses and finite element simulations. The MSCs prepared by COSLL exhibit considerable areal capacitance of over 4 mF cm-2, which is comparable to that of the polyimide-LIG-based counterpart. COSLL is also compatible with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) and micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) processes, enabling the fabrication of LIG/Au MSCs with comparable areal capacitance and lower internal resistance. Furthermore, the as-prepared MSCs demonstrate excellent mechanical robustness, long-cycle capability, and ease of series-parallel integration, benefiting their practical application in various scenarios. With the use of eco-friendly biomass carbon source and convenient process flowchart, the COSLL emerges as an attractive method for the fabrication of flexible LIG on-chip MSCs and various other advanced LIG devices.

Physiological and Proteome Analysis of the Effects of Chitosan Oligosaccharides on Salt Tolerance of Rice Seedlings.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important social-economic crop, and rice seedlings are easily affected by salt stress. Chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) plays a positive role in promoting plant growth and development. To gain a better understanding of the salt tolerance mechanism of rice under the action of COS, Nipponbare rice seedlings were selected as the experimental materials, and the physiological and biochemical indexes of rice seedlings in three stages (normal growth, salt stress and recovery) were measured. Unlabelled quantitative proteomics technology was used to study differential protein and signaling pathways of rice seedlings under salt stress, and the mechanism of COS to improve rice tolerance to salt stress was elucidated. Results showed that after treatment with COS, the chlorophyll content of rice seedlings was 1.26 times higher than that of the blank group (CK). The root activity during the recovery stage was 1.46 times that of the CK group. The soluble sugar in root, stem and leaf increased by 53.42%, 77.10% and 9.37%, respectively. The total amino acid content increased by 77% during the stem recovery stage. Furthermore, the malondialdehyde content in root, stem and leaf increased by 21.28%, 26.67% and 32.69%, respectively. The activity of oxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and oxygenase (CAT) were increased. There were more differentially expressed proteins in the three parts of the experimental group than in the CK group. Gene Ontology (GO) annotation of these differentially expressed proteins revealed that the experimental group was enriched for more entries. Then, through the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), the top ten pathways enriched with differentially expressed proteins in the two groups (COS and CK groups) were utilized, and a detailed interpretation of the glycolysis and photosynthesis pathways was provided. Five key proteins, including phosphofructokinase, fructose bisphosphate aldolases, glycer-aldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, enolase and pyruvate kinase, were identified in the glycolysis pathway. In the photosynthesis pathway, oxygen evolution enhancement proteins, iron redox proteins and ferredoxin-NADPH reductase were the key proteins. The addition of COS led to an increase in the abundance of proteins, a response of rice seedlings to salt stress. COS helped rice seedlings resist salt stress. Furthermore, using COS as biopesticides and biofertilizers can effectively increase the utilization of saline-affected farmland, thereby contributing to the alleviating of the global food crisis.

Comparison of the protective effects of chitosan oligosaccharides and chitin oligosaccharide on apoptosis, inflammation and oxidative stress.

Chitin degradation products, especially chitosan oligosaccharides (COSs), are highly valued in various industrial fields, such as food, medicine, cosmetics and agriculture, for their rich resources and high cost-effectiveness. However, little is known about the impact of acetylation on COS cellular bioactivity. The present study aimed to compare the differential effects of COS and highly N-acetylated COS (NACOS), known as chitin oligosaccharide, on H2O2-induced cell stress. MTT assay showed that pretreatment with NACOS and COS markedly inhibited H2O2-induced RAW264.7 cell death in a concentration-dependent manner. Flow cytometry indicated that NACOS and COS exerted an anti-apoptosis effect on H2O2-induced oxidative damage in RAW264.7 cells. NACOS and COS treatment ameliorated H2O2-induced RAW264.7 cell cycle arrest. Western blotting revealed that the anti-oxidation effects of NACOS and COS were mediated by suppressing expression of proteins involved in H2O2-induced apoptosis, including Bax, Bcl-2 and cleaved PARP. Furthermore, the antagonist effects of NACOS were greater than those of COS, suggesting that acetylation was essential for the protective effects of COS.

One-step spraying of protein-anchored chitosan oligosaccharide antimicrobial coating for food preservation.

