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1.
Int J Nanomedicine ; 19: 3907-3917, 2024.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38708183

Background: As highlighted by recent pandemic outbreaks, antiviral drugs are crucial resources in the global battle against viral diseases. Unfortunately, most antiviral drugs are characterized by a plethora of side effects and low efficiency/poor bioavailability owing to their insolubility. This also applies to the arylnaphthalide lignin family member, diphyllin (Diph). Diph acts as a vacuolar ATPase inhibitor and has been previously identified as a promising candidate with broad-spectrum antiviral activity. However, its physicochemical properties preclude its efficient administration in vivo, complicating preclinical testing. Methods: We produced human recombinant H- ferritin (HsaFtH) and used it as a delivery vehicle for Diph encapsulation through pH-mediated reversible reassembly of HsaFtH. Diph nanoformulation was subsequently thoroughly characterized and tested for its non-target cytotoxicity and antiviral efficiency using a panel of pathogenic viral strain. Results: We revealed that loading into HsaFtH decreased the undesired cytotoxicity of Diph in mammalian host cells. We also confirmed that encapsulated Diph exhibited slightly lower antiviral activity than free Diph, which may be due to the differential uptake mechanism and kinetics of free Diph and Diph@HsaFtH. Furthermore, we confirmed that the antiviral effect was mediated solely by Diph with no contribution from HsaFtH. Conclusion: It was confirmed that HsaFtH is a suitable vehicle that allows easy loading of Diph and production of highly homogeneous nanoparticles dispersion with promising broad-spectrum antiviral activity.


Antiviral Agents , Lignans , Recombinant Proteins , Humans , Antiviral Agents/pharmacology , Antiviral Agents/chemistry , Antiviral Agents/pharmacokinetics , Recombinant Proteins/chemistry , Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases/antagonists & inhibitors , Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases/metabolism , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Animals , Nanoparticles/chemistry
2.
Mikrochim Acta ; 191(6): 299, 2024 05 06.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38709371

Gold nanoclusters are a smart platform for sensing potassium ions (K+). They have been synthesized using bovine serum albumin (BSA) and valinomycin (Val) to protect and cap the nanoclusters. The nanoclusters (Val-AuNCs) produced have a red emission at 616 nm under excitation with 470 nm. In the presence of K+, the valinomycin polar groups switch to the molecule's interior by complexing with K+, forming a bracelet structure, and being surrounded by the hydrophobic exterior conformation. This structure allows a proposed fluorometric method for detecting K+ by switching between the Val-AuNCs' hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity, which induces the aggregation of gold nanoclusters. As a result, significant quenching is seen in fluorescence after adding K+. The quenching in fluorescence in the presence of K+ is attributed to the aggregation mechanism. This sensing technique provides a highly precise and selective sensing method for K+ in the range 0.78 to 8 µM with LOD equal to 233 nM. The selectivity of Val-AuNCs toward K+ ions was investigated compared to other ions. Furthermore, the Val-AuNCs have novel possibilities as favorable sensor candidates for various imaging applications. Our detection technique was validated by determining K+ ions in postmortem vitreous humor samples, which yielded promising results.


Fluorescent Dyes , Gold , Metal Nanoparticles , Potassium , Serum Albumin, Bovine , Valinomycin , Gold/chemistry , Valinomycin/chemistry , Potassium/analysis , Potassium/chemistry , Metal Nanoparticles/chemistry , Serum Albumin, Bovine/chemistry , Fluorescent Dyes/chemistry , Spectrometry, Fluorescence/methods , Limit of Detection , Animals , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Cattle
3.
ACS Infect Dis ; 10(5): 1839-1855, 2024 May 10.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38725407

