Facile formation of injectable quaternized chitosan/tannic acid hydrogels with antibacterial and ROS scavenging capabilities for diabetic wound healing.

The wound healing process of the diabetic wound is often hindered by excessive oxygen free radicals and infection. An ideal wound dressing should possess great reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging property and considerable antibacterial ability. In this study, we facilely constructed a novel hydrogel dressing with excellent ROS scavenging property and outstanding antibacterial performance by introducing tannic acid (TA) into quaternized chitosan (QCS) matrix. Attributing to the suitable physical crosslinking between TA and QCS, this QCS/TA hydrogel was endowed with injectable and self-healing properties, which could avoid the various external squeezing on the irregular shape by wound dressing. The results showed that it could promote coagulation, suppress inflammation and expedite collagen deposition in the skin defect model of diabetic rats. This study provides a facile and convenient method for constructing injectable hydrogel dressing, which has application potentials in the clinical management of diabetic wounds.

A self-matching, ultra-fast film forming and washable removal bio-crosslinked hydrogel films for perishable fruits.

Spoilage of food has aggravated the issue of food shortage worldwide. Here, we report a strategy for ultrafast hydrogel film forming within 10 s on fruit surfaces with good self-matching, washable removal and preservative property. This carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS)/tannic acid (TA) hydrogel film (CTHF) is fabricated by bio-material of CMCS and TA via in-situ rapidly crosslinking with high-density hydrogen bonds. Simply blending TA and CMCS solution at room temperature can form CTHF with different roughness (Ra: ranges from 123 to 1.55 nm) on different fruit surfaces, so as to perfectly match the hydrogel protective layer of pericarp. The CTHF slows down fruit decay by its outstanding antioxidant and antibacterial activity. It is soluble and easily removed (within 3-5 min) by washing without environmental pollution and food safety issues. As natural polymer, CTHF shows high promise as sustainable substitutes for conventional plastics packing because of its non-toxic, edible, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly.

A self-healable, moldable and bioactive biomaterial gum for personalised and wearable drug delivery.

One of the long-standing challenges in materials science involves synthesizing biomaterials that recapitulate important features of native biological tissues. Even though, the number of available biomaterials at the moment are virtually limitless, few of them has unlocked all the secrets of the human body by mimicking the combinatorial-like material properties of our tissues and organs. Inspired by the human body, we have developed a polymeric gum, which combines stretchability, toughness, strength, flexibility, and self-healing. It also exhibits a high bioactivity that can target and eliminate bacterial infections fast and reliably. Notably, this material is moldable into almost any complex shape, and therefore suitable as a building block for wearables designed to conform directly with the curved and personalized anatomy of patients. It also exhibits excellent drug retention and release capacity, which altogether makes it suitable for applications in personalized wearable drug-delivery devices.

Tumor microenvironment-responsive polydopamine-based core/shell nanoplatform for synergetic theranostics.

Theranostic agents that integrate diagnostic and therapeutic modalities have drawn extensive attention due to their ability to deliver real-time imaging-guided tumor treatment. Herein, a novel core-shell polydopamine (PDA)-based theranostic agent (PDA@TA-Fe) was fabricated via a two-step strategy. Upon 808 nm and 1064 nm laser irradiation, this agent exhibited high photothermal conversion efficiencies of 29% and 41%, respectively. After endocytosis into tumor cells, the TA-Fe shell of PDA@TA-Fe gradually disintegrated in the weakly acidic tumor microenvironment (TME), and released the TA as an acidity-activated reductant that could reduce Fe3+ to Fe2+. Subsequently, the generated Fe2+ reacted with H2O2 to generate toxic hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) via the Fenton reaction, which induced the apoptosis of tumor cells and achieved the chemodynamic therapy (CDT). The heat produced by photothermal therapy (PTT) accelerated the ˙OH generation to achieve a synergetic effect of CDT/PTT. In vivo tumor-xenograft imaging and therapeutic assays demonstrated obvious contrast enhancement at the tumor site in the T1/T2-weighted MR imaging and efficient tumor suppression achieved after the intravenous injection of this agent because of the enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect. This study offered a new strategy to design an "all-in-one" nanoplatform for T1/T2 MR imaging-guided synergistic cancer treatment of CDT/PTT.

Synthesis of biomass-based carbon aerogels in energy and sustainability.

