Changes In Morphology Structure Research Articles

Antibacterial activity and action mode of crude bacteriocin C2-1 from Ligilactobacillus salivarius C2-1 against Listeria monocytogenes CICC 21633

The potential use of Ligilactobacillus salivarius-derived bacteriocin for the control of L. monocytogenes was investigated. The purpose of the study was to explore the antibacterial action mode of crude bacteriocin C2-1 from Ligilactobacillus salivarius C2-1 against Listeria monocytogenes CICC 21633. The inhibition zone diameter of crude bacteriocin C2-1 was 27.82 ± 0.3 mm against L. monocytogenes CICC 21633, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of bacteriocin C2-1was 13.98 μg/mL. Bacteriocin C2-1 significantly inhibited the normal growth of L. monocytogenes CICC21633, is sensitive to proteinase K, trypsin, and pepsin, and has good thermal stability and acid tolerance. The antibacterial mode of bacteriocin C2-1 against L. monocytogenes CICC 21633 was discussed based on changes in cell membrane permeability, integrity, and morphological structure of L. monocytogenes CICC 21633 by measuring the conductivity, UV-absorbing substance content and the observation via scanning electron microscopy, respectively. These results demonstrated that bacteriocin C2-1 affected the cell membrane permeability and integrity of L. monocytogenes CICC 21633, resulting in intracellular material leakage. Furthermore, bacteriocin-producing genes were identified in the genome sequence using antiSMASH and BAGEL4 assays. Bacteriocin C2-1 might be a good biological food preservative to prevent L. monocytogenes infestation.

Dermal FOXO3 activity in response to Wnt/β-catenin signaling is required for feather follicle development of goose embryos (Anser cygnoides)

Feather is an important economic trait of poultry, and growth and development state of feathers plays an important role in the economic value of poultry. Dermal fibroblasts are required for structural integrity of the skin and for feather follicle development. How FOXO3 affects feather follicle development as skin tissues change during goose embryo (Anser cygnoides) development and growth is not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that in vitro culture of single feathers and skin tissue results in changes in feather morphological structure by adding drugs to the culture medium that affect FOXO3 expression. We used feather follicles to show that during growth, the root location of feathers, the dermis layer, affects cell proliferation and apoptosis and regulates the expression of major genes in the Wingless-types/beta-catenin (Wnt/β-catenin) signaling pathway through the activity of FOXO3 in dermal fibroblasts. Feathers and dorsal skin tissues develop the correct structure, but feather length and width and feather follicle diameter change significantly (p < 0.05) without significant changes in feather follicle density (p > 0.05). Transfected dermal fibroblasts also showed that FOXO3 affected the formation and development of feather follicles in the embryonic stage by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Therefore, this study reveals the critical role of dermal fibroblast-FOXO3-induced Wnt/β-catenin signaling in promoting the formation and development of embryonic feather follicles.

Comparative assessment of UV-C radiation and non-thermal plasma for inactivation of foodborne fungal spores suspension in vitro.

Fungal contamination poses a persistent challenge to industries, particularly in food, healthcare, and clinical sectors, due to the remarkable resilience of fungi in withstanding conventional control methods. In this context, our research delves into the comparative efficacy of UV radiation and non-thermal plasma (NTP) on key foodborne fungal contaminants - Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium culmorum, and Fusarium graminearum. The study examined the impact of varying doses of UV radiation on the asexual spores of all mentioned fungal strains. Simultaneously, the study compared the effects of UV radiation and NTP on the metabolic activity of cells after spore germination and their subsequent germination ability. The results revealed that UV-C radiation (254 nm) did not significantly suppress the metabolic activity of cells after spore germination. In contrast, NTP exhibited almost 100% effectiveness on both selected spores and their subsequent germination, except for A. niger. In the case of A. niger, the effectiveness of UV-C and NTP was nearly comparable, showing only a 35% decrease in metabolic activity after 48 hours of germination, while the other strains (A. alternata, F. culmorum, F. graminearum) exhibited a reduction of more than 95%. SEM images illustrate the morphological changes in structure of all tested spores after both treatments. This study addresses a crucial gap in existing literature, offering insights into the adaptation possibilities of treated cells and emphasizing the importance of considering exposure duration and nutrient conditions (introduction of fresh medium). The results highlighted the promising antimicrobial potential of NTP, especially for filamentous fungi, paving the way for enhanced sanitation processes with diverse applications.