Multidrug resistance against conventional antibiotics has dramatically increased the difficulty of treatment and accelerated the need for novel antibacterial agents. The peptide Tat (47-57) is derived from the transactivating transcriptional activator of human immunodeficiency virus 1, which is well-known as a cell-penetrating peptide in mammalian cells. However, it is also reported that the Tat peptide (47-57) has antifungal activity. In this study, a series of membrane-active hydrocarbon-stapled α-helical amphiphilic peptides were synthesized and evaluated as antibacterial agents against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains. The impact of hydrocarbon staple, the position of aromatic amino acid residue in the hydrophobic face, the various types of aromatic amino acids, and the hydrophobicity on bioactivity were also investigated and discussed in this study. Among those synthesized peptides, analogues P3 and P10 bearing a l-2-naphthylalanine (Φ) residue at the first position and a Tyr residue at the eighth position demonstrated the highest antimicrobial activity and negligible hemolytic toxicity. Notably, P3 and P10 showed obviously enhanced antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria, low drug resistance, high cell selectivity, extended half-life in plasma, and excellent performance against biofilm. The antibacterial mechanisms of P3 and P10 were also preliminarily investigated in this effort. In conclusion, P3 and P10 are promising antimicrobial alternatives for the treatment of the antimicrobial-resistance crisis.


Anti-Bacterial Agents , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry , Humans , tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus/chemistry , Gram-Negative Bacteria/drug effects , Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial/drug effects , Gram-Positive Bacteria/drug effects , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Hydrocarbons/chemistry , Hydrocarbons/pharmacology , Hemolysis/drug effects , Protein Conformation, alpha-Helical
4.
J Sep Sci ; 47(9-10): e2300949, 2024 May.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38726739

Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) has been widely applied to challenging analysis in biomedical and pharmaceutical fields, bridging the gap between normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). This paper comprehensively explores the retention mechanisms of amitriptyline and its impurities A, B, C, D, F, and G on amide, amino, diol, and silica columns. Dual HILIC/RP-HPLC retention mechanisms were developed, and transitional points between HILIC and RP-HPLC mechanisms were calculated on amide, diol, and silica columns. Adsorption and partition contributions to overall retention mechanisms were evaluated using Python software in HILIC and RP-HPLC regions. The cation exchange mechanism dominates overall retention for ionized analytes in the silica column (R2 > 0.995), whereas the retention of ionized analytes increases with pH. Impacts of acetonitrile content, buffer ionic strength, and pH, along with their interactions on the retention of ionized analytes in the silica column, were determined using the chemometric approach. Acetonitrile content showed the most significant impact on the retention mechanisms. These findings highlight that a detailed investigation into retention mechanisms provides notable insights into factors influencing analyte retention and separation, promising valuable guidance for future analysis.


Amides , Amitriptyline , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Silicon Dioxide , Silicon Dioxide/chemistry , Amitriptyline/analysis , Amitriptyline/chemistry , Amides/chemistry , Amides/analysis , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Drug Contamination , Chromatography, Liquid/methods , Molecular Structure
5.
Food Res Int ; 186: 114340, 2024 Jun.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38729695

Fruits are essential sources of nutrients in our daily diet; however, their spoilage is often intensified by mechanical damage and the ethylene phytohormone, resulting in significant economic losses and exacerbating hunger issues. To address these challenges, this study presented a straightforward in situ synthesis protocol for producing Z/SOPPU foam, a 3D porous-structured fruit packaging. This innovative packaging material offered advanced ethylene-adsorbing and cushioning capabilities achieved through stirring, heating, and standing treatments. The results demonstrated that the Z/SOPPU foam, with its porous structure, served as an excellent packaging material for fruits, maintaining the intact appearance of tomatoes even after being thrown 72 times from a height of 1.5 m. Additionally, it exhibited desirable hydrophobicity (contact angle of 114.31 ± 0.82°), degradability (2.73 ± 0.88 % per 4 weeks), and efficient ethylene adsorption (adsorption rate of 13.2 ± 1.7 mg/m3/h). These remarkable characteristics could be attributed to the unique 3D micron-porous configuration, consisting of soybean oil polyol polyurethane foam for mechanical strain cushioning and zein for enhanced ethylene adsorption efficiency. Overall, this research offers an effective and original approach to the rational design and fabrication of advanced bio-based fruit packaging.


