Over the years, exopolysaccharides (EPSs) have been utilized in various areas of research, including health, industry, environment, and agriculture, due to their flexible physical, chemical and structural properties that can be readily modified to suit desired purposes. Current research trends have shown that EPS production is dependent on numerous factors which can be combined to varying extent to optimize production yields. Although the majority of research is directed towards their industrial and medicinal uses, these chemical substances possess peculiar characteristics which are also exploited for biomedical research, where they are being used as drug delivery systems, some of which include their abundance in nature, biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and ability to efficiently encapsulate sensitive bioactive agents. However, despite the numerous beneficial prospects of microbial EPSs in drug delivery, there are limitations to the commercial production and industrial applications of these biopolymers. These limitations have inspired revolutionary research into the cost-effective production of safe EPSs polymers. In this review, we classify EPSs and discuss their methods of extraction and characterization. We also summarized current drug delivery applications and discussed limitations to extensive industrial commercialization of EPSs, while highlighting prospects for the utilization of microbial EPSs and implications for research.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder with largely unknown pathogenesis and no effective cure. It is believed that several, not mutually exclusive mechanisms contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of this disease, including, among others, elevated oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, increased neuroinflammation, and protein aggregation. Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is a part of immunoglobulin superfamily; it is believed to participate in ALS pathogenesis. Our previous studies on ALS demonstrated that RAGE is likely one of the key players in ALS, acting on its own and in tandem with its oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory ligands, such as advanced glycation end products (AGEs) or advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs). In this study, based on our previous results, we aimed to establish blood levels of soluble RAGE, AGE and AOPP in ALS patients. Forty-six coded and anonymized surplus plasma samples from ALS patients and non-neurological control were used in the study. The plasma levels of RAGE, AGE and AOPP were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) commercially available kits. Statistical evaluation of data was performed using one-way non-parametric analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Kruskal-Wallis post hoc test. Our results revealed a decline in soluble RAGE level, concurrent with an increase in the levels of AGEs and AOPPs in blood samples from ALS patients, signifying a loss of neuroprotective form of RAGE and a simultaneous increase in AGE and AOPP production and uptake at the early stage of the disease. The results obtained from our study indicate that further longitudinal study of RAGE, AGE and AOPP levels would be beneficial, outlining the dynamics between RAGE and its ligand levels as the disease progresses, and making them valuable diagnostic tools and potential therapeutic targets.

Many substances are used to increase the viscosity of eye drops and reduce their surface tension. Their function is to prolong the persistence of the product on the surface of the eyeball and to increase the bioavailability of the pharmacologically active ingredient. To investigate the surface tension of substances added to the eye drops, with the main aim of modulating properties of the preparation. Five substances contained in solutions proposed for the development of eye drops were studied: sodium hyaluronate macromolecular (H-Na W), sodium hyaluronate ultramolecular (H-Na UM), hyaluronic acid 4% (K-H), methylcellulose (MC), and polyacrylic acid (PA). The main method was to study the surface tension using the du Noüy ring tensiometer. The research presented in this paper shows the various effects of different eye drop ingredients on the surface tension of the solutions. The surface tension values of PA solutions are in the range of 48.89-56.03 mN/m, of MC in the range of 68.94-89.32 mN/m, of K-H 54.54-65.66 mN/m, of H-Na UM 67.18-70.97 mN/m, and of H-Na W 67.09-71.73 mN/m. The use of different polymers affects the surface tension of model solutions proposed for use in ophthalmic preparations. Compounds containing carboxyl groups and anionic polymers have a similar effect on reducing the surface tension of the solution as classical surfactant compounds.

In dentistry, fluoride compounds play a very important role in the development of teeth hard tissue. They have been modifying the development of the carious process for many years in accordance with the principles of minimally invasive therapy. Studies have confirmed their effectiveness in the prevention and treatment of carious lesions and erosion of deciduous and permanent teeth, as well as in the dentin hypersensitivity treatment. Typically, each varnish consists of 3 basic components, i.e., a resin usually in the form of mastic, shellac and/or rosin, an alcohol-based organic solvent (usually ethanol) and active agents. In the first-generation varnishes, the active agent is fluorine compounds, most often in the form of 5% NaF, while in second-generation varnishes, the composition is further enriched with calcium and phosphorus compounds in the form of CPP-ACP/CPP-ACPF, ACP, TCP, fTCP, CSPS, TMP, CXP, or CaGP. This influences the bioavailability of fluoride in the oral environment by increasing both its release from the product and its subsequent accumulation in enamel and plaque, promotes more efficient closure of dentinal tubules, and facilitates pH buffering in the oral cavity.

The adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to biotic and abiotic surfaces is responsible for the persistence and development of bacterial infection. To fill the gap in the knowledge regarding the relationship between rifaximin susceptibility and biofilm formation, and to investigate the effect of subinhibitory doses of rifaximin on the adhesion and biofilm formation. A total of 10 isolates of P. aeruginosa were obtained from 110 urine samples of urinary tract infection (UTI) patients. Biofilm formation on polystyrene microtiter plates, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of rifaximin against the 10 isolates of P. aeruginosa (Pa1-Pa10), the effect of sub-MICs of rifaximin (0.5 × MIC, 0.25 × MIC, 0.125 × MIC, and 0.06 × MIC) on biofilm formation by the Pa4 isolate to polystyrene microtiter plates, and the adhesion to human epithelial cells (HECs) in vitro were evaluated. The MICs of rifaximin against 10 isolates ranged from 62.5 μg/mL to 1000 μg/mL. The Pa4 isolate produced the highest level of biofilm formation, while the MIC of Pa4 was 125 μg/mL. There was no correlation between bacterial susceptibility to rifaximin and biofilm formation (r: -0.016; p > 0.05). Sub-MIC doses of rifaximin significantly reduced the biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces, while only 0.5 × MIC, 0.25 × MIC and 0.12 × MIC of rifaximin reduced the adhesion to HECs significantly (p < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. This pioneering study demonstrated the negative effect of sub-MIC doses of rifaximin on biofilm formation and adhesion to abiotic and biotic surfaces in vitro.

