Different polysaccharide-enhanced probiotic and polyphenol dual-functional factor co-encapsulated microcapsules demonstrate acute colitis alleviation efficacy and food fortification.

Probiotics and polyphenols have multiple bioactivities, and developing co-encapsulated microcapsules (CM) is a novel strategy to enhance their nutritional diversity. However, the development of CMs is challenged by complicated processing, single types, and unclear in vivo effects and applications. In this study, the co-microencapsulations of polyphenol and probiotic were constructed using pectin, alginate (WGCA@LK), and Fu brick tea polysaccharides (WGCF@LK), respectively, with chitosan-whey isolate proteins by layer-by-layer coacervation reaction, and their protective effects, in vivo effectiveness, and application potential were evaluated. WGCA@LK improved the encapsulation rate of polyphenols (42.41 %), and remained high viability of probiotics after passing through gastric acidic environment (8.79 ± 0.04 log CFU/g) and storage for 4 weeks (4.59 ± 0.06 log CFU/g). WGCF@LK exhibited the highest total antioxidant activity (19.40 ± 0.25 µmol/mL) and its prebiotic activity removed the restriction on probiotic growth. WGCA@LK showed strong in vitro colonic adhesion, but WGCF@LK promoted in vivo retention of probiotics at 48 h. WGCF@LK showed excellent anti-inflammatory effects and alleviated symptoms of acute colitis in mice. These findings provide unique insights into the fortification of probiotic-polyphenol CMs by different polysaccharides and the development of novel health foods with rich functional hierarchies and superior therapeutic effects.

All-aqueous synthesis of alginate complexed with fibrillated protein microcapsules for membrane-bounded culture of tumor spheroids.

Water-in-water (W/W) emulsions provide bio-compatible all-aqueous compartments for artificial patterning and assembly of living cells. Successful entrapment of cells within a W/W emulsion via the formation of semipermeable capsules is a prerequisite for regulating on the size, shape, and architecture of cell aggregates. However, the high permeability and instability of the W/W interface, restricting the assembly of stable capsules, pose a fundamental challenge for cell entrapment. The current study addresses this problem by synthesizing multi-armed protein fibrils and controlling their assembly at the W/W interface. The multi-armed protein fibrils, also known as 'fibril clusters', were prepared by cross-linking lysozyme fibrils with multi-arm polyethylene glycol (PEG) via click chemistry. Compared to linear-structured fibrils, fibril clusters are strongly adsorbed at the W/W interface, forming an interconnected meshwork that better stabilizes the W/W emulsion. Moreover, when fibril clusters are complexed with alginate, the hybrid microcapsules demonstrate excellent mechanical robustness, semi-permeability, cytocompatibility and biodegradability. These advantages enable the encapsulation, entrapment and long-term culture of tumor spheroids, with great promise for applications for anti-cancer drug screening, tumor disease modeling, and tissue repair engineering.

Triple-crosslinked double-network alginate/dextran/dendrimer hydrogel with tunable mechanical and adhesive properties: A potential candidate for sutureless keratoplasty.

An ideal adhesive hydrogel must possess high adhesion to the native tissue, biocompatibility, eligible biodegradability, and good mechanical compliance with the substrate tissues. We constructed an interpenetrating double-network hydrogel containing polysaccharides (alginate and dextran) and nanosized spherical dendrimer by both physical and chemical crosslinking, thus endowing the hydrogel with a broad range of mechanical properties, adhesive properties, and biological functions. The double-network hydrogel has moderate pore sizes and swelling properties. The chelation of calcium ions significantly enhances the tensile and compressive properties. The incorporation of dendrimer improves both the mechanical and adhesive properties. This multicomponent interpenetrating network hydrogel has excellent biocompatibility, tunable mechanical and adhesive properties, and satisfied multi-functions to meet the complex requirements of wound healing and tissue engineering. The hydrogel exhibits promising corneal adhesion capabilities in vitro, potentially supplanting the need for sutures in corneal stromal surgery and mitigating the risks associated with donor corneal damage and graft rejection during corneal transplantation. This novel polysaccharide and dendrimer hydrogel also shows good results in sutureless keratoplasty, with high efficiency and reliability. Based on the clinical requirements for tissue bonding and wound closure, the hydrogel provides insight into solving the mechanical properties and adhesive strength of tissue adhesives.