Ethylenes , Food Packaging , Fruit , Polyurethanes , Soybean Oil , Zein , Ethylenes/chemistry , Polyurethanes/chemistry , Food Packaging/methods , Porosity , Fruit/chemistry , Soybean Oil/chemistry , Zein/chemistry , Adsorption , Polymers/chemistry , Solanum lycopersicum/chemistry , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
6.
Food Res Int ; 186: 114365, 2024 Jun.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38729700

This study aimed to investigate the interaction, structure, antioxidant, and emulsification properties of quinoa protein hydrolysate (QPH) complexes formed with (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) at pH 3.0 and 7.0. Additionally, the effect of pH conditions and EGCG complexation on protein hydrolysate-lipid co-oxidation in QPH emulsions was explored. The results indicated that QPH primarily interacted with EGCG through hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds. This interaction led to alterations in the secondary structure of QPH, as well as a decrease in surface hydrophobicity and free SH content. Notably, the binding affinity between QPH and EGCG was observed to be higher at pH 7.0 compared to pH 3.0. Consequently, QPH-EGCG complexes exhibited more significant enhancement in antioxidant and emulsification properties at pH 7.0 than pH 3.0. The pH level also influenced the droplet size, ζ-potential, and interfacial composition of emulsions formed by QPH and QPH-EGCG complexes. Compared to QPH stabilized emulsions, QPH-EGCG stabilized emulsions were more capable of mitigating destabilization during storage and displayed fewer lipid oxidation products, carbonyl generation, and sulfhydryl groups and fluorescence loss, which implied better oxidative stability of the emulsions. Furthermore, the QPH-EGCG complexes formed at pH 7.0 exhibited better inhibition of protein hydrolysate-lipid co-oxidation. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights into the potential application of QPH and its complexes with EGCG in food processing systems.


Antioxidants , Catechin , Chenopodium quinoa , Emulsions , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Oxidation-Reduction , Protein Hydrolysates , Chenopodium quinoa/chemistry , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Emulsions/chemistry , Protein Hydrolysates/chemistry , Catechin/chemistry , Catechin/analogs & derivatives , Antioxidants/chemistry , Hydrogen Bonding , Plant Proteins/chemistry , Lipids/chemistry
7.
Food Res Int ; 186: 114410, 2024 Jun.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38729706

Protein and lipid are two major components that undergo significant changes during processing of aquatic products. This study focused on the protein oxidation, protein conformational states, lipid oxidation and lipid molecule profiling of salted large yellow croaker during storage, and their correlations were investigated. The degree of oxidation of protein and lipid was time-dependent, leading to an increase in carbonyl content and surface hydrophobicity, a decrease in sulfhydryl groups, and an increase in conjugated diene, peroxide value and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances value. Oxidation caused protein structure denaturation and aggregation during storage. Lipid composition and content changed dynamically, with polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholine (PC) was preferentially oxidized compared to polyunsaturated triacylglycerol. Correlation analysis showed that the degradation of polyunsaturated key differential lipids (PC 18:2_20:5, PC 16:0_22:6, PC 16:0_20:5, etc.) was closely related to the oxidation of protein and lipid. The changes in protein conformation and the peroxidation of polyunsaturated lipids mutually promote each other's oxidation process.