The persistent global issues of unsafe food and food waste continue to exist. Microbial contamination stands out as a major cause of losses in perishable foods like vegetables and fruits. Herein, we report a self-assembling coating based on disulfide bond cleavage-induced bovine serum albumin (BSA), where the antimicrobial activity of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) is stably anchored in the coating by electrostatic interactions during the unfolding-aggregation phase of BSA. The intrinsic antimicrobial activity of COS, combined with the positively charged and hydrophobic regions enriched on the BSA coating, significantly disrupts the integrity of bacterial structures. Furthermore, the BSA@COS coating can easily adhere in situ to the grooves on the surface of strawberries through a simple one-step spraying process, extending the shelf life of strawberries and bananas by nearly three times. This makes it a potential economic alternative to current commercial antimicrobial coatings, offering a solution to the rampant global issue of food waste.

Chitosan Oligosaccharides Mitigate Flooding Stress Damage in Rice by Affecting Antioxidants, Osmoregulation, and Hormones.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important food crops worldwide. However, during direct seeding, rice is extremely vulnerable to flooding stress, which impairs rice's emergence and seedling growth and results in a significant yield loss. According to our research, chitosan oligosaccharides have the potential to be a chemical seed-soaking agent that greatly increases rice's resistance to flooding. Chitosan oligosaccharides were able to enhance seed energy supply, osmoregulation, and antioxidant capacity, according to physiological index assessments. Using transcriptome and metabolomic analysis, we discovered that important differential metabolites and genes were involved in the signaling pathway for hormone synthesis and antioxidant capacity. Exogenous chitosan oligosaccharides specifically and significantly inhibit genes linked to auxin, jasmonic acid, and abscisic acid. This suggested that applying chitosan oligosaccharides could stabilize seedling growth and development by controlling associated hormones and reducing flooding stress by enhancing membrane stability and antioxidant capacity. Finally, we verified the effectiveness of exogenous chitosan oligosaccharides imbibed in seeds by field validation, demonstrating that they can enhance rice seedling emergence and growth under flooding stress.

Enhancing post-harvest quality of tomato fruits with chitosan oligosaccharide-zinc oxide nanocomposites: A study on biocompatibility, quality improvement, and carotenoid enhancement.

In this study, a new composite with combination of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), termed Chitosan Oligosaccharide-Zinc Oxide Nanocomposites (COS-ZnO NC), was designed to enhance the quality of tomato fruits during postharvest storage. SEM analysis showed a uniform distribution of COS-ZnO NC films on tomato surfaces, indicating high biocompatibility, while the FTIR spectrum confirmed the interaction of COS and ZnO NPs via hydrogen bonds. The COS-ZnO NC exerts positive effects on post-harvest quality of tomato fruits, including significantly reduced water loss, fewer skin wrinkles, increased sugar-acid ratio, and enhanced vitamin C and carotenoids accumulation. Furthermore, COS-ZnO NC induces transcription of carotenoid biosynthesis genes and promotes carotenoids storage in the chromoplast. These results suggest that the COS-ZnO NC film can significantly improve the quality traits of tomato fruits, and therefore is potential in post-harvest storage of tomato fruits.

Effects of different combinations of antibacterial compound supplements in calf pellets on growth performance, health, blood parameters, and rumen microbiome of dairy calves.

This study investigated the effects of different combinations of antibacterial compounds (attapulgite, plant essential oils, and chitosan oligosaccharides) on growth performance, blood biochemical parameters, and rumen microbiome of calves. A total of 48 preweaning calves were randomly divided into four groups (n = 12 per group), and fed the following full mixed-ration granule diets for the 67-d-feeding trial: (1) basal diet (control group); (2) basal diet +1,000 g/t attapulgite, plant essential oils, and chitosan oligosaccharide (AEOCO group); (3) basal diet +1,000 g/t attapulgite and chitosan oligosaccharide (ACO group); and (4) basal diet +1,000 g/t attapulgite and plant essential oil (AEO group). The results showed that the daily weight gain of the AEOCO and AEO groups significantly increased (p < 0.05), whereas the feed conversion ratio decreased compared with that of the control group. Among the three treatment groups, AEO group showed the most positive effect, with the diarrhea rate reduced by 68.2% compared with that of the control group. Total protein and globulin levels were lower in the AEO group than in the control group. Albumin levels were higher in the AEOCO and AEO groups than in the control group. Immunoglobulin A, immunoglobulin G, and immunoglobulin M concentrations were higher in the AEOCO group (p < 0.05) than in the control group. The interleukin-6 concentration was lower in the AEOCO and AEO groups than in the control group (p < 0.05). The Chao 1 richness and ACE indices were higher in the AEOCO group than in the control group (p < 0.05). The ACO group had a significantly lower (p < 0.05) relative abundance of Firmicutes than the control group. The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes was the lowest in the control group, whereas that of Spirochaetota and Fibrobacteriota was the highest (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Succiniclasticum was higher in the ACO and AEO groups (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that the combination of attapulgite, plant essential oils, and chitosan oligosaccharides has ameliorative effects on the growth performance, blood parameters, and rumen microbiome of calves.

