Biopharmaceutical Applications Research Articles

Unrivalled Insight into Possible Biopharmaceutical Application of Justicia vahlii Roth. (Acanthaceae): Chemodiversity, In Vitro Bioactivities, and Computational Analysis.

Justicia vahliiRoth. is an important wild medicinal food plant traditionally used for treating inflammation and various common ailments. This study investigated the chemical composition, antioxidant, enzyme inhibition and toxicity profiles of n-hexane (nHEJv) and chloroform (CEJv) extracts of J. vahlii. Moreover, the effect of the extracts was evaluated on CCl4 induced liver injury. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were present in both extracts in significant amount. The UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and GC-MS profiling of CEJv tentatively identified several important phytocompounds. The CEJv extract was comparatively more active for antioxidant activity and α-amylase inhibition, whereas the nHEJv extract presented higher inhibition potential against urease, tyrosinase, and α-glucosidase enzymes. Similarly, the in-silicostudy of four major compounds, i. e., 1-acetoxypinoresinol, 3-hydroxysebacic acid, nortrachelogenin, and viscidulin-III have shown a good docking score against the clinically significant enzymes. The acute oral toxicity and brine shrimp lethality assaysrevealed the extracts as non-toxic. The CCl4 treated animals showed a geared depletion of various antioxidant enzymes which were significantly reversed with the treatment of the extracts. Overall, the study's findings revealed J. vahliiwith antioxidant mediated hepatoprotective and enzyme inhibition potential and warrant further research on isolation of the bioactive compounds.

Small scale model for predicting transportation-induced particle formation in biotherapeutics

Understanding protein adsorption and aggregation at the air-liquid interfaces of protein solutions is an important open challenge in biopharmaceutical, medical, and biotechnological applications, among others. Proteins, being amphiphilic, adsorb at the surface, partially unfold, and form a viscoelastic film through non-covalent interactions. Mechanical agitation of the surface can break this film up, releasing insoluble protein particles into the solution. These aggregates are usually highly undesirable and even toxic in cases, such as for biopharmaceutical application. Therefore, it is imperative to be able to predict the behavior of such solutions undergoing surface agitation during handling, usually transport or mixing. We apply the findings on the viscoelastic protein film, formed at the air-liquid interface, to the prediction of surface mediated aggregation in selected protein solutions of direct biopharmaceutical relevance. Our broad study of Brewster angle microscopy and aggregation monitoring across multiple size ranges by micro-flow imaging, light scattering, and size exclusion chromatography shows that formation of protein particles is driven by the adsorption rate as compared to the rate of surface turnover and that surface film dynamics in the quiescent phase directly affect aggregation. We demonstrate how these learnings can be directly applied to the design of a novel small scale biopharmaceutical stability study, simulating relevant transport conditions. More generally, we show the impact of adsorption dynamics at the air-liquid interface on the stability of a distinct protein solution, as a general contribution to understanding different colloidal and biological interfacial systems.

Role of Lichen Extracts as a Potential Source of Natural Fungicides

Plant pathogens and the diseases they cause are major to humanity. Each year, we lose more than thirty percent of crops worldwide to bacterial and fungal diseases. Lichen is a composite organism made up of two unrelated species: algae and fungi. These two components live together and behave as a single organism. When two organisms live together in this way, they provide mutual benefits to one another. They are referred to as symbionts. Lichens produce many rare secondary products not found in other plants. The uniqueness of many aromatic products sparked early chemical interest in lichen compounds. Lichens are an underutilized source of industrially important as it proven many biological activities, and yet there is much more to study about their efficacy. Lichen bioactive metabolites showed promising use in biopharmaceutical applications and for the preparation of new formulations or innovations to support human life. This review aims to summarize the research and development trends from the past and present in the bioactive fungicides against plant pathogens.

Evaluation of a green synthesized biopolymer polymethyl methacrylate grafted Moringa gum amphiphilic graft copolymer (MOG-g-PMMA) with polymeric-surfactant like properties for biopharmaceutical applications

Evaluation of a green synthesized biopolymer polymethyl methacrylate grafted Moringa gum amphiphilic graft copolymer (MOG-g-PMMA) with polymeric-surfactant like properties for biopharmaceutical applications

Machine Learning for Deconvolution and Segmentation of Hyperspectral Imaging Data from Biopharmaceutical Resins.

