Lipopeptide biosurfactant as a potential root canal irrigation agent: Antimicrobial and anti-biofilm evaluation.

OBJECTIVES: Lipopeptide Biosurfactant (LB) is a bacteria derived compound able to reduce surface tension between water and hydrophobic substances and exhibit antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties. This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm effect of a Lipopeptide Biosurfactant (LB) on Enterococcus faecalis, and its potential use in root canal treatment, either as a standalone irrigation solution or in conjunction with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). METHODS: LB was extracted from Bacillus clausii isolate and the dry extract was diluted in deionized water. The antimicrobial effect of LB against planktonic E. faecalis was evaluated by determining the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC50). The anti-biofilm effect was evaluated by Minimal Biofilm Inhibitory Concentration (MBIC50) and Minimal Biofilm Eradication Concentration (MBEC50) assays on biofilm grown on dentin specimen surface. To evaluate the effectiveness of LB as a single irrigation solution and as a pre-irrigation prior to NaOCl, live and dead bacterial cells were quantified using Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM), and cell biomass was assessed. RESULTS: LB exhibited an MIC50 and MBIC50 of 100 ppm, with an MBEC50 of 1000 ppm, resulting in 52.94 % biofilm inhibition and 60.95 % biofilm eradication on dentin specimens. The effectiveness was concentration-dependent, at 500 ppm, LB demonstrated comparable antimicrobial efficacy to 2.5 % NaOCl. Pre-irrigation with LB resulted in lower biofilm biomass compared to NaOCl alone. CONCLUSION: Pre-irrigation with LB enhanced the antimicrobial effect when followed by NaOCl irrigation. Consequently, LB shows promise as both a standalone root canal irrigation solution and as an adjunct to NaOCl in root canal treatment. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The study highlights the potential of Lipopeptide Biosurfactant (LB) as an environmentally friendly irrigation solution for root canal treatment, demonstrating potent antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties against Enterococcus faecalis. LB exhibits concentration-dependent efficacy comparable to 2.5 % NaOCl and can be used as a standalone irrigation solution or in conjunction with NaOCl.

[Construction of mono/di-rhamnolipid ratios-manipulable strains and characterization of their corresponding surfactants' activity].

Rhamnolipids (RLs) have emerged as one of the most promising classes of biosurfactants. The ratio of mono-RL to di-RL plays a significant role in determining its performance. Therefore, strains whose production of mono-RL and di-RL are manuplable, have advantage on applications in various scenarios. In this study, we developed a rhlC deletion mutant strain in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, which produced primarily mono-RL. Subsequently, we generated two complemented strains by integrating the arabinose-induced PBAD-rhlC gene, either directly into the chromosomes or expressing it on plasmids. Our results indicate that the ratio of mono-RL to di-RL synthesized by the complemented strain gradually decreased as the concentration of arabinose (the inducer) increased. Consequently, there was a decrease in emulsification ability and an increase in surface tension and critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the corresponding rhamnolipids. The complemented strains without inducer can produce a small amount of di-rhamnolipids, which enhanced the surfactant properties. Notably, the rhamnolipids induced by 0.10% arabinose exhibited the most potent antibacterial effect.

Identification of protein components of the transformation system in the cell line of immortalized human keratinocytes HaCaT exposed to surfactants.

Using the method of shotgun mass spectrometry, we have evaluated changes in the proteomic profile of HaCat cells in response to the treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate (anionic surfactant) and Triton-X100 (non-ionic surfactant) in two concentrations (12.5 µg/ml and 25.0 µg/ml). The study revealed induction of orphan CYP2S1 (biotransformation phase I) in response to Triton-X100. We have identified proteins of II (glutathione-S-transferases, GSTs) and III (solute carrier proteins, SLCs) biotransformation phases, as well as antioxidant proteins (peroxiredoxins, PRDXs; catalase, CAT; thioredoxin, TXN). Thus, proteins of all three xenobiotic detoxification phases were detected. The presented results suggest a new prospect of using HaCaT keratinocytes as a model of human epidermis for studying the metabolism of drugs/toxicants in human skin in vitro.

Cationic Nanoemulsion-Encapsulated Retinoic Acid as an Adjuvant to Promote OVA-Specific Systemic and Mucosal Responses.