Revitalizing elixir with orange peel amplification of alginate fish oil beads for enhanced anti-aging efficacy.

The research introduces a novel method for creating drug-loaded hydrogel beads that target anti-aging, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory effects, addressing the interconnected processes underlying various pathological conditions. The study focuses on the development of hydrogel beads containing anti-aging compounds, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory drugs to effectively mitigate various processes. The synthesis, characterization and in vitro evaluations, and potential applications of these multifunctional hydrogel beads are discussed. A polymeric alginate-orange peel extract (1:1) hydrogel was synthesized for encapsulating fish oil. Beads prepared with variable fish oil concentrations (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 ml) were characterized, showing no significant decrease in size i.e., 0.5 mm and a reduction in pore size from 23 to 12 µm. Encapsulation efficiency reached up to 98% within 2 min, with controlled release achieved upto 45 to 120 min with increasing oil concentration, indicating potential for sustained delivery. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed successful encapsulation by revealing peak shifting, interaction between constituents. In vitro degradation studies showed the hydrogel's biodegradability improved from 30 to 120 min, alongside anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-collagenase and anti-elastase activities, cell proliferation rate enhanced after entrapping fish oil. In conclusion, the synthesized hydrogel beads are a promising drug delivery vehicle because they provide stable and effective oil encapsulation with controlled release for notable anti-aging and regenerative potential. Targeted delivery for inflammatory and oxidative stress-related illnesses is one set of potential uses. Further research may optimize this system for broader applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering.

Development of alginate/chitosan hydrogel loaded with obestatin and evaluation of collagen type I, III, VEGF and TGF-ß1 gene expression for skin repair in a rat model (in vitro and in vitro study).

BACKGROUND: Skin injuries have long been recognized as a prevalent type of physical injury. As a result, numerous research studies have been performed to discover an effective mechanism for wound healing. Therefore, tissue engineering of skin has developed as a potential solution for traditional methods of treating skin injuries. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Alginate/Chitosan hydrogel was mixed with 1, 10, 100, and 150 µM Obestatin, and evaluated the morphology, cumulative release, hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility, water absorption, cell viability, weight loss, and antibacterial characteristics of three-dimensional (3D) alginate (Alg) and chitosan (Cs) hydrogels during the process of wound curing. Various concentrations of Obestatin (Obes) were utilized for this purpose. Finally, the hydrogels that were made were tested on a full-thickness dermal wound in a Wistar rat model. The curative effects were determined by analyzing RNA expression and examining tissue stained with Masson's trichrome (MT) and hematoxylin-eosin (H&E). RESULTS: The biodegradability of this hydrogel was verified using weight loss testing, which demonstrated a reduction of around 90% after a period of 3 days. Furthermore, the MTT assay demonstrated that hydrogels have a beneficial effect on cell proliferation without inducing any harmful effects. Furthermore, the hydrogels produced demonstrated higher wound closure in vivo compared to the wounds treated with gauze (negative control group). Among the hydrogel groups, the chitosan/alginate/obestatin 100 µM group exhibited the apical percentage of wound closure, gene expression, and secondary epithelialization, but in 150 µM concentrations, we saw a lower rate of cell growth and proliferation and increase in hemolysis. In addition, RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that a concentration of 100 µM obestatin resulted in an upregulation in the expression of mRNA for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), collagen type I & type III, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß). CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that 3D Alg/Cs hydrogels with a concentration of 100 µM obestatin have the potential for clinical application in the treatment of skin injuries.

Radiation synthesis of sodium alginate/gelatin based ultra-absorbent hydrogel for efficient water and nitrogen management in wheat under drought stress.