Biopharmaceutical resins are pivotal inert matrices used across industry and academia, playing crucial roles in a myriad of applications. For biopharmaceutical process research and development applications, a deep understanding of the physical and chemical properties of the resin itself is frequently required, including for drug purification, drug delivery, and immobilized biocatalysis. Nevertheless, the prevailing methodologies currently employed for elucidating these important aspects of biopharmaceutical resins are often lacking, frequently require significant sample alteration, are destructive or ionizing in nature, and may not adequately provide representative information. In this work, we propose the use of unsupervised machine learning technologies, in the form of both non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) and k-means segmentation, in conjugation with Raman hyperspectral imaging to rapidly elucidate the molecular and spatial properties of biopharmaceutical resins. Leveraging our proposed technology, we offer a new approach to comprehensively understanding important resin-based systems for application across biopharmaceuticals and beyond. Specifically, focusing herein on a representative resin widely utilized across the industry (i.e., Immobead 150P), our findings showcase the ability of our machine learning-based technology to molecularly identify and spatially resolve all chemical species present. Further, we offer a comprehensive evaluation of optimal excitation for hyperspectral imaging data collection, demonstrating results across 532, 638, and 785 nm excitation. In all cases, our proposed technology deconvoluted, both spatially and spectrally, resin and glass substrates via NMF. After NMF deconvolution, image segmentation was also successfully accomplished in all data sets via k-means clustering. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report utilizing the combination of two unsupervised machine learning methodologies, combining NMF and k-means, for the rapid deconvolution and segmentation of biopharmaceutical resins. As such, we offer a powerful new data-rich experimentation tool for application across multidisciplinary fields for a deeper understanding of resins.

Medical Applications and Cellular Mechanisms of Action of Carboxymethyl Chitosan Hydrogels.

Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) hydrogels have been investigated in biomedical research because of their versatile properties that make them suitable for various medical applications. Key properties that are especially valuable for biomedical use include biocompatibility, tailored solid-like mechanical characteristics, biodegradability, antibacterial activity, moisture retention, and pH stimuli-sensitive swelling. These features offer advantages such as enhanced healing, promotion of granulation tissue formation, and facilitation of neutrophil migration. As a result, CMCS hydrogels are favorable materials for applications in biopharmaceuticals, drug delivery systems, wound healing, tissue engineering, and more. Understanding the interactions between CMCS hydrogels and biological systems, with a focus on their influence on cellular behavior, is crucial for leveraging their versatility. Because of the constantly growing interest in chitosan and its derivative hydrogels in biomedical research and applications, the present review aims to provide updated insights into the potential medical applications of CMCS based on recent findings. Additionally, we comprehensively elucidated the cellular mechanisms underlying the actions of these hydrogels in medical settings. In summary, this paper recapitulates valuable data gathered from the current literature, offering perspectives for further development and utilization of carboxymethyl hydrogels in various medical contexts.

2PP-Hydrogel Covered Electrodes to Compensate for Media Effects in the Determination of Biomass in a Capillary Wave Micro Bioreactor.

Microbioreactors increase information output in biopharmaceutical screening applications because they can be operated in parallel without consuming large quantities of the pharmaceutical formulations being tested. A capillary wave microbioreactor (cwMBR) has recently been reported, allowing cost-efficient parallelization in an array that can be activated for mixing as a whole. Although impedance spectroscopy can directly distinguish between dead and viable cells, the monitoring of cells in suspension within bioreactors is challenging because the signal is influenced by the potentially varying properties of the culture medium. In order to address this challenge, an impedance sensor consisting of two sets of microelectrodes in a cwMBR is presented. Only one set of electrodes was covered by a two-photon cross-linked hydrogel to become insensitive to the influence of cells while remaining sensitive to the culture medium. With this impedance sensor, the biomass of Saccharomyces cerevisiae could be measured in a range from 1 to 20 g L-1. In addition, the sensor can compensate for a change in the conductivity of the suspension of 5 to 15 mS cm-1. Moreover, the two-photon cross-linking of hydroxyethyl starch methacrylate hydrogel, which has been studied in detail, recommends itself for even much broader sensing applications in miniaturized bioreactors and biosensors.

Eco-benevolent synthesis of ZnO-NPs and ZnO-MFs from Inula oculus-christi L. (Asteraceae) with effective antioxidant, antimicrobial, DNA cleavage, and decolorization efficiencies.

