Acellular embryoid body and hydroxybutyl chitosan composite hydrogels promote M2 macrophage polarization and accelerate diabetic cutaneous wound healing.

Diabetic wound healing is delayed due to persistent inflammation, and macrophage-immunomodulating biomaterials can control the inflammatory phase and shorten the healing time. In this study, acellular embryoid bodies (aEBs) were prepared and mixed with thermosensitive hydroxybutyl chitosan (HBC) hydrogels to produce aEB/HBC composite hydrogels. The aEB/HBC composite hydrogels exhibited reversible temperature-sensitive phase transition behavior and a hybrid porous network. In vitro analysis showed that the aEB/HBC composite hydrogels exhibited better antimicrobial activity than the PBS control, aEBs or HBC hydrogels and promoted M0 to M2 polarization but not M1 to M2 macrophage repolarization in culture. The in vivo results showed that the aEB/HBC composite hydrogels accelerated cutaneous wound closure, re-epithelialization, ingrowth of new blood vessels, and collagen deposition and reduced the scar width during wound healing in diabetic mice over time. Macrophage phenotype analysis showed that the aEB/HBC composite hydrogels induce M2 macrophage reactions continually, upregulate M2-related mRNA and protein expression and downregulate M1-related mRNA and protein expression. Therefore, the aEB/HBC composite hydrogels have excellent antimicrobial activity, promote M2 macrophage polarization and accelerate the functional and structural healing of diabetic cutaneous wounds.

Bisabolanoic acid A, a new polychiral sesquiterpene with AChE inhibitory activity from a mangrove-derived fungus Colletotrichum sp.

A new polychiral bisabolane sesquiterpene, bisabolanoic acid A (1), was isolated from the mangrove-derived fungus Colletotrichum sp. SCSIO KcB3-2. Its planar structure was identified on the basis of spectroscopic data analysis (HRESIMS, 1D, and 2D NMR), and the absolute configurations of three chiral carbons were determined by experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and optical rotatory dispersion (ORD), together with Mo2(OAc)4-induced ECD methods. Bisabolanoic acid A (1) showed moderate inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) with IC50 value of 2.2 µM, and the in silico molecular docking was also performed.

Sesquiterpenoids and meroterpenoids from a mangrove derived fungus Diaporthe sp. SCSIO 41011.

One new sesquiterpenoid, 1-methoxypestabacillin B (1), along with one known sesquiterpenoid (2) and six known chrodrimanin-type meroterpenoids (3‒8) were obtained from the solid cultures of a mangrove endophytic fungus Diaporthe sp. SCSIO 41011. Their structures including the absolute configuration at C-6 of compound 1, were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses and ECD calculations. Meanwhile, the X-ray crystal structures and absolute configurations of two previously reported chrodrimanins E (3) and H (6), are described for the first time. All the compounds were examined for HIV latency-reversal and anti-influenza A virus activities.

Antioxidant CPA-type indole alkaloids produced from the deep-sea derived fungus Aspergillus sp. SCSIO 41024.

Twelve indole alkaloids, including α-cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) (1), nine 2-oxo indole CPA derivatives (2-10), and two open-ring indole CPA derivatives (11 and 12), were isolated from the fermentation broth of a deep-sea derived fungus Aspergillus sp. SCSIO 41024. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated mainly by using extensive NMR spectroscopic, mass spectrometric and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. To the best of our knowledge, the crystallographic data of 3 and 7 were firstly reported, and the absolute configuration of 3 was confirmed for the first time by the single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Most isolated compounds were tested for their antimicrobial, antitumor and radical scavenging activities. In addition, compounds 1, 2 and 11 showed moderate antioxidative activity against DPPH with IC50 values of 190.1, 31.9, 228.4 µg/mL, respectively.