The main focus of this study was on using radiation to make an ultra-absorbent hydrogel (UAH) from sodium alginate (SA) and gelatin (GL) biopolymers. This UAH can effectively handle water and nitrogen in wheat farming during drought stress. The hydrogel was synthesized by gamma irradiation-induced SA/GL/polyacrylamide crosslinking at 10-40 kGy. Varying SA/GL ratios affected swelling and the gel fraction of SA/GL/PAm hydrogels. The (SA/GL 17/83) hydrogel exhibited a 40.03 g/g swelling degree, while increasing SA content resulted in higher swelling, peaking at 75.5 g/g for (SA/GL 83/17). This indicated a synergistic interaction between SA and GL. The gel fraction also increased from 76.8 to 90.3%, with a higher GL content reflecting increased crosslinking. After multiple hydrolysis cycles, the hydrogel achieved 1293 (g/g) swelling and 36 days of water retention. When applied to wheat (Triticuma estivum) under drought stress, it significantly improved shoot length (18%), root length (43%), shoot fresh weight (49%), and shoot dry weight (51%) under extreme drought. The significant increases in protein and carbohydrate content in both shoots (up to 32% and 19%, respectively) and grains (up to 21% and 24%, respectively), along with the reduction in proline content (up to 38%), demonstrate that ultra-absorbent hydrogel (UAH) effectively enhances nitrogen content, photosynthesis, and overall plant health in wheat under varying drought stress levels. This novel SA/GL-based UAH holds promise for addressing water scarcity and agricultural challenges, offering a sustainable solution for water and nitrogen management under drought stress.

Synthesis and characterization of polysaccharide-cryogel and its application to the electrochemical detection of DNA.

The main goal of our study is to demonstrate the applicability of the PPy-cryogel-modified electrodes for electrochemical detection of DNA. First, a polysaccharide-based cryogel was synthesized. This cryogel was then used as a template for chemical polypyrrole synthesis. This prepared polysaccharide-based conductive cryogel was used for electrochemical biosensing on DNA. Carrageenan (CG) and sodium alginate (SA) polysaccharides, which stand out as biocompatible materials, were used in cryogel synthesis. Electron transfer was accelerated by polypyrrole (PPy) synthesized in cryogel networks. A 2B pencil graphite electrode with a diameter of 2.00 mm was used as a working electrode. The prepared polysaccharide solution was dropped onto a working electrode as a support material to improve the immobilization capacity of biomolecules and frozen to complete the cryogelation step. PPy synthesis was performed on the electrodes whose cryogelation process was completed. In addition, the structures of cryogels synthesized on the electrode surface were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Surface characterization of the modified electrodes was performed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis. Electrochemical determination of fish sperm DNA (fsDNA) was performed using a PPy-cryogel-modified electrode. The use of a porous 3D cryogel intermediate material enhanced the signal by providing a large surface area for the synthesis of PPy and increasing the biomolecule immobilization capacity. The detection limit was 0.98 µg mL-1 in the fsDNA concentration range 2.5-20 µg mL-1. The sensitivity of the DNA biosensor was estimated to 14.8 µA mM-1 cm-2. The stability of the biosensor under certain storage conditions was examined and observed to remain 66.95% up to 45 days.

An injectable self-healing alginate hydrogel with desirable mechanical and degradation properties for enhancing osteochondral regeneration.

Articular cartilage and subchondral bone defects have always been problematic because the osteochondral tissue plays a crucial role in the movement of the body and does not recover spontaneously. Here, an injectable hydrogel composed of oxidized sodium alginate/gelatin/chondroitin sulfate (OSAGC) was designed for the minimally invasive treatment and promotion of osteochondral regeneration. The OSAGC hydrogel had a double network based on dynamic covalent bonds, demonstrating commendable injectability and self-healing properties. Chondroitin sulfate was organically bound to the hydrogel network, retaining its own activity and gradually releasing during the degradation process as well as improving mechanical properties. The compressive strength could be increased up to 3 MPa by regulating the concentration of chondroitin sulphate and the oxidation level, and this mechanical stimulation could help repair injured tissue. The OSAGC hydrogel had a favourable affinity to articular cartilage and was able to release active ingredients in a sustained manner over 3 months. The OSAGC showed no cytotoxic effects. Results from animal studies demonstrated its capacity to regenerate new bone tissue in four weeks and new cartilage tissue in twelve weeks. The OSAGC hydrogel represented a promising approach to simplify bone surgery and repair damaged osteochondral tissue.