Cationic nanostructures have emerged as an adjuvant and antigen delivery system that enhances dendritic cell maturation, ROS generation, and antigen uptake and then promotes antigen-specific immune responses. In recent years, retinoic acid (RA) has received increasing attention due to its effect in activating the mucosal immune response; however, in order to use RA as a mucosal adjuvant, it is necessary to solve the problem of its dissolution, loading, and delivery. Here, we describe a cationic nanoemulsion-encapsulated retinoic acid (CNE-RA) delivery system composed of the cationic lipid 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOTAP), retinoic acid, squalene as the oil phase, polysorbate 80 as surfactant, and sorbitan trioleate 85 as co-surfactant. Its physical and chemical properties were characterized using dynamic light scattering and a spectrophotometer. Immunization of mice with the mixture of antigen (ovalbumin, OVA) and CNE-RA significantly elevated the levels of anti-OVA secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in vaginal lavage fluid and the small intestinal lavage fluid of mice compared with OVA alone. This protocol describes a detailed method for the preparation, characterization, and evaluation of the adjuvant effect of CNE-RA.

Transcriptomic changes in barley leaves induced by alcohol ethoxylates indicate potential pathways of surfactant detoxification.

Hardly anything is known regarding the detoxification of surfactants in crop plants, although they are frequently treated with agrochemical formulations. Therefore, we studied transcriptomic changes in barley leaves induced in response to spraying leaf surfaces with two alcohol ethoxylates (AEs). As model surfactants, we selected the monodisperse tetraethylene glycol monododecyl (C12E4) ether and the polydisperse BrijL4. Barley plants were harvested 8 h after spraying with a 0.1% surfactant solution and changes in gene expression were analysed by RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq). Gene expression was significantly altered in response to both surfactants. With BrijL4 more genes (9724) were differentially expressed compared to C12E4 (6197). Gene families showing pronounced up-regulation were cytochrome P450 enzymes, monooxygenases, ABC-transporters, acetyl- and methyl- transferases, glutathione-S-transferases and glycosyltransferases. These specific changes in gene expression and the postulated function of the corresponding enzymes allowed hypothesizing three potential metabolic pathways of AE detoxification in barley leaves. (i) Up-regulation of P450 cytochrome oxidoreductases suggested a degradation of the lipophilic alkyl residue (dodecyl chain) of the AEs by ω- and ß- oxidation. (ii) Alternatively, the polar PEG-chain of AEs could be degraded. (iii) Instead of surfactant degradation, a further pathway of detoxification could be the sequestration of AEs into the vacuole or the apoplast (cell wall). Thus, our results show that AEs lead to pronounced changes in the expression of genes coding for proteins potentially being involved in the detoxification of surfactants.

Effect of salinity stress and surfactant treatment with zinc and boron on morpho-physiological and biochemical indices of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum).

Micronutrient application has a crucial role in mitigating salinity stress in crop plants. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of zinc (Zn) and boron (B) as foliar applications on fenugreek growth and physiology under salt stress (0 and 120 mM). After 35 days of salt treatments, three levels of zinc (0, 50, and 100 ppm) and two levels of boron (0 and 2 ppm) were applied as a foliar application. Salinity significantly reduced root length (72.7%) and shoot length (33.9%), plant height (36%), leaf area (37%), root fresh weight (48%) and shoot fresh weight (75%), root dry weight (80%) and shoot dry weight (67%), photosynthetic pigments (78%), number of branches (50%), and seeds per pod (56%). Fenugreek's growth and physiology were improved by foliar spray of zinc and boron, which increased the length of the shoot (6%) and root length (2%), fresh root weight (18%), and dry root weight (8%), and chlorophyll a (1%), chlorophyll b (25%), total soluble protein content (3%), shoot calcium (9%) and potassium (5%) contents by significantly decreasing sodium ion (11%) content. Moreover, 100 ppm of Zn and 2 ppm of B enhanced the growth and physiology of fenugreek by reducing the effect of salt stress. Overall, boron and zinc foliar spray is suggested for improvement in fenugreek growth under salinity stress.

Effects of sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) on zebrafish (Danio rerio) gills and blood.

Sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) is an important surfactant used as a cleaning agent and industrial additive to remove unwanted chemicals which have been detected in the aquatic environment. The aim of this study was to examine the toxicological potential of SDBS on the gills of adult male zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to this chemical. For the 96 hr acute exposure, fish were divided into three groups: control, 0.25 mg/L, and 0.5 mg/L of SDBS. After the experiment, morphophysiological analyses (gill histopathology and histochemistry), oxidative stress (determination of gill activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)), and hematological analyses (leukocyte differentiation) were conducted. Data demonstrated that SDBS at both tested concentrations altered the histopathological index and initiated circulatory disturbances, as well as adverse, progressive, and immunological changes in the gills. In the 0.5 mg/L group, SOD activity decreased significantly, but CAT activity was not altered. Prominent blood changes observed in this group were neutrophilia and lymphocytosis. The number of mucous and chloride cells increased significantly in both groups. Taken together, our findings demonstrated that exposure of D. rerio to SDBS, even for 96 hr, produced adverse morphological and hematological effects associated with a reduction in SOD activity. Our findings indicate that exposure of aquatic species to the anionic surfactant SDBS may lead to adverse consequences associated with oxidative stress. Therefore, this study highlights the risks that this substance may pose to aquatic ecosystems and emphasizes the need for further investigations and strict regulations on its disposal.

Effect of cationic surfactant on the physicochemical and antibacterial properties of colloidal systems (emulsions and microemulsions).

Colloidal systems have been used to encapsulate, protect and release essential oils in mouthwashes. In this study, we investigated the effect of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) on the physicochemical properties and antimicrobial activity of oil-in-water colloidal systems containing tea tree oil (TTO) and the nonionic surfactant polysorbate 80. Our main aim was to evaluate whether CPC could improve the antimicrobial activity of TTO, since this activity is impaired when this essential oil is encapsulated with polysorbate 80. These systems were prepared with different amounts of TTO (0-0.5% w/w) and CPC (0-0.5% w/w), at a final concentration of 2% (w/w) polysorbate 80. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) results revealed the formation of oil-swollen micelles and oil droplets as a function of TTO concentration. Increases in CPC concentrations led to a reduction of around 88% in the mean diameter of oil-swollen micelles. Although this variation was of only 20% for the oil droplets, the samples appearance changed from turbid to transparent. The surface charge of colloidal structures was also markedly affected by the CPC as demonstrated by the transition in zeta potential from slightly negative to highly positive values. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies showed that this transition is followed by significant increases in the fluidity of surfactant monolayer of both colloidal structures. The antimicrobial activity of colloidal systems was tested against a Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureaus) bacteria. Our results revealed that the inhibition of bacterial growth is observed for the same CPC concentration (0.05% w/w for E. coli and 0.3% w/w for S. aureus) regardless of TTO content. These findings suggest that TTO may not act as an active ingredient in polysorbate 80 containing mouthwashes.

The effect of caraway oil-loaded bio-nanoemulsions on the growth and performance of barnyard grass and maize.

A proper formulation is crucial to improve the herbicidal effects of essential oils and their selectivity. In this study, we investigated the physicochemical properties of bio-based nanoemulsions (CNs) containing several concentrations of caraway (Carum carvi) essential oil stabilized with Eco Tween 80, as a surfactant, maintaining 1:1 proportions. Detailed physicochemical characteristics of the CNs revealed that their properties were most desired at 2% of the oil and surfactant, i.e., the smallest droplet size, polydispersity index, and viscosity. The CNs caused biochemical changes in maize and barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) seedlings, however, to a different extent. Barnyard grass has overall metabolism (measured as a thermal power) decreased by 39-82% when exposed to the CNs. The CNs triggered changes in the content and composition of carbohydrates in the endosperm of both species' seedlings in a dose-response manner. The foliar application of CNs caused significant damage to tissues of young maize and barnyard grass plants. The effective dose of the CN (ED50, causing a 50% damage) was 5% and 17.5% oil in CN for barnyard grass and maize tissues, respectively. Spraying CNs also decreased relative water content in leaves and affected the efficiency of photosynthesis by disturbing the electron transport chain. We found that barnyard grass was significantly more susceptible to the foliar application of CNs than maize, which could be used to selectively control this species in maize crops. However, further studies are needed to verify this hypothesis under field conditions.

High mono-rhamnolipids production by a novel isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa LP20 from oily sludge: characterization, optimization, and potential application.