Carbon aerogels are 3D hierarchical multiscale porous materials with outstanding physicochemical properties such as high specific surface area, low density, high porosity, excellent electrical conductor, good chemical stability, hydrophobicity, and adjustable surface chemistry among others. Unlike conventional carbon aerogels, biomass-based carbon aerogels are economical, environmentally friendly and have nigh inexhaustible precursors, which have generated extensive interest and exhibited outstanding electrocatalysis and adsorption/absorption performance. In this review, we mainly summarized the four main kinds of biomass (cellulose, chitosan, lignin and tannin) as carbon aerogel precursor, and discussed in detail their resource, constitute and optimized synthesis mechanism. Further advice was also given for better utilization of biomass as carbon aerogel precursors.

A sustained zero-order release carrier for long-acting, peakless basal insulin therapy.

Basal insulin therapy plays a key role in diabetes management. An ideal therapy should mimic the steady physiologic basal insulin secretion, and provide a peak-free, prolonged and steady insulin supply. Herein, a new drug carrier was designed by first PEGylating insulin and then incorporating the conjugate into layer-by-layer assembled films with tannic acid (TA). Because PEG-insulin and TA in the films were linked with reversible, dynamic hydrogen bonds, the films disintegrate gradually when soaked in aqueous solutions, and thus release PEG-insulin into the media. In vitro release tests revealed that the release of PEG-insulin follows a zero-order kinetics. Theoretical analysis based on the unique release mechanism also supports a zero-order kinetics. In vivo tests using a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model demonstrated that subcutaneous implantation of the film could maintain a steady plasma drug level and hence maintain a fasting blood glucose level (BGL) close to normal. The duration of action depends on the thickness of the film. Using a 50-bilayer film, fasting BGL was kept within the normoglycemic range for ∼16 days. Initial burst release, a severe problem for other release systems, was successfully avoided.

Synthesis and Application of a New Amphiphilic Antioxidant.

A new amphiphilic antioxidant (tannyl stearate) derived from reaction of tannic acid with stearic acid was synthesized in order to improve tannic acid solubility in lipid materials. This reaction gives many products having different degree of esterification (tannyl mono, di, tri, tetra, penta, hexa, hepta……stearate) which were separated using silica gel column chromatography and tentative identification was carried out using thin layer chromatography (TLC). The intrinsic viscosities (η) were used to differentiate between the different molecular weight of the produced esters1). Tannyl penta stearate is assumed to be the most suitable amphiphilic antioxidant derivative, where those derivatives with less degree of esterification would be less soluble in fat, and those of higher degree of esterification would exhaust more hydroxyl group that cause decreases of antioxidant activity. The structure of tannyl penta stearate was approved depending on its chemical analysis and spectral data (IR, H1 NMR,). The emulsification power of tannyl penta stearate was then determined according to method described by El-Sukkary et al.2), in order to prove its amphiphilic property. Then tannyl penta stearate was tested for its antioxidant and radical scavenging activities in three different manners, those are, lipid oxidation in sunflower oil using Rancimat, (DPPH) free radical scavenging and total antioxidant activity. {Pure tannic acid (T), butylhydroxyanisol (BHA) and butylhydroxytoluene (BHT) were used as reference antioxidant radical saving compounds}. Then tannyl penta stearate was added to sunflower oil, frying process was carried out and all physicochemical parameters of the oil were considered, and compared to other reference antioxidant in order to study the effect of this new antioxidant toward oil stability. Acute oral toxicity of the tannyl penta stearate was carried out using albino mice of 21-25 g body weight to determine its safety according to the method described by Goodman et al.3). Also liver and kidney functions of those mice were checked. Thus it could be concluded that the addition of tannyl penta stearate to frying oils offers a good protection against oxidation. The effectiveness of tannyl penta stearate as lipid antioxidant has been attributed mainly to its stability at high temperature. And according to acute lethal toxicity test tannyl penta stearate was found to be a safe compound that can be used as food additive.

Hydrophobized plant polyphenols: self-assembly and promising antibacterial, adhesive, and anticorrosion coatings.

Hydrophobized plant polyphenols can be easily prepared by rational and controlled etherification of highly abundant aromatic hydroxyls with linear alkyl chains. The resultant organo-soluble polyphenols spontaneously formed fibrous structures and unravelled to be potential adhesive, anticorrosion, and antibacterial coatings.

Biocompatible shaped particles from dried multilayer polymer capsules.