Enhancing rooting tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plant by loaded indole-3-butyric acid in alginate/chitosan nanocapsule.

Recently, nanocarriers have been utilized for encapsulating and sustained release of agrochemicals specifically auxins. Due to their potential applications such as increased bioavailability and improved crop yield and nutritional quality. Herein, the efficacy of alginate/chitosan nanocapsules as a nanocarrier for the hormone indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) loading and its effect on rooting tobacco plants has been carried out in the present study. The average particle size of IBA-alginate/chitosan nanocapsules was measured by Dynamic light scattering analysis at 321 nm. Scanning electron microscope studies revealed the spherical shape of nanoparticles with an average size of 97 nm. The average particle size of IBA-alginate/chitosan nanocapsules was measured by Dynamic light scattering analysis at 321 nm. The characteristic peaks of IBA on alginate/chitosan nanocapsules were identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis. Also, high efficiency (35%) of IBA hormone loading was observed. The findings indicated that the concentration of 3 mgL-1 of IBA-alginate/chitosan nanocapsules has the highest efficiency in increasing the rooting in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants compared to other treatments. According to our results, we can introduce alginate/chitosan nanocapsules as an efficient nanocarrier in IBA hormone transfer applications and their use in agriculture.

Enhanced anti-tumor and anti-metastatic activity of quercetin using pH-sensitive Alginate@ZIF-8 nanocomposites:in vitroandin vivostudy.

Quercetin (Qc) possesses anti-cancer properties, such as cell signaling, growth suppression, pro-apoptotic, anti-proliferative, and antioxidant effects. In this study, we developed an alginate-modified ZIF-8 (Alg@ZIF-8) to enhance the anti-tumor efficacy of Qc. The developed alginate-modified quercetin-loaded ZIF-8 (Alg@Qc@ZIF-8) was characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy Thermogravimetric analysis, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, and x-ray diffraction. The drug release pattern was evaluated at pH 5.4 and 7.4. The cytotoxicity of nanoparticles was assessed on the 4T1 cell line. Finally, the anti-tumor activity of Alg@Qc@ZIF-8 was evaluated in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice. SEM showed that the nanoparticles were spherical with a diameter of mainly below 50 nm. The DLS showed that the developed nanoparticles' hydrodynamic diameter, zeta potential, and polydispersity index were 154.9 ± 7.25 nm, -23.8 ± 5.33 mV, and 0.381 ± 0.09, respectively. The drug loading capacity was 10.40 ± 0.02%. Alg@Qc@ZIF-8 exhibited pH sensitivity, releasing more Qc at pH 5.4 (about 3.62 times) than at pH 7.4 after 24 h. Furthermore, the IC50value of Alg@Qc@ZIF-8 on the 4T1 cell line was 2.16 times lower than net Qc. Importantly, in tumor-bearing mice, Alg@Qc@ZIF-8 demonstrated enhanced inhibitory effects on tumor growth and lung metastasis compared to net Qc. Considering thein vitroandin vivooutcomes, Alg@Qc@ZIF-8 might hold great potential for effective breast cancer management.

Injectable bone cement based on magnesium potassium phosphate and cross-linked alginate hydrogel designed for minimally invasive orthopedic procedures.

Bone cement based on magnesium phosphate has extremely favorable properties for its application as a bioactive bone substitute. However, further improvement is still expected due to difficult injectability and high brittleness. This paper reported the preparation of novel biocomposite cement, classified as dual-setting, obtained through ceramic hydration reaction and polymer cross-linking. Cement was composed of magnesium potassium phosphate and sodium alginate cross-linked with calcium carbonate and gluconolactone. The properties of the obtained composite material and the influence of sodium alginate modification on cement reaction were investigated. Our results indicated that proposed cements have several advantages compared to ceramic cement, like shortened curing time, diverse microstructure, increased wettability and biodegradability and improved paste cohesion and injectability. The magnesium phosphate cement with 1.50% sodium alginate obtained using a powder-to-liquid ratio of 2.5 g/mL and cross-linking ratio 90/120 of GDL/CC showed the most favorable properties, with no adverse effect on mechanical strength and osteoblasts cytocompatibility. Overall, our research suggested that this novel cement might have promising medical application prospects, especially in minimally invasive procedures.