Fish Proteins , Food Storage , Oxidation-Reduction , Perciformes , Animals , Perciformes/metabolism , Fish Proteins/chemistry , Lipid Peroxidation , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Lipids/chemistry , Protein Conformation , Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances/analysis , Seafood/analysis
8.
J Phys Chem B ; 128(18): 4414-4427, 2024 May 09.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38690887

This study elucidated the mechanism of formation of a tripartite complex containing daptomycin (Dap), lipid II, and phospholipid phosphatidylglycerol in the bacterial septum membrane, which was previously reported as the cause of the antibacterial action of Dap against gram-positive bacteria via molecular dynamics and enhanced sampling methods. Others have suggested that this transient complex ushers in the inhibition of cell wall synthesis by obstructing the downstream polymerization and cross-linking processes involving lipid II, which is absent in the presence of cardiolipin lipid in the membrane. In this work, we observed that the complex was stabilized by Ca2+-mediated electrostatic interactions between Dap and lipid head groups, hydrophobic interaction, hydrogen bonds, and salt bridges between the lipopeptide and lipids and was associated with Dap concentration-dependent membrane depolarization, thinning of the bilayer, and increased lipid tail disorder. Residues Orn6 and Kyn13, along with the DXDG motif, made simultaneous contact with constituent lipids, hence playing a crucial role in the formation of the complex. Incorporating cardiolipin into the membrane model led to its competitively displacing lipid II away from the Dap, reducing the lifetime of the complex and the nonexistence of lipid tail disorder and membrane depolarization. No evidence of water permeation inside the membrane hydrophobic interior was noted in all of the systems studied. Additionally, it was shown that using hydrophobic contacts between Dap and lipids as collective variables for enhanced sampling gave rise to a free energy barrier for the translocation of the lipopeptide. A better understanding of Dap's antibacterial mechanism, as studied through this work, will help develop lipopeptide-based antibiotics for rising Dap-resistant bacteria.


Anti-Bacterial Agents , Daptomycin , Molecular Dynamics Simulation , Phospholipids , Daptomycin/pharmacology , Daptomycin/chemistry , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry , Phospholipids/chemistry , Phospholipids/metabolism , Uridine Diphosphate N-Acetylmuramic Acid/analogs & derivatives , Uridine Diphosphate N-Acetylmuramic Acid/metabolism , Uridine Diphosphate N-Acetylmuramic Acid/chemistry , Cell Membrane/drug effects , Cell Membrane/metabolism , Phosphatidylglycerols/chemistry , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Cardiolipins/chemistry , Cardiolipins/metabolism
9.
J Sep Sci ; 47(9-10): e2300668, 2024 May.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38699940

Saccharides and biocompounds as saccharide (sugar) complexes have various roles and biological functions in living organisms due to modifications via nucleophilic substitution, polymerization, and complex formation reactions. Mostly, mono-, di-, oligo-, and polysaccharides are stabilized to inactive glycosides, which are formed in metabolic pathways. Natural saccharides are important in food and environmental monitoring. Glycosides with various functionalities are significant in clinical and medical research. Saccharides are often studied with the chromatographic methods of hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography and anion exchange chromatograpy, but also with capillary electrophoresis and mass spectrometry with their on-line coupling systems. Sample preparation is important in the identification of saccharide compounds. The cases discussed here focus on bioscience, clinical, and food applications.


Electrophoresis, Capillary , Mass Spectrometry , Humans , Carbohydrates/chemistry , Chromatography, Liquid , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
10.
Protein Sci ; 33(6): e5013, 2024 Jun.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38808964

Many small globular proteins exist in only two states-the physiologically relevant folded state and an inactive unfolded state. The active state is stabilized by numerous weak attractive contacts, including hydrogen bonds, other polar interactions, and the hydrophobic effect. Knowledge of these interactions is key to understanding the fundamental equilibrium thermodynamics of protein folding and stability. We focus on one such interaction, that between amide and aromatic groups. We provide a statistically convincing case for quantitative, linear entropy-enthalpy compensation in forming aromatic-amide interactions using published model compound transfer-free energy data.