This study aims to isolate microbial strains for producing mono-rhamnolipids with high proportion. Oily sludge is rich in petroleum and contains diverse biosurfactant-producing strains. A biosurfactant-producing strain LP20 was isolated from oily sludge, identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa based on phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry results indicated that biosurfactants produced from LP20 were rhamnolipids, mainly containing Rha-C8-C10, Rha-C10-C10, Rha-Rha-C8-C10, Rha-Rha-C10-C10, Rha-C10-C12:1, and Rha-C10-C12. Interestingly, more mono-rhamnolipids were produced by strain LP20 with a relative abundance of 64.5%. Pseudomonas aeruginosa LP20 optimally produced rhamnolipids at a pH of 7.0 and a salinity of 0.1% using glycerol and nitrate. The culture medium for rhamnolipids by strain LP20 was optimized by response surface methodology. LP20 produced rhamnolipids up to 6.9 g L-1, increased by 116%. Rhamnolipids produced from LP20 decreased the water surface tension to 28.1 mN m-1 with a critical micelle concentration of 60 mg L-1. The produced rhamnolipids emulsified many hydrocarbons with EI24 values higher than 56% and showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Cladosporium sp. with inhibition rates 48.5% and 17.9%, respectively. Pseudomonas aeruginosa LP20 produced more proportion of mono-rhamnolipids, and the LP20 rhamnolipids exhibited favorable activities and promising potential in microbial-enhanced oil recovery, bioremediation, and agricultural biocontrol.

Mechanism of surfactant interactions with feline coronavirus: A physical chemistry perspective.

HYPOTHESIS: Surfactants are inexpensive chemicals with promising applications in virus inactivation, particularly for enveloped viruses. Yet, the detailed mechanisms by which surfactants deactivate coronaviruses remain underexplored. This study delves into the virucidal mechanisms of various surfactants on Feline Coronavirus (FCoV) and their potential applications against more pathogenic coronaviruses. EXPERIMENTS: By integrating virucidal activity assays with fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and laser Doppler electrophoresis, alongside liposome permeability experiments, we have analyzed the effects of non-ionic and ionic surfactants on viral activity. FINDINGS: The non-ionic surfactant octaethylene glycol monodecyl ether (C10EO8) inactivates the virus by disrupting the lipid envelope, whereas ionic surfactants like Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate and Cetylpyridinium Chloride predominantly affect the spike proteins, with their impact on the viral membrane being hampered by kinetic and thermodynamic constraints. FCoV served as a safe model for studying virucidal activity, offering a faster alternative to traditional virucidal assays. The study demonstrates that physicochemical techniques can expedite the screening of virucidal compounds, contributing to the design of effective disinfectant formulations. Our results not only highlight the critical role of surfactant-virus interactions but also contribute to strategic advancements in public health measures for future pandemic containment and the ongoing challenge of antimicrobial resistance.

Novel anionic surfactant-modified chlorhexidine and its potent antimicrobial properties.

Chlorhexidine dodecyl sulfate (CHX-DS) was synthesized and characterized via single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, 1H nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY), and attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The solid-state structure, comprising a 1 : 2 stoichiometric ratio of chlorhexidine cations [C22H30Cl2N10]2+ to dodecyl sulfate anions [C12H25SO4]-, is the first report of chlorhexidine isolated with a surfactant. CHX-DS exhibits broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and demonstrates superior efficacy for reducing bacteria-generated volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) as compared to chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of CHX-DS were 7.5, 2.5, 2.5, and 10 µM for S. enterica, E. coli, S. aureus, and S. mutans, respectively. Furthermore, MIC assays for E. coli and S. mutans demonstrate that CHX-DS and CHX exhibit a statistically significant efficacy enhancement in 2.5 µM treatment as compared to CHG. CHX-DS was incorporated into SBA-15, a mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) framework, and its release was qualitatively measured via UV-vis in aqueous media, which suggests its potential as an advanced functional material for drug delivery applications.

Piperidinium surfactants functionalized with carbamate fragment: Aggregation, antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity.

