Formulated chitosan-sodium tripolyphosphate nanoparticles for co-encapsulation of ellagic acid and anti-inflammatory peptide: characterization, stability and anti-inflammatory activity.

BACKGROUND: Chitosan (CS) and tripolyphosphate (TPP) can be combined in the development of a material with synergistic properties and promising potential for the conservation of food products. In this study, ellagic acid (EA) and anti-inflammatory peptide (FPL)-loaded CS nanoparticles (FPL/EA NPs) were prepared using the ionic gelation method and optimal preparation conditions were obtained through a single factor design. RESULTS: The synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Nanoparticles were spherical, with an average size of 308.33 ± 4.61 nm, a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.254, a zeta potential of +31.7 ± 0.08 mV, and a high encapsulation capacity (22.16 ± 0.79%). An in vitro release study showed that EA/FPL had a sustainable release from FPL/EA NPs. The stability of the FPL/EA NPs was evaluated for 90 days at 0, 25, and 37 °C. Significant anti-inflammatory activity of FPL/EA NPs was verified by nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) reduction. CONCLUSION: These characteristics support the use of CS nanoparticles to encapsulate EA and FPL and improve their bioactivity in food products. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Preparation, identification, and molecular docking of novel elastase inhibitory peptide from walnut (Juglans regia L.) meal.

This study aimed to isolate bioactive peptides with elastase inhibitory activity from walnut meal via ultrasonic enzymatic hydrolysis. The optimal hydrolysis conditions of walnut meal protein hydrolysates (WMPHs) were obtained by response surface methodology (RSM), while a molecular weight of<3 kDa fraction was analyzed by LC-MS/MS, and 556 peptides were identified. PyRx virtual screening and Autodock Vina molecular docking revealed that the pentapeptide Phe-Phe-Val-Pro-Phe (FFVPF) could interact with elastase primarily through hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonds, and π-sulfur bonds, with a binding energy of -5.22 kcal/mol. The verification results of inhibitory activity showed that FFVPF had better elastase inhibitory activity, with IC50 values of 0.469 ± 0.01 mg/mL. Furthermore, FFVPF exhibited specific stability in the gastric environment. These findings suggest that the pentapeptide FFVPF from defatted walnut meal could serve as a potential source of elastase inhibitors in the food, medical, and cosmetics industries.

Triphasic dynamic enhanced computed tomography for differentiating cholesterol and adenomatous gallbladder polyps.

BACKGROUND: Triphasic dynamic enhanced computed tomography (CT) scans were acquired to identify cholesterol and adenomatous gallbladder (GB) polyps that were inaccurately diagnosed before surgery. PURPOSE: To evaluate the CT findings of 1.0- to 2.0-cm GB polyps for differentiating between cholesterol and adenomatous polyps. METHODS: Fifty-two patients with GB polyps were treated surgically from December 2017 to July 2020 and were retrospectively divided into 2 groups according to the postoperative pathologic results: a cholesterol group with 30 patients and an adenomatous group with 22 patients. Unenhanced and triphasic dynamic enhanced CT scans were performed for all the patients within 2 weeks before surgery. The CT image parameters were measured and analyzed by 2 senior radiologists blinded to the pathological diagnoses. RESULTS: Of the 22 patients in the adenomatous group, 77.3% were female and 22.7% were male, with a mean age of 53.5 years; among the 30 patients in the cholesterol group, 66.7% were female and 33.3% were male, with a median age of 50.1 years. The CT image parameters of all 52 patients with GB polyps were analyzed. Significant differences were found in the arterial phase CT values, portal venous phase CT values, delayed phase CT values, ∆CT1 values (portal venous phase CT minus delayed phase CT values), and ∆CT2 values (arterial phase CT minus delayed phase CT values) between the cholesterol and adenomatous polyp groups (p < 0.05). In differentiating the two groups, the ∆CT1 and ∆CT2 values were superior to the arterial, portal venous and delayed phase CT values regarding both sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSION: The arterial phase CT values, portal venous phase CT values, delayed phase CT values, and ∆CT values (including ∆CT1 and ∆CT2) from triphasic dynamic enhanced CT scans can differentiate the nature of gallbladder polypoid lesions, with the ∆CT values having the highest sensitivity and specificity.