As a result of the changes occurring globally in recent years, millions of people are facing challenging and even life-threatening diseases such as cancer and the COVID-19 pandemic, among others. This phenomenon has spurred researchers towards developing and implementing innovative and environmentally friendly scientific methods, merging disciplines with significant technological potential, such as nanotechnology with medicinal plants. Therefore, the focus of this research is to synthesize zinc nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and microflowers (ZnO-MFs) using extracts of the medicinal plant I. oculus christi prepared in n-hexane and methanol as new bioreduction and capping agents through a simple and environmentally friendly chemical approach. Optical, thermal, and morphological structural analyses of ZnO-NPs and ZnO-MFs were conducted using Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM). Metabolic profiles of extracts from different plant parts were analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and supported by visualization of contents through Principal Component Analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis heatmaps, and Pearson correlation graphs. Interestingly, ZnO-NPs and ZnO-MFs exhibited strong antioxidant properties and demonstrated particularly potent antimicrobial activity against Micrococcus luteus NRRL B-4375, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 strains compared to standard antibiotics. Furthermore, ZnO-NPs and ZnO-MFs showed excellent plasmid DNA-cleavage activity of pBR322 with increasing doses. The photocatalytic performance of the synthesized ZnO-NPs and ZnO-MFs was evaluated for methylene blue (MB), congo red (CR), and safranin-O(SO) dyes, demonstrating remarkable color removal efficiency. Overall, the results provide a promising avenue for the green synthesis of ZnO-NPs and ZnO-MFs using I. oculus-christi L. inflorescence and pappus extracts, potentially revolutionizing biopharmaceutical and catalytic applications in these fields.

Deep Learning-Based Self-Adaptive Evolution of Enzymes

AbstractBiocatalysis has been widely used to prepare drug leads and intermediates. Enzymatic synthesis has advantages, mainly in terms of strict chirality and regional selectivity compared with chemical methods. However, the enzymatic properties of wild-type enzymes may or may not meet the requirements for biopharmaceutical applications. Therefore, protein engineering is required to improve their catalytic activities. Thanks to advances in algorithmic models and the accumulation of immense biological data, artificial intelligence can provide novel approaches for the functional evolution of enzymes. Deep learning has the advantage of learning functions that can predict the properties of previously unknown protein sequences. Deep learning-based computational algorithms can intelligently navigate the sequence space and reduce the screening burden during evolution. Thus, intelligent computational design combined with laboratory evolution is a powerful and potentially versatile strategy for developing enzymes with novel functions. Herein, we introduce and summarize deep-learning-assisted enzyme functional adaptive evolution strategies based on recent studies on the application of deep learning in enzyme design and evolution. Altogether, with the developments of technology and the accumulation of data for the characterization of enzyme functions, artificial intelligence may become a powerful tool for the design and evolution of intelligent enzymes in the future.

Activity-based metaproteomics driven discovery and enzymological characterization of potential α-galactosidases in the mouse gut microbiome

The gut microbiota offers an extensive resource of enzymes, but many remain uncharacterized. To distinguish the activities of similar annotated proteins and mine the potentially applicable ones in the microbiome, we applied an effective Activity-Based Metaproteomics (ABMP) strategy using a specific activity-based probe (ABP) to screen the entire gut microbiome for directly discovering active enzymes and their potential applications, not for exploring host-microbiome interactions. By using an activity-based cyclophellitol aziridine probe specific to α-galactosidases (AGAL), we successfully identified and characterized several gut microbiota enzymes possessing AGAL activities. Cryo-electron microscopy analysis of a newly characterized enzyme (AGLA5) revealed the covalent binding conformations between the AGAL5 active site and the cyclophellitol aziridine ABP, which could provide insights into the enzyme’s catalytic mechanism. The four newly characterized AGALs have diverse potential activities, including raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs) hydrolysis and enzymatic blood group transformation. Collectively, we present a ABMP platform that facilitates gut microbiota AGALs discovery, biochemical activity annotations and potential industrial or biopharmaceutical applications.

A Review of the Latest Spectroscopic Research in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Applications

Spectroscopic analytical techniques are pivotal in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries, facilitating the classification and quantification of processes and products. This review highlights very recent advancements in several key spectroscopic methods, including atomic, vibrational, molecular, electronic, and diffraction techniques. The applications of these analytical techniques in drug development, process monitoring, and quality control are discussed, showcasing their integral roles in advancing pharmaceutical sciences.