The biomimetic nature of supramolecular systems, the structural similarity of synthetic surfactants to biomolecules (lipids, proteins), provide them with high membranotropy, the ability to overcome biological barriers, and affinity towards biosubstances. Despite rather high toxicity cationic surfactants are of importance as antimicrobial agents, gene nanocarriers and mitochondria targeted ligands. To minimize this limitation, cationic amphiphilic matrix undergoes modification with various functional groups. In this work, new piperidinium cationic surfactants containing one or two carbamate fragments were prepared; their aggregation behavior was systematically studied by tensiometery, spectrophotometry and fluorimetry. The presence of a carbamate fragment leads to a 2-3-fold decrease in critical micelle concentration and to a significant increase in solubilization capacity compared to unsubstituted analogue. Evaluation of the antimicrobial effect showed that all compounds exhibit high bactericidal and fungicidal activity against a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms, including their resistant forms. Importantly, the introducing carbamate moiety allows of decreasing hemolytic activity of cationic surfactants. The data obtained make it possible to recommend carbamate piperidinium surfactants as effective biocompatible and biodegradable nanocontainers for hydrophobic probes with high antimicrobial effect and moderate hemolytic activity.

Disruption Mechanisms of Enveloped Viruses by Ionic and Nonionic Surfactants.

The world has witnessed multiple pandemics and endemics caused by enveloped viruses in the past century. To name a few, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and other pandemics/endemics caused by coronaviruses, influenza viruses, HIV-1, etc. The external and topical applications of surfactants have been effective in limiting the spread of viruses. While it is well-known that surfactants inactivate virus particles (virions), the mechanism of action of surfactants against enveloped virions has not yet been established. In this work, we have evaluated the surfactant-induced disruption mechanism of a cocktail of enveloped viruses containing particles of mumps, measles, and rubella viruses. We applied the total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy technique to trace the temporal changes in the fluorescence signal from single virions upon the addition of a surfactant solution. We report that surfactants solubilize either the viral lipid membrane, proteins, or both. Ionic surfactants, depending on their charge and interaction type with the viral lipids and proteins, can cause bursting or perforation of the viral envelope, whereas a nonionic surfactant can cause either symmetric expansion or perforation of the viral envelope depending on the surfactant concentration.

Nanoemulsion potentiates the anti-cancer activity of Myricetin by effective inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in triple-negative breast cancer cells.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous tumor with a poor prognosis and high metastatic potential, resulting in poor clinical outcomes, necessitating investigation to devise effective therapeutic strategies. Multiple studies have substantiated the anti-cancer properties of the naturally occurring flavonoid "Myricetin" in various malignancies. However, the therapeutic application of Myricetin is impeded by its poor water solubility and low oral bioavailability. To overcome this limitation, we aimed to develop nanoemulsion of Myricetin (Myr-NE) and evaluate its advantage over Myricetin alone in TNBC cells. The nanoemulsion was formulated using Capryol 90 (oil), Tween 20 (surfactant), and Transcutol HP (co-surfactant). The optimized nano-formulation underwent an evaluation to determine its size, zeta potential, morphology, stability, drug encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro release properties. The anti-cancer activity of Myr-NE was further studied to examine its distinct impact on intracellular drug uptake, cell-viability, anti-tumor signaling, oxidative stress, clonogenicity, and cell death, compared with Myricetin alone in MDA-MB-231 (TNBC) cells. The in vitro drug release and intracellular drug uptake of Myricetin was significantly increased in Myr-NE formulation as compared to Myricetin alone. Moreover, Myr-NE exhibited significant inhibition of cell proliferation, clonogenicity, and increased apoptosis with ~ 2.5-fold lower IC50 as compared to Myricetin. Mechanistic investigation revealed that nanoemulsion augmented the anti-cancer efficacy of Myricetin, most likely by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, eventually leading to enhanced cell death in TNBC cells. The study provides substantial experimental evidence to support the notion that the Myr-NE formulation has the potential to be an effective therapeutic drug for TNBC treatment.

Peptonics: A new family of cell-protecting surfactants for the recombinant expression of therapeutic proteins in mammalian cell cultures.