Dual-energy CT to differentiate gallbladder polyps: cholesterol versus adenomatous.

BACKGROUND: Dual-energy computed tomography (DE-CT) scans were acquired to identify cholesterol and adenomatous gallbladder (GB) polyps, which have not been well evaluated before surgery. PURPOSE: To evaluate the DE-CT findings of GB polyps 1.0-2.0 cm in size and differentiate between cholesterol and adenomatous polyps. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-six patients with GB polyps were surgically treated from December 2017 to December 2019 and divided into two groups according to their postoperative pathologic results: a cholesterol group with 26 patients and an adenomatous group with 20 patients. All of these patients underwent DE-CT imaging with tube voltages of 80 kVp and 140 kVp within two weeks before surgery. Mean attenuation values were measured for every GB polyp at 80/140 kVp and at 40/140 keV. The mean attenuation value changes between 140 kVp and 80 kVp (MAVC140-80 kVp) and mean attenuation value changes between 100 keV and 40 keV (MAVC100-40 keV) were calculated. RESULTS: The CT image parameters of all 46 patients with GB polyps were analyzed. There were significant differences in MAVC140-80 kVp and MAVC100-40 keV between cholesterol and adenomatous polyps (P <0.05); these values were positive for cholesterol polyps and negative for adenomatous polyps. CONCLUSION: The unique energy spectrum information provided by DE-CT scans is helpful in differentiating between cholesterol and adenomatous polyps 1.0-2.0 cm in size.

Novel metal nanoparticle-enhanced fluorescence for determination of trace amounts of fluoroquinolone in aqueous solutions.

Metal-enhanced fluorescence of fluoroquinolones (FQs) was first observed in aqueous solutions. In addition, a new type of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) was synthesized with simple and easy synthetic processes and environmentally friendly compounds. The effects of different concentrations of AgNPs on the fluorescence behaviours of ciprofloxacin (CIP), enrofloxacin (ENR) and lomefloxacin (LMF) in aqueous solutions were investigated, respectively. The experimental results demonstrated that the fluorescence peak shapes and the locations of the features in the excitation and emission spectra for each FQ that was mixed with AgNPs were almost the same as those of the standard FQs. An enhancement or quenching of the fluorescence can also be observed, depending on the exact conditions. Compared with the identical control samples that lack AgNPs, the fluorescence of each FQ in aqueous solutions was greatly enhanced by AgNPs with concentrations at a volume ratio of 5%. Moreover, at the optimum AgNP concentration, novel sensitive fluorometric methods for the separate determination of trace amounts of CIP, ENR and LMF in aqueous solutions were established. Under optimal experimental conditions, the linear dynamic ranges for the determination of CIP, ENR and LMF concentrations varied from 0.025 to 1.0mgL-1, 5.0 to 160ngL-1 and 0.01 to 0.8mgL-1, and the limits of detection were 90, 5 and 6ngL-1, respectively; the relative standard deviation was less than 1.2% (n = 9). The experimental recovery results for the determination of CIP, ENR and LMF in aqueous solutions ranged from 99% to 102%, 90% to 103% and 92% to 107%, respectively. Compared with the established method in which no AgNPs were added, the quantitation limits of the silver nanoparticle-enhanced fluorometric methods were approximately 2-fold lower for CIP, 2.6-fold lower for ENR and 4-fold lower for LMF. Significantly, the novel silver nanoparticle-enhanced fluorometric methods were successfully applied to directly determine CIP, ENR and LMF concentrations in pharmaceutical preparations, demonstrating the methods' advantages of simplicity, sensitivity and low cost.