Parameter Influence, Characterization and Adsorption Mechanism Studies of Alkaline-Hydrolyzed Garcinia kola Hull Particles for Cr(VI) Sequestration.

Despite the regulations by The World Health Organization (WHO) on the permissible limit of chromium, many industries still discharge wastewater polluted with chromium into the environment irrationally. This poses a lot of risk to aquatic lives and humans because of its carcinogenic and toxic attributes. Thus, treatment of industrial wastewater polluted with chromium is highly imperative before its disposal. Nonetheless, the hulls generated from Garcinia kola in our various farmlands also causes environmental pollution when dumped unknowingly. In this present study, Garcinia kola hull particles (GK-HP) was hydrolyzed using NaOH and applied as adsorbent for Cr(VI) sequestration. The raw Garcinia kola hull particles (rGK-HP) and modified Garcinia kola hull particles (cMGK-HP) were characterized using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier-Transform-Infrared (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and point of zero charge (pHpzc). The influence of pH, adsorbent dose, contact time, temperature and adsorbate initial concentration on Cr(VI) sequestration were examined. The cMGK-HP was able to remove 96.25% of Cr(VI) from solution and proved to be effective than rGK-HP. The amount of Cr(VI) removed from solution decreased as the pH and adsorbate initial concentration were increased. However, the amount increased as the adsorbent dose, contact time and temperature were increased. Change in morphological structure, textural property, spectral peak, phase composition and adsorbents chemical composition before and after Cr(VI) sequestration from solution were proved by SEM, BET, FTIR, XRD, and EDS analyses respectively. The isotherm and kinetic studies suggest Cr(VI) adsorption on adsorbents' surface to be monolayer in nature and adsorption data to be well-fitted into pseudo second order model respectively. The cMGK-HP possessed excellent reusability attribute and high thermal stability as shown by TGA. In conclusion, cMGK-HP could effectively be used as an adsorbent for Cr(VI) sequestration from solution.

Human Serum Albumin/Selenium Complex Nanoparticles Protect the Skin from Photoaging Injury.

Photoaging-induced skin damage leads to appearance issues and dermatoma. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) possess high antioxidant properties but are prone to inactivation. In this study, human serum albumin/SeNPs (HSA-SeNPs) were synthesized for enhanced stability. HSA-SeNPs were prepared by self-assembling denatured human serum albumin and inorganic selenite. The cytotoxicity of HSA-SeNPs was assessed using the MTT method. Cell survival and proliferation rates were tested to observe the protective effect of HSA-SeNPs on human skin keratinocytes against photoaging. Simultaneously, ICR mice were used for animal experiments. H&E and Masson trichromatic staining were employed to observe morphological changes in skin structure and collagen fiber disorders after UVB irradiation. Quantitative RT-PCR was utilized to measure changes in mRNA expression levels of factors related to collagen metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress regulation, and senescence markers. The HSA-SeNPs group exhibited significantly higher survival and proliferation rates of UVB-irradiated keratinocytes than the control group. Following UVB irradiation, the back skin of ICR mice displayed severe sunburn with disrupted collagen fibers. However, HSA-SeNPs demonstrated superior efficacy in alleviating these symptoms compared to SeNPs alone. In a UVB-irradiated mice model, mRNA expression of collagen type I and III was dysregulated while MMP1, inflammatory factors, and p21 mRNA expression were upregulated; concurrently Nrf2 and Gpx1 mRNA expression were downregulated. In contrast, HSA-SeNPs maintained the mRNA expression of those factors to be stable In addition, the level of SOD decreased, and MDA elevated significantly in the skin after UVB irradiation, but no significant differences in SOD and MDA levels between the HSA-SeNPs group with UVB irradiation and the UVB-free untreated group. HSA-SeNPs have more anti-photoaging effects on the skin than SeNPs, including the protective effects on skin cell proliferation, cell survival, and structure under photoaging conditions. HSA-SeNPs can be used to protect skin from photoaging and repair skin injury caused by UVB exposure.