Polymer surfactants are key components of cell culture media as they prevent mechanical damage during fermentation in stirred bioreactors. Among cell-protecting surfactants, Pluronics are widely utilized in biomanufacturing to ensure high cell viability and productivity. Monodispersity of monomer sequence and length is critical for the effectiveness of Pluronics-since minor deviations can damage the cells-but is challenging to achieve due to the stochastic nature of polymerization. Responding to this challenge, this study introduces Peptonics, a novel family of peptide and peptoid surfactants whose monomer composition and sequence are designed to achieve high cell viability and productivity at a fraction of chain length and cost of Pluronics. A designed ensemble of Peptonics was initially characterized via light scattering and tensiometry to select sequences whose phase behavior and tensioactivity align with those of Pluronics. Selected sequences were evaluated as cell-protecting surfactants using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAb). Peptonics IH-T1010, ih-T1010, and ih-T1020 afforded high cell density (up to 3 × 107 cells mL-1 ) and viability (up to 95% within 10 days of culture), while reducing the accumulation of ammonia (a toxic metabolite) by ≈10% compared to Pluronic F-68. Improved cell viability afforded high mAb titer (up to 5.5 mg mL-1 ) and extended the production window beyond 14 days; notably, Peptonic IH-T1020 decreased mAb fragmentation and aggregation ≈5%, and lowered the titer of host cell proteins by 16% compared to Pluronic F-68. These features can improve significantly the purification of mAbs, thus increasing their availability at a lower cost to patients.

Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Destabilization by Tween-80 and Lung Surfactants to Overcome Biofilm-Imposed Drug Resistance.

This study is aimed to evaluating the potential of tween-80 and artificial lung surfactant (ALS) to destabilize S. aureus biofilm. The biofilm destabilization was studied by crystal violet staining, bright field microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). During the study, S. aureus biofilm was exposed with tween-80 along various concentrations (1%, 0.1%, and 0.05%) or LS (lung surfactant) at (2.5%, 5%, and 15%) for 2 hrs. It was observed that 0.1% of tween-80 destabilized 63.83 ± 4.35% and 15% ALS 77 ± 1.7% biofilm in comparison to without treatment. The combination of tween-80 and ALS was used and showed a synergistic effect to destabilize 83.4 ± 1.46% biofilm. These results showed the potential of tween-80 and ALS as biofilm disruptors, which further needs to explore in an in-vivo animal model to access the actual potential of biofilm disruption in natural conditions. This study could play a pivotal role to overcome the problem of antibiotic resistance imposed due to biofilm formation to combat antibiotic resistance imposed by bacteria.

Transparent silicone-free shampoo containing proteins with strong hair conditioning properties.

OBJECTIVE: With the constant upgrading of healthcare concepts, silicone-free hair products have attracted more attention among consumers. In the present study, transparent silicone-free shampoo containing proteins was successfully fabricated by mixing mild non-sulphate surfactants, compound cationic conditioners, natural silicone oil substitutes, protein conditioners, thickeners, and other auxiliary ingredients. The effects of the type of surfactants, hair conditioners and thickeners, the type and content of proteins, and the mass ratio of compound proteins on the hair foaming performance, hair grooming performance, and penetration performance were investigated. METHODS: The basic formulation framework for transparent silicone-free shampoo was established at first. Then, various hydrolyzed proteins were further added to the basic formulation in the form of single use or compound use to prepare transparent silicone-free shampoo containing different proteins. The morphology of hair samples and penetration of protein in hair were evaluated with a scanning electron microscope and laser confocal fluorescence microscopy, respectively. And the hair grooming performance was also determined by a dynamic combing tester. RESULTS: The compound proteins of Croquat WKP PE-LQ-WD and Gluadin® Kera-PLM with mass ratios of 1:9 and 1:1 at 2 wt% total protein content added to the silicone-free shampoo brought a higher contact angle and a lower frictional coefficient than commercial silicone-free shampoo without proteins. In addition, the compound proteins also have the dual effect of adsorbing the hair surface and penetrating deep into the interior of the hair. CONCLUSION: The combination of cationic modified hydrolyzed protein (e.g., Croquat WKP PE-LQ-WD) and hydrolyzed protein with low molecular weight (e.g., Gluadin® Kera-P LM) at an appropriate mass ratio exhibited a strong synergistic effect on hair conditioning properties. It could provide a significant reference for developing silicone-free hair products with more benefits.