We demonstrated a simple and facile approach to fabricate biocompatible monodisperse hollow microparticles of controlled geometry. The hemispherical, spherical, and cubical microparticles are obtained by drying multilayer capsules of hydrogen-bonded poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)/tannic acid (PVPON/TA)n. Drying spherical capsules results in hemispherical particles if 15 < n < 20. This shape transformation is controlled by capsule stiffness, which is regulated by the layer number, capsule diameter, and PVPON molecular weight. Cubical and spherical hollow particles maintaining their three-dimensional shapes in the dry state are obtained if n ≥ 25.5. A 17-fold stiffness increase is required to lead from totally collapsed (PVPON/TA)5.5 to dried self-supporting (PVPON/TA)25.5 particles of 2 µm in dimensions. All hollow particles could be further resuspended in aqueous solutions while retaining their shapes upon rehydration. The cell growth and viability studies using human cancer cells revealed noncytotoxic properties of the (PVPON/TA) multilayer particles. Both spherical and hemispherical capsules were internalized by macrophages with the uptake of the hemispherical particles per cell two times more efficient. The method presented here allows for a robust preparation of biocompatible shaped particles whose shape and dimensions can be easily tuned by controlling capsule size and wall thickness. The reported structures can be potentially useful for biomedical applications such as shape-controlled cellular uptake and flow dynamics.

Vegetable oil thermosets reinforced by tannin-lipid formulations.

Totally bio-based thermosetting polymers which are comparable to synthetic polyester thermosets have been prepared from copolymerization of condensed tannin-fatty acid esters with vegetable oils. Oxidative copolymerization of tannin linoleate/acetate mixed esters with linseed oil and tung oil produced polymer films ranging from soft rubbers to rigid thermosets. Tannin incorporation into the formulations was essential for the final product to achieve necessary mechanical strength. Films had ambient modulus values between 0.12 and 1.6 GPa, with glass transition temperatures ranging from 32 to 72 °C and calculated crosslink densities of 1020-57,700 mol m⁻³. Film stiffness, T(g) and crosslink density increase with greater tannin linoeate/acetate content due mainly to this tannin component providing rigidity through polyphenolic aromatic rings and unsaturated chains as crosslinking sites.

Phlorotannin production and lipid oxidation as a potential protective function against high photosynthetically active and UV radiation in gametophytes of Alaria esculenta (Alariales, Phaeophyceae).

Radiation damage can inter alia result in lipid peroxidation of macroalgal cell membranes. To prevent photo-oxidation within the cells, photoprotective substances such as phlorotannins are synthesized. In the present study, changes in total fatty acids (FA), FA composition and intra/extracellular phlorotannin contents were determined by gas chromatography and the Folin-Ciocalteu method to investigate the photoprotective potential of phlorotannins to prevent lipid peroxidation. Alaria esculenta juveniles (Phaeophyceae) were exposed over 20 days to high/low photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) in combination with UV radiation (UVR) in the treatments: PAB (low/high PAR + UV-B + UV-A), PA (low/high PAR + UV-A) or low/high PAR only. While extracellular phlorotannins increased after 10 days, intracellular phlorotannins increased with exposure time and PA and decreased under PAB. Interactive effects of time:radiation wavebands, time:PAR dose as well as radiation wavebands:PAR dose were observed. Low FA contents were detected in the PA and PAB treatments; interactive effects were observed between time:high PAR and PAB:high PAR. Total FA contents were correlated to extra/intracellular phlorotannin contents. Our results suggest that phlorotannins might play a role in intra/extracellular protection by absorption and oxidation processes. Changes in FA content/composition upon UVR and high PAR might be considered as an adaptive mechanism of the A. esculenta juveniles subjected to variations in solar irradiance.

Hydrolyzable tannins with the hexahydroxydiphenoyl unit and the m-depsidic link: HPLC-DAD-MS identification and model synthesis.

This study was designed to develop efficient analytical tools for the difficult HPLC-DAD-MS identification of hydrolyzable tannins in natural tissue extracts. Throughout the study of the spectroscopic characteristics of properly synthesized stereodefined standards, it was observed that the UV-vis spectra of compounds with the m-depsidic link showed a characteristic shoulder at 300 nm, consistent with the simple glucogalloyl esters, whereas compounds with the hexahydroxydiphenoyl (HHDP) unit gave a diagnostic fragmentation pattern, caused by a spontaneous lactonization in the mass spectrometer. These observations were confirmed by HPLC-DAD-MS analyses of tannic acid and raspberry extracts, which are rich in hydrolyzable tannins with the m-depsidic link and the HHDP unit, respectively.