Brain structural network modular and connectivity alterations in subtypes of patients with migraine and medication overuse headache.

Migraine, one of the most prevalent and debilitating neurological disorders, can be classified based on attack frequency into episodic migraine (EM) and chronic migraine (CM). Medication overuse headache (MOH), a type of chronic headache, arises when painkillers are overused by individuals with untreated or inadequately treated headaches. This study compares regional cortical morphological alterations and brain structural network changes among these headache subgroups. Sixty participants, including 20 in each of the following patient groups (EM, CM, MOH), and healthy controls (HC) completed the study. Our results show that the EM group exhibited cortical thickness (CTs) thinning predominantly in the left limbic, whereas CM patients exhibited CTs thinning across both left and right hemispheres. The MOH group demonstrated the most widespread CTs thinning. Both CM and MOH exhibited comparable patterns of CTs thinning within lobes, leading to reduced intra-lobe connectivity. While there were no significant differences in total inter-lobe connectivity between migraine groups and HC, both CM and MOH groups exhibited significantly decreased inter-limbic connectivity compared to HC and EM groups. In addition, they showed increased inter-frontal and inter-parietal connectivity, suggesting possible compensatory mechanisms to offset the loss of inter-lobe connectivity between the limbic and other lobes. Both CM and MOH groups exhibited a significant loss of global efficiency and a decrease in betweenness centrality in their brain networks, with MOH showing the most pronounced decrease and CM showing the second largest decrease. Our results suggest that aberrant structural brain networks in CM and MOH are less efficient, less centralization, and abnormally segregated.

The fertility tracks of pollen tube in the ovary of Solanum nigrum by three-dimensional reconstruction.

In this paper, we present an enhanced method for automatically capturing a large number of consecutive paraffin sections using a microscope. Leveraging these microstructural images, we employed three-dimensional visualisation and reconstruction techniques to investigate the dispersal growth process of pollen tube bundles upon entering the ovary of Solanum nigrum. Additionally, we explored their behaviour within different ovules and examined the relationship between the germination rate of seeds and the fertilisation process. Our findings reveal that despite the abundance of Solanum nigrum seeds, only a fraction of them is capable of successful germination. The germination rate of seeds is closely related to whether fertilisation of the ovules and pollen tubes is completed. Due to the limited number of pollen tubes entering the ovary, only a portion of the ovules can be fertilised. The proportion of fertilised ovules positively correlates with the germination rate of the seeds. Through three-dimensional reconstruction, we observed a phenomenon of proximity during the pollination process, wherein ovules closer to the pollen tube bundles are more likely to be fertilised. Furthermore, fertilised ovules exhibited significant changes in morphology and embryo sac structure. The number of fertilised ovules directly impacts the germination rate of wild Solanum nigrum seeds. Although all Solanum nigrum ovules have the potential to develop into seeds, most seeds originating from unfertilised ovules are unable to germinate normally, resulting in an incomplete germination rate of seeds and preventing it from reaching 100%.

Comparative Anticancer Potential of Green Tea Extract and Epigallocatechin-3-gallate on Breast Cancer Spheroids.

Despite advances in diagnosis and therapy, breast cancer remains the leading cause of death in many countries. Green tea (GT) has been proposed to play a crucial role in cancer chemoprevention. Although extensive research has been conducted on GT phytochemicals, most experimental studies concentrate mainly on commercial formulations or isolated catechins. This study presents a comparative investigation into the anticancer properties of green tea extract (GTE) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in a three-dimensional (3D) MCF-7 breast cancer cell culture. MCF-7 spheroids were exposed to GTE or EGCG, and effects on 3D culture formation, growth, cell viability, and migration were examined. GTE inhibits cell migration and the formation of breast cancer spheroids more effectively than EGCG, while inducing more pronounced morphological changes in the spheroids' structure. These findings suggest that the food matrix improves GTE effects on breast cancer spheroids, supporting the hypothesis that a mixture of phytochemicals might enhance its anticancer potential.

Subfoveal and Parafoveal Choroidal Thickening in Patients with Keratoconus Using the ETDRS Grid on Swept-Source OCT.