OBJECTIF: Avec l'amélioration constante des concepts de soins de santé, les produits capillaires sans silicone ont attiré l'attention des consommateurs. Dans la présente étude, un shampooing transparent sans silicone contenant des protéines a été fabriqué avec succès en mélangeant des tensioactifs doux sans sulfate, des conditionneurs cationiques composés, des substituts naturels de l'huile de silicone, des conditionneurs protéiques, des épaississants et d'autres ingrédients auxiliaires. On a étudié les effets du type de tensioactifs, de conditionneurs pour les cheveux et d'épaississants, du type et de la teneur en protéines et du rapport massique des protéines composées sur les performances de moussage des cheveux, du nettoyage des cheveux et de la pénétration. MÉTHODES: le cadre de formulation de base pour le shampooing transparent sans silicone a d'abord été établi. Ensuite, diverses protéines hydrolysées ont été ajoutées à la formulation de base sous forme d'utilisation unique ou d'utilisation de composés pour préparer un shampooing transparent sans silicone contenant différentes protéines. La morphologie des échantillons de cheveux et la pénétration des protéines dans les cheveux ont été évaluées à l'aide d'un microscope électronique a balayage et d'une microscopie confocale laser à fluorescence, respectivement. Les performances de nettoyage des cheveux ont également été déterminées par un testeur de peignage dynamique. RÉSULTATS: les protéines composées de Croquat WKP PE-LQ-WD et de GluadinR Kera-PLM avec des rapports massiques de 1:9 et 1:1 à 2 % en poids de teneur en protéines totales ajoutées au shampooing sans silicone ont un angle de contact plus élevé et un coefficient de frottement plus faible que le shampooing sans silicone commercial sans protéines. En outre, les protéines composées ont également doublé l'effet d'adsorption à la surface des cheveux et de pénétration à l'intérieur des cheveux. CONCLUSION: la combinaison de protéines hydrolysées modifiées cationiques (par exemple, Croquat WKP PE-LQ-WD) et de protéines hydrolysées de faible poids moléculaire (par exemple, GluadinR Kera-P LM) avec un rapport massique approprié a montré un fort effet synergique sur les propriétés de conditionnement des cheveux. Il pourrait fournir une référence significative pour le développement de produits capillaires sans silicone avec plus d'avantages.

Isolation and characterization of biosurfactant-producing microbes isolated from the gastrointestinal system of broiler birds fed a commercial diet.

Antimicrobial drug resistance (AMR) from improper use of antibiotics in various livestock products is a growing hazard for humans worldwide, with current death rate in excess of 700,000 per annum linked to the problem. Microorganisms are a rich source of structurally distinct bioactive compounds designed to protect the microbes and can offset AMR challenge. A study was conducted at Chinhoyi University of Technology to isolate, identify and characterize biosurfactant secreting microbes from broiler bird's gastrointestinal tract. Analysis of variance was performed in Genstat software. 16S rRNA technique was used to identify the DNA of isolates, annotated by similarity using BLASTn analysis against the NCBI nucleotide database. Phylogenetic analysis was performed on the BLASTn outcome to have an appreciation of the evolutionary genetic relationships. Small intestine-derived samples had a wider hemolytic activity of 5.6 mm, with a 39% emulsification index. At 98.29% sequence similarity, the bacterium producing biosurfactants was identified as an Escherichia coli strain similar to the 7.1994/NIST 0056 strain. The biosurfactant substance is a derivative of decane with beta lactams, tetracyclines and sulfa drugs properties which were responsible for the observed antibacterial activity. We recommend endogenous biosurfactant production optimization experiments and in-vivo trials to evaluate the potential impacts of a biosurfactant based feed additive in broilers.

Formulations of NaOCl-based in liquid, gel form or with surfactants on dentin deproteinization before fiber post cementation.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of dentin deproteinization protocols for post space using different formulations containing sodium hypochlorite before fiber post cementation with self-adhesive resinous cement. The groups were divided according to the irrigation protocol (DWC, SHS, SHT and SHG). The residue cleanliness, bond strength, adhesive failure pattern, and tag formation at the adhesive interface between the self-adhesive cement and the dentin were evaluated. For this, analysis in scanning electron microscope, push-out test and confocal laser scanning microscopy were performed. The SHT protocol showed the highest residue cleanliness on the dentin surface of the post space (p<0.05). In addition, SHT protocol showed highest bond strength and tag formation in the cervical and middle thirds (p<0.05). Dentin deproteinization with sodium hypochlorite with surfactant provided the best dentin cleaning of residues, bond strength and tag formation after cementation of the fiber post with self-adhesive cement.