DiaPASEF Enables High-Throughput Proteomic Analysis of Host Cell Proteins for Biopharmaceutical Process Development.

Monitoring and quantifying host cell proteins (HCPs) in biotherapeutic production processes is crucial to ensure product quality, stability, and safety. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis has emerged as an important tool for identifying and quantifying individual HCPs. However, LC-MS-based approaches face challenges due to the wide dynamic range between HCPs and the therapeutic protein as well as laborious sample preparation and long instrument time. To address these limitations, we evaluated the application of parallel accumulation-serial fragmentation combined with data-independent acquisition (diaPASEF) to HCP analysis for biopharmaceutical process development applications. We evaluated different library generation strategies and LC methods, demonstrating the suitability of these workflows for various HCP analysis needs, such as in-depth characterization and high-throughput analysis of process intermediates. Remarkably, the diaPASEF approach enabled the quantification of hundreds of HCPs that were undetectable by a standard data-dependent acquisition mode while considerably improving sample requirement, throughput, coverage, quantitative precision, and data completeness.

Parylene C Coating Efficacy Studies: Enhancing Biocompatibility of 3D Printed Polyurethane Parts for Biopharmaceutical and CGT Applications.

Additive manufacturing, particularly Vat photopolymerization, presents a promising technique for producing complex, tailor-made structures, making it an attractive option for generating single-use components used in biopharmaceutical manufacturing equipment or cell culture devices. However, the potential leaching of cytotoxic compounds from Vat photopolymer resins poses a significant concern, especially regarding cell growth and viability in cell culture applications. This study explores the potential of parylene C coating to enhance the inertness of a polyurethane-based photopolymer resin, aiming to prevent cytotoxicity and improve biocompatibility. The study includes an analysis of extractables from the resin and photoinitiator to evaluate the resin's composition and to define selected marker compounds for investigating the coating efficiency. The time-dependent accumulation of relevant extractable compounds over a 70-day period are assessed to address the long-term use of the coated components. The impact of irradiation on the material and the coating was evaluated, along with an accelerated aging study to address the long-term performance of the coating. Biocompatibility in terms of in vitro cell growth studies is evaluated using Chinese hamster ovary cells, a standard cell line in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Results demonstrate that parylene C coating significantly reduces the release of cytotoxic compounds, such as the photoinitiator diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide (TPO). Although accelerated aging indicates a reduction in the barrier properties of the coating over time, the parylene C coating still effectively slows the release of extractables and significantly improves cell compatibility of the 3D printed parts. The findings suggest that parylene C-coated components can be safely integrated into biopharmaceutical manufacturing processes, with recommendations to minimize storage times between coating application and use to ensure optimal performance.

Design, Characterization and Biopharmaceutical Applications of Novel Green Boron-Carbon Quantum Dots for Quantification of Apalutamide; Greenness Evaluations.

The diagnosis of prostate cancer has been evolving in the current decade, with expected mortality rates of 499,000 death by the year 2030. Apalutamide (APL) has been approved in 2018 as the first drug for the controlling of prostate cancer. APL significant success warrantied its high global sales, which are expected to surpass 58% of segment market sales (together with another drug; enzalutamide). Therefore, new, fast and environmentally friendly analytical methods are required for its determination for the quality control and biological monitoring purposes. The proposed research designs and evaluates the first fluorimetric approach based on novel porous green boron-doped carbon quantum dots (B@CDs) for the determination of APL in biopharmaceutical matrices. The synthetic approach has high quantum yield (31.15%). B@CDs were characterized using several tools, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), FTIR and Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) which proved their improved surface properties with an average nano-diameter of 3.0nm. The interaction between B@CDs and APL led to enhancement their fluorescence at 441nm (excitation at 372nm). The approach was validated for the determination of APL within concentration range of 15.0-700.0 ng mL- 1 with quantification limit LOQ 4.37 ng mL- 1 and detection limit LOD 1.44 ng mL- 1. The approach was successfully applied for the determination of APL in human plasma and pharmaceutical monitoring of its marketed tablet form. Then, the approach was assessed for its environmental impact using different metrics and proved its ecological greenness.