Entropy , Proteins , Proteins/chemistry , Proteins/metabolism , Thermodynamics , Protein Folding , Models, Molecular , Hydrogen Bonding , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Amides/chemistry , Amides/metabolism
11.
Biomolecules ; 14(5)2024 May 13.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38785983

BACKGROUND: Peroxynitrite (ONOO-) is an oxidant linked with several human pathologies. Apigenin, a natural flavonoid known for its health benefits, remains unexplored in relation to ONOO- effects. This study investigated the potential of apigenin to structurally protect fibrinogen, an essential blood clotting factor, from ONOO--induced damage. METHODS: Multi-approach analyses were carried out where fibrinogen was exposed to ONOO- generation while testing the efficacy of apigenin. The role of apigenin against ONOO--induced modifications in fibrinogen was investigated using UV spectroscopy, tryptophan or tyrosine fluorescence, protein hydrophobicity, carbonylation, and electrophoretic analyses. RESULTS: The findings demonstrate that apigenin significantly inhibits ONOO--induced oxidative damage in fibrinogen. ONOO- caused reduced UV absorption, which was reversed by apigenin treatment. Moreover, ONOO- diminished tryptophan and tyrosine fluorescence, which was effectively restored by apigenin treatment. Apigenin also reduced the hydrophobicity of ONOO--damaged fibrinogen. Moreover, apigenin exhibited protective effects against ONOO--induced protein carbonylation. SDS-PAGE analyses revealed that ONOO-treatment eliminated bands corresponding to fibrinogen polypeptide chains Aα and γ, while apigenin preserved these changes. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights, for the first time, the role of apigenin in structural protection of human fibrinogen against peroxynitrite-induced nitrosative damage. Our data indicate that apigenin offers structural protection to all three polypeptide chains (Aα, Bß, and γ) of human fibrinogen. Specifically, apigenin prevents the dislocation or breakdown of the amino acids tryptophan, tyrosine, lysine, arginine, proline, and threonine and also prevents the exposure of hydrophobic sites in fibrinogen induced by ONOO-.


Apigenin , Fibrinogen , Nitrosative Stress , Peroxynitrous Acid , Fibrinogen/metabolism , Fibrinogen/chemistry , Apigenin/pharmacology , Apigenin/chemistry , Humans , Peroxynitrous Acid/chemistry , Nitrosative Stress/drug effects , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Protein Carbonylation/drug effects , Tyrosine/chemistry , Tyrosine/metabolism , Oxidative Stress/drug effects
12.
Food Res Int ; 187: 114357, 2024 Jul.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38763641

The oxidation of fish lipids and proteins is interconnected. The LOX (lipoxygenase)-catalyzed LA (linoleic acid) oxidation system on MPs (myofibrillar proteins) was established in vitro, to investigate the impact of lipoxidation on the physicochemical properties of fish MPs. By detecting HNE (4-hydroxy-2-nonenal) concentration during LA oxidation, the HNE treatment system was established to investigate the role of HNE in this process. In addition, the site specificity of modification on MPs was detected utilizing LC-MS/MS. Both treatments could induce sidechain modification, increase particle size, and cause loss of nutritional value through the reduction in amino acid content of MPs. The HNE group is more likely to alter the MPs' surface hydrophobicity compared to the LA group. By increasing the exposure of modification sites in MPs, the HNE group has more types and number of modifications compared to the LA group. LA group mainly induced the modification of single oxygen addition on MPs instead, which accounted for over 50 % of all modifications. The LA group induced a more pronounced reduction in the solubility of MPs as compared to the HNE group. In conclusion, HNE binding had a high susceptibility to Lys on MPs. Protein aggregation, peptide chain fragmentation, and decreased solubility occurred in the LA group mainly induced by peroxide generated during lipid oxidation or the unreacted LA instead of HNE. This study fills in the mechanism of lipoxidation on protein oxidation in fish and sheds light on the HNE modification sites of MPs, paving the way for the development of oxidation control technology.