Ellagitannin chemistry. Studies on the stability and reactivity of 2,4-HHDP-containing glucopyranose systems.

The synthesis of a 2,4-HHDP containing glucopyranose ellagitannin model system has been achieved. Attempts to prepare a related target bearing a 1,6 bridge led instead to the discovery of a likely strain-driven tautomerization to cyclohexadienone intermediates.

Identification in traditional herbal medications and confirmation by synthesis of factors that inhibit cholera toxin-induced fluid accumulation.

Kampo formulations are traditional herbal medications used in China and Japan for many centuries to treat diarrheal diseases such as cholera. Our studies were undertaken to identify and verify by chemical synthesis the active components that inhibited cholera toxin (CT), the virulence factor secreted by Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of cholera. The Kampo formulation, Daio-kanzo-to, inhibited CT activities (i.e., ADP-ribosylation, Chinese hamster ovary cell elongation); in Daio-kanzo-to, Daio (Rhei rhizoma) was responsible for this effect. Among several components purified from Daio extract, rhubarb galloyl-tannin, a compound characterized by a polygallate structure, was the most effective. To define the active component, gallate analogues similar to rhubarb galloyl-tannin were synthesized. These gallate compounds inhibited all CT activities including ADP-ribosylation, elongation of Chinese hamster ovary cells, and importantly, fluid accumulation in ileal loops. Thus, Kampo formulations or their gallate components might be effective adjunctive therapy with oral rehydration solution for the severe diarrhea of cholera.

Induction of a preferred sense of twist in flexible diphenyls by carbohydrate scaffolds. Synthesis of two "naked" ellagitannin analogous.

The synthesis of "naked" ellagitannin analogues 1 and 2, having a preferred sense of twist of the diphenyl moiety, with a rhamnose and a glucose template, is reported. A clear induction in the chirality of the diphenyl moiety, mediated through a 10-membered ring via ester linkages, was observed. The chiral scaffold of glucose (diequatorial 2,3-hydroxyl groups) exerts a remarkable stronger atropdiastereoselective effect onto the diphenoyl group than the rhamnose ring (axial-equatorial 2,3-hydroxyl groups), according to the Schmidt-Haslam hypothesis.

Synthesis of gallotannins.

As a contribution to the synthesis of gallotannins, four O-galloyl-D-glucoses (3-O-, 6-O-, 3,6-di-O-, 3,4,6-tri-O-galloyl-D-glucose) have been prepared by the reaction of tri-O-benzylgalloyl chloride and partially protected glucose derivatives (1,2-O-, and 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-glucofuranose), followed successively by catalytic debenzylation (Pd-C) and controlled acid hydrolysis. Their structures were established from their behavior on TLC and from their 1H and 13C NMR spectra.

Ellagitannin chemistry. Evolution of a three-component coupling strategy for the synthesis of the dimeric ellagitannin coriariin A and a dimeric gallotannin analogue.

The total synthesis of the dimeric ellagitannin coriariin A is reported. The key reaction to access the dimeric framework was realized early in the synthesis pathway via a bis acylation reaction of a dehydrodigalloyl diacid with 2 equiv of a glucopyranose trichloroacetimidate. The glucose rings were subsequently functionalized, culminating in a double oxidative cyclization to form stereoselectively both (S)-HHDP ester units. This bis acylation strategy was also employed to prepare a gallotannin analogue of coriariin A whose earlier synthesis by orthoquinone dimerization was plagued by yield-limiting side reactions.

Triagem fitoquímica preliminar de tetrapterys multiglandulosa A. Juss. (Malpighiaceae) / Preliminary phytochemical screening of tetrapterys multiglandulosa A. Juss. (Malpighiaceae)

Este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de identificar os princípios tóxicos da tetrapterys multigalndulosa A. Juss. Realizou-se triagem fitoquímica nas folhas (brotos e maduras) frescas, através de marcha analítica clássica e Cromatografia em Camada Delgada (CCD) pesquisando-se os seguintes princípios ativos: heterosídeos antrasênicos, saponínicos, flavônicos, cardiotônicos, taninos (hidrolisáveis e condensados), alcalóides (terciários e quaternários), composto esteróides e cumarínicos. Os resultados obtidos mostraram na folha jovem e madura, presença de heterosídeos flavônicos e esteróides. Taninos condensados e alcalóides quaternários foram encontrados somente na folha madura.