Sulfonamide modified chitosan oligosaccharide with high nematicidal activity against Meloidogyne incognita.

Chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) modification is a feasible way to develop novel green nematicides. This study involved the synthesis of various COS sulfonamide derivatives via hydroxylated protection and deprotection, which were then characterized using NMR, FTIR, MS, elemental analysis, XRD, and TG/DTG. In vitro experiments found that COS-alkyl sulfonamide derivatives (S6 and S11-S13) exhibited high mortality (>98 % at 1 mg/mL) against Meloidogyne incognita second-instar larvaes (J2s) among the derivatives. S6 can cause vacuole-like structures in the middle and tail regions of the nematode body and effectively inhibit egg hatching. In vivo tests have found that S6 has well control effects and low plant toxicity. Additionally, the structure-activity studies revealed that S6 with a high degree of substitution, a low molecular weight, and a sulfonyl bond on the amino group of the COS backbone exhibited increased nematicidal activity. The sulfonamide group is a potential active group for developing COS-based nematicides.

Chitosan oligosaccharide-functionalized nano-prodrug for cascade chemotherapy through oxidative stress amplification.

Redox nanoparticles have been extensively developed for chemotherapy. However, the intracellular oxidative stress induced by constant aberrant glutathione (GSH), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) homeostasis remains the primary cause of evading tumor apoptosis. Herein, an oxidative stress-amplification strategy was designed using a pH-GSH-H2O2-GGT sensitive nano-prodrug for precise synergistic chemotherapy. The disulfide bond- conjugated doxorubicin prodrug (DOX-ss) was constructed as a GSH-scavenger. Then, phenylboronic acid (PBA), DOX-ss and poly (γ-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA) were successively conjugated using chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) to obtain the nano-prodrug PBA-COS-ss-DOX/γ-PGA. The PBA-COS-ss-DOX/γ-PGA prodrug could tightly attach to the polymer chain segment by atom transfer radical polymerization. Simultaneously, the drug interacted relatively weakly with the polymer by encapsulating ionic crosslinkers in DOX@PBA-COS/γ-PGA. The disulfide bond of the DOX-ss prodrug as a GSH-scavenger could be activated using overexpressed GSH to release DOX. Particularly, PBA-COS-ss-DOX/γ-PGA could prevent premature drug leakage and facilitate DOX delivery by GGT-targeting and intracellular H2O2-cleavable linker in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells. Concurrently, the nano-prodrug induced strong oxidative stress and tumor cell apoptosis. Collectively, the pH-GSH-H2O2-GGT responsive nano-prodrug shows potential for synergistic tumor therapy.

Enhancing gut barrier integrity: Upregulation of tight junction proteins by chitosan oligosaccharide through the ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the protective mechanism of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in IEC-6 cells and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. METHODS: The cell inflammation model was constructed by LPS in vitro and enteritis model by DSS in vivo. RESULTS: Following LPS exposure, IEC-6 cell proliferation significantly decreased, epithelial cell integrity was compromised, and TNF-α and IL-1ß levels were increased. However, COS pretreatment reversed these changes. In vivo, DSS-treated mice exhibited evident pathological alterations, including heightened inflammatory levels and significantly decreased expression of tight junction proteins and critical proteins in the Mitogen activated proteins kinase signaling pathway. Nevertheless, COS administration notably reduced inflammatory levels and increased the expression of tight junction proteins and key proteins in the Mitogen activated proteins kinase signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that COS safeguards gut barrier integrity by upregulating tight junction proteins through the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Therefore, COS has emerged as a promising candidate for novel drug interventions against inflammatory bowel disease.