Aldehydes , Linoleic Acid , Oxidation-Reduction , Tandem Mass Spectrometry , Aldehydes/metabolism , Animals , Linoleic Acid/chemistry , Linoleic Acid/metabolism , Chromatography, Liquid/methods , Fish Proteins/metabolism , Muscle Proteins/metabolism , Fishes , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Lipoxygenase/metabolism , Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
13.
Food Res Int ; 187: 114368, 2024 Jul.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38763647

This study aimed to extract bamboo shoot protein (BSP) using different extraction approaches and compare their functional and physicochemical properties with commercial protein ingredients, including whey protein and soy protein isolates. The extraction methods including alkali extraction (AE), salt extraction (SE), and phosphate-aided ethanol precipitation (PE) were used. An enhanced solvent extraction method was utilized in combination, resulting in a significant improvement in the protein purity, which reached 81.59 %, 87.36 %, and 67.08 % respectively. The extraction methods had significant effects on the amino acid composition, molecular weight distribution, and functional properties of the proteins. SE exhibited the best solubility and emulsification properties. Its solubility reached up to 93.38 % under alkaline conditions, and the emulsion stabilized by SE with enhanced solvent extraction retained 60.95 % stability after 120 min, which could be attributed to its higher protein content, higher surface hydrophobicity, and relative more stable and organized protein structure. All three BSP samples demonstrated better oil holding capacity, while the SE sample showed comparable functional properties to soy protein such as foaming and emulsifying properties. These findings indicate the potential of BSP as an alternative plant protein ingredient in the food industry.


Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Plant Proteins , Plant Shoots , Solubility , Plant Proteins/chemistry , Plant Proteins/isolation & purification , Plant Shoots/chemistry , Emulsions/chemistry , Amino Acids/chemistry , Amino Acids/analysis , Molecular Weight , Whey Proteins/chemistry , Soybean Proteins/chemistry , Solvents/chemistry
14.
Carbohydr Polym ; 338: 122218, 2024 Aug 15.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38763705

Here, biogenic and multifunctional active food coatings and packaging with UV shielding and antimicrobial properties were structured from the aqueous dispersion of an industrial byproduct, suberin, which was stabilized with amphiphilic cellulose nanofibers (CNF). The dual-functioning CNF, synthesized in a deep eutectic solvent, functioned as an efficient suberin dispersant and reinforcing agent in the packaging design. The nanofibrillar percolation network of CNF provided a steric hindrance against the coalescence of the suberin particles. The low CNF dosage of 0.5 wt% resulted in dispersion with optimal viscosity (208.70 Pa.s), enhanced stability (instability index of <0.001), and reduced particle size (9.37 ± 2.43 µm). The dispersion of suberin and CNF was further converted into self-standing films with superior UV-blocking capability, good thermal stability, improved hydrophobicity (increase in water contact angle from 61° ± 0.15 to 83° ± 5.11), and antimicrobial properties against gram-negative bacteria. Finally, the synergistic bicomponent dispersions were demonstrated as fruit coatings for bananas and packaging for strawberries to promote their self-life. The coatings and packaging considerably mitigated fruit deterioration and improved their freshness by preventing moisture loss and microbial attack. This sustainable approach is expected to pave the way toward advanced, biogenic, and active food packaging based on widely available bioresources.


Cellulose , Food Packaging , Lipids , Nanofibers , Wood , Nanofibers/chemistry , Cellulose/chemistry , Food Packaging/methods , Wood/chemistry , Lipids/chemistry , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Viscosity , Musa/chemistry , Water/chemistry , Gram-Negative Bacteria/drug effects , Fruit/chemistry
15.
Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf ; 23(3): e13373, 2024 May.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38778547