Cell Cycle Modulation through Physical Confinement in Micrometer-Thick Hydrogel Sheaths.

Recently, surface engineering of the cell membrane with biomaterials has attracted great attention for various biomedical applications. In this study, we investigated the possibility of modulating cell cycle progression using alginate and gelatin-based hydrogel sheaths with a thickness of ∼1 µm. The hydrogel sheath was formed on cell surfaces through cross-linking catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase immobilized on the cell surface. The hydrogel sheath did not decrease the viability (>95% during 2 days of culture) of the human cervical carcinoma cell line (HeLa) expressing the fluorescent ubiquitination-based cell cycle indicator 2 (HeLa/Fucci2). Coating the HeLa/Fucci2 cells with the hydrogel sheath resulted in a cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, which can be caused by the reduced F-actin formation. As a result of this cell cycle arrest, an inhibition of cell growth was observed in the HeLa/Fucci2 cells. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the hydrogel sheath coating on the cell surface is a feasible approach to modulating cell cycle progression.

Pericardial Delivery of Sodium Alginate-Infusible Extracellular Matrix Composite Hydrogel Promotes Angiogenesis and Intercellular Electrical Conduction after Myocardial Infarction.

Injectable extracellular matrix (iECM) is a versatile biological material with beneficial properties such as good degradability, promotion of cell survival, immunomodulation, and facilitation of vascular formation. However, intravenous injection of iECM faces challenges like a short retention time in vivo and low concentration at the lesion site. To address these issues, we prepared a composite hydrogel composed of sodium alginate and iECM and administered it via intrapericardial injection, forming a structure akin to cardiac patches within the pericardium. Compared with intramyocardial injection, intrapericardial injection avoids direct myocardial injury and ectopic tumor formation, offering less invasiveness and better biocompatibility. This study demonstrates that the sodium alginate/infusible extracellular matrix (SA/iECM) composite hydrogel can effectively prolong the local retention time of iECM in the heart, enhance electrical conduction between cardiomyocytes, promote angiogenesis at ischemic myocardial sites, inhibit apoptosis in the infarcted region, mitigate left ventricular remodeling postmyocardial infarction (MI), and improve cardiac function after infarction. Precise coordination of cardiomyocyte contraction and relaxation depends on the rhythmic occurrence of calcium-dependent action potentials. Cardiac dysfunction is partially attributed to the disruption of the excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) mechanism, which is associated with prolonged intracellular Ca2+ transients and alterations in contraction and relaxation Ca2+ levels. Our results show that the SA/iECM composite hydrogel improves electrical conduction, as evidenced by increased Cx43 expression and enhanced intercellular electrical connectivity. This research establishes that intrapericardial injection of a SA/iECM composite hydrogel is a safe and effective treatment modality, providing a theoretical basis for the use of biomaterials in MI therapy.

Improved moisture barrier and mechanical properties of rice protein/sodium alginate films for banana and oil preservation: Effect of the type and addition form of fatty acid.

Attenuating the moisture sensitivity of hydrophilic protein/polysaccharide-based films without impairing other properties remains a challenge. Fatty acid dispersed in Pickering emulsion was proposed to overcome such issue. An increase in fatty acid chain length slightly reduced the water vapor permeability (WVP) of emulsion films. As the number of fatty acid double bonds increased from 0 to 1, the WVP of emulsion films was significantly decreased by 14.02% while mechanical properties were significantly enhanced. More hydrogen bonds and stronger electrostatic interactions in the presence of fatty acids were observed by molecular dynamics simulation. The weight loss of bananas coated with oleic acid-incorporated film-forming emulsion was 6.81% lower than that of uncoated group after 4 days, and the corresponding film was more effective to delay oil oxidation than the commercial polypropylene film, indicating that the film is a promising alternative to food coating and packaging material.