Metallic biomaterials in biopharmaceuticals and biomedical applications

Metallic biomaterials have captured a lot of interest because of their distinct mechanical characteristics, biocompatibility, and usefulness in biopharmaceutical and biomedical applications. These materials are essential for the creation of several medical equipment and treatment strategies. They include titanium, cobalt-chromium alloys, stainless steel, and biodegradable metals. Metallic implants in orthopaedics offer strong support for bone mending and joint replacement; they have outstanding load-bearing capacity and are resistant to corrosion and wear. Metallic heart valves and stents provide structural integrity and functionality in cardiovascular applications, enhancing patient outcomes in heart valve and coronary artery illness. Metallic biomaterials are manufactured systems created to give biological tissues intrinsic support, and they are commonly employed in stents, dental implants, orthopaedic fixations, and joint replacements. Increased implant-related issues are linked to higher biomaterial utilization because of weak implant integration, infections, mechanical instability, necrosis, and inflammation, as well as ensuring extended patient care, discomfort, and functional loss. The performance and integration of metallic biomaterials inside biological systems have been improved by developments in surface modification techniques, such as coating with biocompatible polymers and drug-eluting technology. Researchers are exploring the possibility of using biodegradable metals that eventually dissolve within the body reducing the risk of long-term issues and repeat procedures. Metallic nanoparticles have also demonstrated potential in increasing therapeutic efficacy, minimizing systemic adverse effects, and selectively targeting disease locations when included in drug delivery systems. The main metallic biomaterials will be briefly discussed in this review, along with the most important established and new methods for modification, which are used to enhance the durability, flexibility, biointegration, and of the biometals, and boost their suitability for 3D printing.

Characterization of reversed-phase liquid chromatographic columns containing positively charged functionality

To date, the most commonly used column characterization databases do not determine the relative positive charge associated with new generation RP columns, or they fail to successfully discriminate between RP columns of purportedly low level positive and neutral characters. This paper rectifies this in that it describes a convenient and robust chromatographic procedure for the assessment of the low levels of positive charge on a range of RP columns. The low degree of positive charge was determined by their electrostatic attraction towards the negatively charged 4-n-octylbenzene sulfonic acid (4-OBSA) relative to their retention of the hydrophobic marker toluene (Tol).The new parameter (α4-OBSA/Tol) was determined for 15 commercially available RP-LC columns. When this was combined with existing Tanaka parameters it was possible to guide the chromatographer towards similar columns as “backup / equivalent phases” or dissimilar columns for exploitation in method development strategies. It should be noted that under certain chromatographic conditions the retention mechanism(s) may be too complex to allow direct location of a “backup / equivalent” column(s).The α4-OBSA/Tol results indicate that even the new generation neutral alkyl phases may exhibit a small degree of positive charge at low buffer concentrations. Mobile phases containing low % MeCN were demonstrated to promote mixed mode (anionic exchange / hydrophobic) retention whereas at high % MeCN anionic exchange retention dominated.The measure of electrostatic repulsion between positively charged columns and positively charged bases was assessed by evaluating the relative retention of a range of bases and neutral analytes. The greatest electrostatic repulsion was observed with hydrophilic bases. While there was no correlation between the positive charge associated with the phases assessed by electrostatic attraction or repulsion, the columns could be broadly divided into three subsets (i.e., significant positive character, medium to low positive character and insignificant positive character).Finally, the results were used to highlight the usefulness of the column characterization database containing the new anionic exchange retention parameter (α4-OBSA/Tol) for the selection of an equivalent column possessing a low level of positive character in the analysis of a real-life biopharmaceutical application.

Exploring the structural, functional, and biocompatibility aspects of marine bacterial extracellular polysaccharides for biopharmaceutical applications

Marine bacterial extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) represent a unique class of biopolymers with vast potential in biopharmaceutical research due to their diverse structural characteristics, functional properties, and biocompatibility. This study delves into the comprehensive analysis of the monosaccharide composition, molecular weight distribution, and conformational dynamics of marine bacterial EPS, employing advanced analytical techniques such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Mass Spectrometry (MS), and Size-Exclusion Chromatography coupled with Multi-Angle Laser Light Scattering (SEC-MALLS). Furthermore, we explore the functional applications of these EPS in biofilm inhibition, immunomodulation, and as innovative drug delivery systems, highlighting their role in enhancing antibiotic efficacy and mitigating resistance. Through quantitative analysis and mathematical modeling, including rheological studies and kinetic modeling of biodegradation, this work assesses the EPSs biocompatibility and biodegradability, essential for their safe use in biomedicine. Our findings underscore the potential of marine bacterial EPS in developing novel biopharmaceutical formulations that are not only effective but also environmentally sustainable and biocompatible, paving the way for future advancements in medical and therapeutic applications.