The environmental challenges posed by plastic pollution have prompted the exploration of eco-friendly alternatives to disposable plastic packaging and utensils. Paper-based materials, derived from renewable resources such as wood pulp, non-wood pulp (bamboo pulp, straw pulp, reed pulp, etc.), and recycled paper fibers, are distinguished by their recyclability and biodegradability, making them promising substitutes in the field of plastic food packaging. Despite their merits, challenges like porosity, hydrophilicity, limited barrier properties, and a lack of functionality have restricted their packaging potential. To address these constraints, researchers have introduced antimicrobial agents, hydrophobic substances, and other functional components to improve both physical and functional properties. This enhancement has resulted in notable improvements in food preservation outcomes in real-world scenarios. This paper offers a comprehensive review of recent progress in hydrophobic antimicrobial paper-based materials. In addition to outlining the characteristics and functions of commonly used antimicrobial substances in food packaging, it consolidates the current research landscape and preparation techniques for hydrophobic paper. Furthermore, the paper explores the practical applications of hydrophobic antimicrobial paper-based materials in agricultural produce, meat, and seafood, as well as ready-to-eat food packaging. Finally, challenges in production, application, and recycling processes are outlined to ensure safety and efficacy, and prospects for the future development of antimicrobial hydrophobic paper-based materials are discussed. Overall, the emergence of hydrophobic antimicrobial paper-based materials stands out as a robust alternative to plastic food packaging, offering a compelling solution with superior food preservation capabilities. In the future, paper-based materials with antimicrobial and hydrophobic functionalities are expected to further enhance food safety as promising packaging materials.


Anti-Infective Agents , Food Packaging , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Paper , Food Packaging/methods , Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry , Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology , Food Preservation/methods
16.
J Gen Physiol ; 156(7)2024 Jul 01.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38771271

The voltage-sensing domain (VSD) is a four-helix modular protein domain that converts electrical signals into conformational changes, leading to open pores and active enzymes. In most voltage-sensing proteins, the VSDs do not interact with one another, and the S1-S3 helices are considered mainly scaffolding, except in the voltage-sensing phosphatase (VSP) and the proton channel (Hv). To investigate its contribution to VSP function, we mutated four hydrophobic amino acids in S1 to alanine (F127, I131, I134, and L137), individually or in combination. Most of these mutations shifted the voltage dependence of activity to higher voltages; however, not all substrate reactions were the same. The kinetics of enzymatic activity were also altered, with some mutations significantly slowing down dephosphorylation. The voltage dependence of VSD motions was consistently shifted to lower voltages and indicated a second voltage-dependent motion. Additionally, none of the mutations broke the VSP dimer, indicating that the S1 impact could stem from intra- and/or intersubunit interactions. Lastly, when the same mutations were introduced into a genetically encoded voltage indicator, they dramatically altered the optical readings, making some of the kinetics faster and shifting the voltage dependence. These results indicate that the S1 helix in VSP plays a critical role in tuning the enzyme's conformational response to membrane potential transients and influencing the function of the VSD.


Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases , Animals , Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases/metabolism , Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases/genetics , Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases/chemistry , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Mutation , Protein Domains , Kinetics , Humans , Phosphorylation
17.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 11573, 2024 05 21.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38773172

GSK2838232 (GSK8232) is a second-generation maturation inhibitor (MI) developed for the treatment of HIV with excellent broad-spectrum virological profiles. The compound has demonstrated promising clinical results as an orally administered agent. Additionally, the compound's physical and pharmacological properties present opportunities for exploitation as long-acting parenteral formulations. Despite unique design constraints including solubility and dose of GSK8232, we report on three effective tunable drug delivery strategies: active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) suspensions, ionic liquids, and subdermal implants. Promising sustained drug release profiles were achieved in rats with each approach. Additionally, we were able to tune drug release rates through a combination of passive and active strategies, broadening applicability of these formulation approaches beyond GSK8232. Taken together, this report is an important first step to advance long-acting formulation development for critical HIV medicines that do not fit the traditional profile of suitable long-acting candidates.