Tissue engineering has become one of the most studied medical fields and appears to be promising for the regeneration of injured bone tissues. Even though the bone has self-remodeling properties, bone regeneration may be required in some cases. Current research concerns materials employed to develop biological scaffolds with improved features as well as complex preparation techniques. Several attempts have been made to achieve compatible and osteoconductive materials with good mechanical strength in order to provide structural support. The application of biomaterials and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is a promising prospect for bone regeneration. Recently, various cells have been utilized alone or in combination with biomaterials to accelerate bone repair in vivo. However, the question of what cell source is the best for use in bone engineering remains open. This review focuses on studies that evaluated bone regeneration using biomaterials with MSCs. Different types of biomaterials for scaffold processing, ranging from natural and synthetic polymers to hybrid composites, are presented. These constructs demonstrated an enhanced ability to regenerate the bone in vivo using animal models. Additionally, future perspectives in tissue engineering, such as the MSC secretome, that is the conditioned medium (CM), and the extracellular vesicles (EVs), are also described in this review. This new approach has already shown promising results for bone tissue regeneration in experimental models.

The available information on the abundance of restorative plants on earth is incomplete, and the data regarding botanicals from various countries differ significantly. The substantial development of the worldwide natural botanical market is attributable to the expanding revenue of global drug companies trading herbal medicines. This essential type of traditional medical care is depended on by approx. 72-80% of individuals. Even though numerous restorative plants are readily used, they have never been subject to the same strict quality guidelines as conventional drugs. Nonetheless, it is vital to have specific organic, phytochemical, and molecular tools and methods for identifying restorative plant species so that traditional and novel plant products can be safely used in modern medicine. Molecular biotechnology approaches provide a reliable and accurate way to identify botanicals and can be used to ensure the safety and efficacy of plant-based products. This review explores various molecular biotechnology approaches and methods for identifying botanicals.

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is the most used material for the manufacturing of eye prostheses. To investigate the cytotoxicity of different cleaning agents for ocular prostheses on human conjunctival cells. Six groups of specimens were created (saline, soap, 4% chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide, 1% triclosan, and citronella oil). Three specimens were made for each disinfectant at each disinfection period (1, 7, 15, 30, 60, and 90 days), totaling 108 specimens. Thus, the specimens were disinfected, with different disinfectants, for different periods of time. After each disinfection process, the specimens were washed with sterile distilled water. A human conjunctival cell line was grown on the acrylic resin specimens and then cytotoxicity tests (MTT and Neutral Red (NR)) were performed. A negative control (untreated cell cultures) and positive control (Tween 20) were created. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni test were performed (p < 0.05). For the MTT and NR tests, when there was a significant difference between the disinfectant and negative control, the disinfectant generated a significant reduction in cell proliferation most of the time. All reductions in cell proliferation caused by the disinfectants were clinically acceptable. All disinfectants tested in this study were found to be non-cytotoxic to human conjunctival cells.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the 7th most common cancer and the 3rd leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. It is resistant to the majority of chemotherapeutics and has a dismal prognosis. Hepatocellular carcinoma is a prevalent complication of chronic liver disease (CLD) in India. Primary liver cancer is the 6th most common cancer worldwide and the 4th most prevalent cause of cancer-related death. In 2018, it affected 841,000 people and caused 782,000 deaths around the world. Thus, research into the tumor cycle and its prevention through suitable herbal (Unani/Ayurvedic) medication is critical for reducing the impact of primary liver cancer. Treatment options for end-stage liver cancer are limited, necessitating costly liver transplantation, which is unavailable in most countries. Here, we present the results of a comprehensive literature survey to determine the benefits of using various herbs with liver protective and antioxidant properties. This information will be useful to researchers working on liver carcinoma and free radical scavenging, both of which are important in curbing potential carcinogens.

A basic parameter in non-equilibrium thermodynamics is the production of entropy (S-entropy), which is a consequence of the irreversible processes of mass, charge, energy, and momentum transport in various systems. The product of S-entropy production and absolute temperature (T) is called the dissipation function and is a measure of energy dissipation in non-equilibrium processes. This study aimed to estimate energy conversion in membrane transport processes of homogeneous non-electrolyte solutions. The stimulus version of the R, L, H, and P equations for the intensity of the entropy source achieved this purpose. The transport parameters for aqueous glucose solutions through Nephrophan® and Ultra-Flo 145 dialyser® synthetic polymer biomembranes were experimentally determined. Kedem-Katchalsky-Peusner (KKP) formalism was used for binary solutions of non-electrolytes, with Peusner coefficients introduced. The R, L, H, and P versions of the equations for the S-energy dissipation were derived for the membrane systems based on the linear non-equilibrium Onsager and Peusner network thermodynamics. Using the equations for the S-energy and the energy conversion efficiency factor, equations for F-energy and U-energy were derived. The S-energy, F-energy and U-energy were calculated as functions of osmotic pressure difference using the equations obtained and presented as suitable graphs. The R, L, H, and P versions of the equations describing the dissipation function had the form of second-degree equations. Meanwhile, the S-energy characteristics had the form of second-degree curves located in the 1st and 2nd quadrants of the coordinate system. These findings indicate that the R, L, H, and P versions of S-energy, F-energy and U-energy are not equivalent for the Nephrophan® and Ultra-Flo 145 dialyser® membranes.