Desirable PEGylation for improving tumor selectivity of hyaluronic acid-based nanoparticles via low hepatic captured, long circulation times and CD44 receptor-mediated tumor targeting.

PEG coating was regarded as one effective method to improve the tumor-targeting efficiency of hyaluronic acid-based nanoparticles (HBN). However, the research of interaction between PEG coating and different receptors such as stabilin-2 and CD44 was limited. Herein, we synthesized a series of PEGylated hyaluronic acid with Curcumin (PHCs) to evaluate the role of PEG coating density in the interaction between HA and its receptors, which influenced tissues targeting activity, pharmacokinetic profiles and therapeutic efficacy of HBN. Compared with other counterparts, PHC HBN with about 5% PEG coating density preferably accumulated in the tumor mass, rather than in the liver, and hold desirable anti-cancer effect. These results indicated that to obtain optimized anticancer effect of HBN, the cellular uptake efficiency between different types of the cells should be carefully balanced by different PEG densities.

Stable underwater superoleophobic and low adhesive polypyrrole nanowire mesh in highly corrosive environments.

Underwater superoleophobic materials with low adhesion have been widely researched owing to their self-cleaning and anti-corrosive properties. In this study, polypyrrole (PPy) nanowire meshes have been successfully fabricated by in situ electrochemical polymerization on stainless steel mesh substrates in the presence of phosphate buffered saline as both an electrolyte and a dopant. PPy nanowire meshes have high oil contact angles (above 150°) and low sliding angles (less than 10°), and they show underwater superoleophobicity with an excellent self-cleaning performance, not only in pure water, but also in highly corrosive aqueous solutions, including salt solutions, strong acids or basic solutions. PPy nanowire meshes presented here show promise for potential applications in fields such as oil-water separation and marine oil spill clean-up.

Efficient production of lactic acid from sucrose and corncob hydrolysate by a newly isolated Rhizopus oryzae GY18.

The aim of this study is to investigate production of L-lactic acid from sucrose and corncob hydrolysate by the newly isolated R. oryzae GY18. R. oryzae GY18 was capable of utilizing sucrose as a sole source, producing 97.5 g l(-1) L-lactic acid from 120 g l(-1) sucrose. In addition, the strain was also efficiently able to utilize glucose and/or xylose to produce high yields of L-lactic acid. It was capable of producing up to 115 and 54.2 g l(-1) lactic acid with yields of up to 0.81 g g(-1) glucose and 0.90 g g(-1) xylose, respectively. Corncob hydrolysates obtained by dilute acid hydrolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis of the cellulose-enriched residue were used for lactic acid production by R. oryzae GY18. A yield of 355 g lactic acid per kg corncobs was obtained after 72 h incubation. Therefore, sucrose and corncobs could serve as potential sources of raw materials for efficient production of lactic acid by R. oryzae GY18.

Characterization and long term antimicrobial activity of the nisin anchored cellulose films.

To obtain a safe and biodegradable material for food packaging, this study developed a facile and green process of anchoring nisin onto oxidized cellulose through a simple Schiff base reaction for long-term antimicrobial active food packaging. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of such a packaging. The grafting reaction between the amino groups of nisin and the aldehyde groups of oxidized cellulose films was successfully established to obtained a nisin anchored cellulose films (NC) membrane; the structure was characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The NCs membrane had an outstanding transparent property of above 90% transmittance through 300nm to 800nm; while, the barrier properties against oxygen remain excellent. The thermal stability of the NCs membrane remained excellent and enabled an easier degradation than the original cellulose membrane. The NCs membrane displayed good antimicrobial activity against Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris DSM 3922T in a long-term way, thus demonstrating good potential as food packaging material. The obtained results are promising and confirm the development of NCs membranes as green materials for food packaging.