Drug Liberation , Animals , Rats , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Delayed-Action Preparations , Anti-HIV Agents/administration & dosage , Anti-HIV Agents/chemistry , Anti-HIV Agents/pharmacology , Anti-HIV Agents/pharmacokinetics , Drug Delivery Systems/methods , Ionic Liquids/chemistry , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Male , Solubility , HIV Infections/drug therapy , Anti-Retroviral Agents/administration & dosage , Anti-Retroviral Agents/chemistry
18.
Int J Biol Macromol ; 268(Pt 2): 131936, 2024 May.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38692533

With the increasing environmental and ecological problems caused by petroleum-based packaging materials, the focus has gradually shifted to natural resources for the preparation of functional food packaging materials. In addition to biodegradable properties, nanocellulose (NC) mechanical properties, and rich surface chemistry are also fascinating and desired to be one of the most probable green packaging materials. In this review, we firstly introduce the recent progress of novel applications of NC in food packaging, including intelligent packaging, nano(bio)sensors, and nano-paper; secondly, we focus on the modification techniques of NC to summarize the properties (antimicrobial, mechanical, hydrophobic, antioxidant, and so on) that are required for food packaging, to expand the new synthetic methods and application areas. After presenting all the latest advances related to material design and sustainable applications, an overview summarizing the safety of NC is presented to promote a continuous and healthy movement of NC toward the field of truly sustainable packaging.


Cellulose , Food Packaging , Food Packaging/methods , Cellulose/chemistry , Nanostructures/chemistry , Antioxidants/chemistry , Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry , Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
19.
Soft Matter ; 20(20): 4088-4101, 2024 May 22.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38712559

This research addresses the growing menace of antibiotic resistance by exploring antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Specifically, we investigate two linear amphipathic AMPs, LE-53 (12-mer) and LE-55 (16-mer), finding that the shorter LE-53 exhibits greater bactericidal activity against both Gram-negative (G(-)) and Gram-positive (G(+)) bacteria. Remarkably, both AMPs are non-toxic to eukaryotic cells. The heightened effectiveness of LE-53 is attributed to its increased hydrophobicity (H) compared to LE-55. Circular dichroism (CD) reveals that LE-53 and LE-55 both adopt ß-sheet and random coil structures in lipid model membranes (LMMs) mimicking G(-) and G(+) bacteria, so secondary structure is not the cause of the potency difference. X-ray diffuse scattering (XDS) reveals increased lipid chain order in LE-53, a potential key distinction. Additionally, XDS study uncovers a significant link between LE-53's upper hydrocarbon location in G(-) and G(+) LMMs and its efficacy. Neutron reflectometry (NR) confirms the AMP locations determined using XDS. Solution small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) demonstrates LE-53's ability to induce vesicle fusion in bacterial LMMs without affecting eukaryotic LMMs, offering a promising strategy to combat antibiotic-resistant strains while preserving human cell integrity, whereas LE-55 has a smaller ability to induce fusion.


Antimicrobial Peptides , Humans , Antimicrobial Peptides/chemistry , Antimicrobial Peptides/pharmacology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/chemistry , Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/pharmacology , Gram-Negative Bacteria/drug effects
20.
Org Lett ; 26(20): 4365-4370, 2024 May 24.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38743933

DNA-encoded libraries (DELs) are a key technology for identifying small-molecule hits in both the pharmaceutical industry and academia, but their chemical diversity is largely limited to water-compatible reactions to aid in the solubility and integrity of encoding DNA tags. To broaden the DEL chemical space, we present a workflow utilizing DNA-cationic surfactant complexation that enables dissolution and reactions on-DNA in anhydrous organic solvents. We demonstrate its utility by developing DEL-compatible photoredox decarboxylative C(sp2)-C(sp3) coupling under water-free conditions. The workflow is optimized for the 96-well format necessary for large-scale DEL productions, and it enables screening and optimization of DEL-compatible reactions in organic solvents.


DNA , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Surface-Active Agents , Surface-Active Agents/chemistry , DNA/chemistry , Molecular Structure , Small Molecule Libraries/chemistry , Solvents/chemistry
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