Dissecting the stability of Atezolizumab with renewable amino acid-based ionic liquids: Colloidal stability and anticancer activity under thermal stress

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have revolutionised the biopharmaceutical market. Being proteinaceous, mAbs are prone to chemical and physical instabilities. Various approaches were attempted to stabilise proteins against degradation factors. Ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have been established as green solvents for ever-increasing pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical applications. Hence, amino acid (AA)-based ILs, were used for the first time, for mAb stabilisation. Choline (Ch)-based DESs were also utilised for comparison purposes. The prepared ILs and DESs were utilised to stabilise Atezolizumab (Amab, anti-PDL-1 mAb). The formulations of Amab in ILs and DESs were incubated at room temperature, 45 or 55 °C. Following this, the structural stability of Amab was appraised. Interestingly, Ch-Valine retained favourable structural stability of Amab with minimal detected aggregation or degradation as confirmed by UV–visible spectroscopy and protein Mass Spectroscopy. The measured hydrodynamic diameter of Amab in Ch-Valine ranged from 10.40 to 11.65 nm. More interestingly, the anticancer activity of Amab was evaluated, and Ch-Valine was found to be optimum in retaining the activity of Amab when compared to other formulations, including the control Amab sample. Collectively, this study has spotlighted the advantages of adopting the Ch-AA ILs for the structural and functional stabilising of mAbs.

Self‐assembled polypeptoid micelles from amphiphilic polypeptoid copolymers for drug delivery

AbstractAmphiphilic block copolymers are characterized by the presence of distinct hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions, which are usually arranged in alternating blocks. This unique structure allows these copolymers to self‐assemble into well‐defined nanostructures that exhibit remarkable resistance to enzymatic hydrolysis, high biocompatibility and the ability to be customized with specific structures. These properties make them highly desirable in various applications. Self‐assembled amphiphilic polypeptoids are currently under development as a promising class of pharmaceutical agents. However, the utilization of these peptides as drug carriers for efficient delivery presents a number of challenges. These challenges include less‐than‐optimal loading efficacy and restricted biocompatibility. Herein, a series of stable amphiphilic block copolypeptoids (PNEG‐b‐PNBG and PNEG‐b‐PNHG) were designed and synthesized by controlled ring‐opening polymerization. PNEG chain segments provide hydrophilicity, while PNBG and PNHG chain segments provide hydrophobicity. The hydrophobic molecular chains aggregate in aqueous solutions, resulting in the formation of nano‐assemblies. The self‐assembled amphiphilic block polypeptoid copolymers were investigated. The morphologies of copolymers take the form of micelles from tens of nanometers to a few hundred nanometers. The properties of amphiphilic block copolypeptoids used as drug carriers were further investigated by conducting drug release and cytotoxicity tests. The results indicate that the cumulative release efficiency of self‐assembled polypeptoid copolymers can reach up to about 91%. And they have good biocompatibility and can be expected to be safe materials for efficient drug delivery. This work could provide a facile method for the preparation of amphiphilic block peptoid copolymers for biopharmaceutical applications. © 2024 Society of Industrial Chemistry.

Bioburden detection on surface and water samples in a rapid, ultra-sensitive and high-throughput manner.

Bioburden detection is crucial for food, water, and biopharmaceutical applications as it can directly impact public health. The objective of this study is to develop and validate an assay and protocol for detecting bioburden on solid surfaces, as well as in water, with high sensitivity and accuracy in a rapid manner. Henceforth, a resazurin-based assay optimized for detecting bioburden has been integrated with a previously developed portable multichannel fluorometer. The microbes were isolated from solid surfaces in different laboratory settings by swabbing technique, and stream water was collected for contamination analysis. Based on the results, the assay and protocol can successfully detect bioburden as low as 20 CFU/cm2 and 10 CFU/mL present in both surface and water samples, respectively.