Multifunctional Nanoparticle-Loaded Injectable Alginate Hydrogels with Deep Tumor Penetration for Enhanced Chemo-Immunotherapy of Cancer.

Chemo-immunotherapy has become a promising strategy for cancer treatment. However, the inability of the drugs to penetrate deeply into the tumor and form potent tumor vaccines in vivo severely restricts the antitumor effect of chemo-immunotherapy. In this work, an injectable sodium alginate platform is reported to promote penetration of the chemotherapeutic doxorubicin (DOX) and delivery of personalized tumor vaccines. The injectable multifunctional sodium alginate platform cross-links rapidly in the presence of physiological concentrations of Ca2+, forming a hydrogel that acts as a drug depot and releases loaded hyaluronidase (HAase), DOX, and micelles (IP-NPs) slowly and sustainedly. By degrading hyaluronic acid (HA) overexpressed in tumor tissue, HAase can make tumor tissue "loose" and favor other components to penetrate deeply. DOX induces potent immunogenic cell death (ICD) and produces tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), which could be effectively captured by polyethylenimine (PEI) coated IP-NPs micelles and form personalized tumor vaccines. The vaccines efficaciously facilitate the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) and activation of T lymphocytes, thus producing long-term immune memory. Imiquimod (IMQ) loaded in the core could further activate the immune system and trigger a more robust antitumor immune effect. Hence, the research proposes a multifunctional drug delivery platform for the effective treatment of colorectal cancer.

Programming of in Situ Tumor Vaccines via Supramolecular Nanodrug/Hydrogel Composite and Deformable Nanoadjuvant for Cancer Immunotherapy.

The development of in situ tumor vaccines offers promising prospects for cancer treatment. Nonetheless, the generation of plenary autologous antigens in vivo and their codelivery to DC cells along with adjuvants remains a significant challenge. Herein, we developed an in situ tumor vaccine using a supramolecular nanoparticle/hydrogel composite (ANPMTO/ALCD) and a deformable nanoadjuvant (PPER848). The ANPMTO/ALCD composite consisted of ß-cyclodextrin-decorated alginate (Alg-g-CD) and MTO-encapsulated adamantane-decorated nanoparticles (ANPMTO) through supramolecular interaction, facilitating the long-term and sustained production of plenary autologous antigens, particularly under a 660 nm laser. Simultaneously, the produced autologous antigens were effectively captured by nanoadjuvant PPER848 and subsequently transported to lymph nodes and DC cells, benefiting from its optimized size and deformability. This in situ tumor vaccine can trigger a robust antitumor immune response and demonstrate significant therapeutic efficacy in inhibiting tumor growth, suppressing tumor metastasis, and preventing postoperative recurrence, offering a straightforward approach to programming in situ tumor vaccines.

Oral administration of encapsulated catechin in chitosan-alginate nanoparticles improves cognitive function and neurodegeneration in an aluminum chloride-induced rat model of Alzheimer's disease.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of catechin-loaded Chitosan-Alginate nanoparticles (NPs) on cognitive function in an aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced rat model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The Catechin-loaded Chitosan-Alginate nanocarriers were synthesized through ionotropic gelation (IG) method. Physio-chemical characterization was conducted with the Zetasizer Nano system, the scanning electron microscope, and the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The experiments were performed over 21 days on six groups of male Wistar rats. The control group, AlCl3 treated group, Catechin group, nanocarrier group, treatment group 1 (AlCl3 + Catechin), and treatment group 2 (AlCl3 + nanocarrier). A behavioral study was done by the Morris water maze (MWM) test. In addition, the level of oxidative indices and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity was determined by standard procedures at the end of the study. AlCl3 induced a significant increase in AChE activity, along with a significant decrease in the level of Catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the hippocampus. Moreover, the significant effect of AlCl3 was observed on the behavioral parameters of the MWM test. Both forms of Catechin markedly improved AChE activity, oxidative biomarkers, spatial memory, and learning. The present study indicated that the administration of Catechin-loaded Chitosan-Alginate NPs is a beneficial therapeutic option against behavioral and chemical alteration of AD in male Wistar rats.

Application of In Situ Mucoadhesive Hydrogel with Anti-Inflammatory and Pro-Repairing Dual Properties for the Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Oral Mucositis.

Chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis (CIOM) is a prevalent complication of chemotherapy and significantly affects the treatment process. However, effective treatment for CIOM is lacking due to the unique environment of the oral cavity and the single effect of current drug delivery systems. In this present study, we propose an innovative approach by combining a methacrylate-modified human recombinant collagen III (rhCol3MA) hydrogel system with hyaluronic acid-epigallocatechin gallate (HA-E) and dopamine-modified methacrylate-alginate (AlgDA-MA). HA-E is used as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent and synergizes with AlgDA-MA to improve the wet adhesion of hydrogel. The results of rhCol3MA/HA-E/AlgDA-MA (Col/HA-E/Alg) hydrogel demonstrate suitable physicochemical properties, excellent wet adhesive capacity, and biocompatibility. Notably, the hydrogel could promote macrophage polarization from M1 to M2 and redress human oral keratinocyte (HOK) inflammation by inhibiting NF-κB activation. Wound healing evaluations in vivo demonstrate that the Col/HA-E/Alg hydrogel exhibits a pro-repair effect by mitigating inflammatory imbalances, fostering early angiogenesis, and facilitating collagen repair. In summary, the Col/HA-E/Alg hydrogel could serve as a promising multifunctional dressing for the treatment of CIOM.

Synergistic Etching and Hydrogen Bonding-Induced Self-Assembly of MXene/MOF Hybrid Aerogel for Flexible Room-Temperature Gas Sensing.

Limited by insufficient active sites and restricted mechanical strength, designing reliable and wearable gas sensors with high activity and ductility remains a challenge for detecting hazardous gases. In this work, a thermally induced and solvent-assisted oxyanion etching strategy was implemented for selective pore opening in a rigid microporous Cu-based metal-organic framework (referred to as CuM). A conductive CuM/MXene aerogel was then self-assembled through cooperative hydrogen bonding interactions between the carbonyl oxygen atom in PVP grafted on the surface of defect-rich Cu-BTC and the surface functional hydroxyl group on MXene. A flexible NO2 sensing performance using the CuM/MXene aerogel hybridized sodium alginate hydrogel is finally achieved, demonstrating extraordinary sensitivity (S = 52.47 toward 50 ppm of NO2), good selectivity, and rapid response/recovery time (0.9/4.5 s) at room temperature. Compared with commercial sensors, the relative error is less than 7.7%, thereby exhibiting significant potential for application in monitoring toxic and harmful gases. This work not only provides insights for guiding rational synthesis of ideal structure models from MOF composites but also inspires the development of high-performance flexible gas sensors for potential multiscenario applications.

The application of marine polysaccharides to antitumor nanocarriers.

Nanotechnology has revolutionized the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of biomedical diseases, in which nanocarriers have greatly improved the targeting and bioavailability of antitumor drugs. The marine natural polysaccharides fucoidan, chitosan, alginate, carrageenan and porphyran have broad-spectrum bioactivities and unique physicochemical properties such as excellent non-toxicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability and reproducibility, which have placed them as a principal focus in the nanocarrier field. Nanocarriers based on different types of marine polysaccharides are distinctive in addressing antitumor therapeutic challenges such as targeting, environmental responsiveness, drug resistance, tissue toxicity, enhancing diagnostic imaging, overcoming the first-pass effect and innovative 3D binding. Additionally, they all share the possibility of relatively easy chemical modification, while their separation into well-defined derivatives provide innovative structure-activity relationship possibilities. Liposomes, nanoparticles and polymer-micelles constructed from them can efficiently deliver drugs such as paclitaxel, gemcitabine, siRNA and others, which are widely used in radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, nucleic acid therapy and photothermal therapy, yet there are still infinite possibilities for innovation and exploration. This article reviews the recent advances and challenges of marine polysaccharide-based delivery systems as oncology drug nanocarriers.