There is growing evidence that confirms morphological changes in the posterior structures in patients with keratoconus (KC); however, isolated alterations could have been missed. This study assesses choroidal thickness (CT) in the fovea and beyond in KC eyes. This prospective case-control and non-randomized study enrolled 107 eyes, 62 eyes of 62 patients with KC, and 45 age-matched eyes of 45 control subjects with axial length in the range of 22-26mm. Swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) was performed to manually measure the subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT) using a single-line scan. CT was obtained automatically from the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) grid using the 12-lines radial scan pattern. A two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to evaluate CT variations among macular eccentricity, parafoveal area, and the interaction between both factors. CT was compared in all parafoveal areas between groups and subgroups of KC. SCT was significantly thicker in KC eyes (357 ± 57µm) than in healthy eyes (325 ± 63µm) (p < 0.001). Significant choroidal thickening was observed in the central ring and outer and inner rings of the temporal, superior, and inferior parafoveal macular areas (p < 0.001), except in the outer ring of the nasal macular zone (p > 0.05) of KC compared to healthy eyes. The CT significantly decreased from the center to the outer ring regardless of the presence of KC (p < 0.001). The choroid in the nasal macular zone was significantly thinner than that in the temporal, superior, and inferior parafoveal areas (p < 0.001). The choroidal structure increased its thickness not only in the subfoveal area, but also in eight parafoveal areas of the ETDRS grid encompassing a wider area of macular examination. These findings demonstrate and corroborate that keratoconus is not a purely corneal disease. Furthermore, it confirms the role that the choroidal structure has in the pathophysiology of keratoconus.

Long-term tralopyril exposure results in endocrinological and transgenerational toxicity: A two-generation study of marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma)

This study aims to investigate the impact of tralopyril, a newly developed marine antifouling agent, on the reproductive endocrine system and developmental toxicity of offspring in marine medaka. The results revealed that exposure to tralopyril (0, 1, 20 μg/L) for 42 days resulted in decreased reproductive capacity in marine medaka. Moreover, it disrupted the levels of sex hormones E2 and T, as well as the transcription levels of genes related to the HPG axis, such as cyp19b and star. Sex-dependent differences were observed, with females experiencing more pronounced effects. Furthermore, intergenerational toxicity was observed in F1 offspring, including increased heart rate, changes in retinal morphology and cartilage structure, decreased swimming activity, and downregulation of transcription levels of relevant genes (HPT axis, GH/IGF axis, cox, bmp4, bmp2, runx2, etc.). Notably, the disruption of the F1 endocrine system by tralopyril persisted into adulthood, indicating a transgenerational effect. Molecular docking analysis suggested that tralopyril's RA receptor activity might be one of the key factors contributing to the developmental toxicity observed in offspring. Overall, our study highlights the potential threat posed by tralopyril to the sustainability of fish populations, as it can disrupt the endocrine system and negatively impact aquatic organisms for multiple generations.

Super-Resolution Microscopy Unveils Synergistic Structural Changes of Organelles Upon Point Mutation.

Ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS), is a widely used chemical mutagen that causes high-frequency germline null mutation by inserting an alkyl group into the nucleotide guanine in eukaryotic cells. The effect of EMS on the dynamics of the aneuploid genome, increased cellular instability, and carcinogenicity in relation to benign and malignant tumors are reported, but the molecular level understanding of morphological changes of higher-order chromatin structure has poorly been understood. This is due to a lack of sufficient resolution in conventional microscopic techniques to see small structures below the diffraction limit. Here, using super-resolution radial fluctuation, a largely fragmented, decompaction, and less dense heterochromatin structure upon EMS treatment to HEK 293A cells without any change in nuclear DNA domains is observed. This result suggests an early stage of carcinogenicity happened due to the point mutation. In addition, the distinct structural changes with an elongated morphology of lysosomes are also observed. On the other hand, fragmented and increased heterogeneous populations with an increased cytoplasmic occupancy of mitochondria are observed.

A new bodipy/pillar[5]arene functionalized magnetic sporopollenin for the detection of Cu(II) and Hg(II) ions in aqueous solution

In this study, a new bodipy/pillar[5]arene functionalized magnetic MS-Sp-P[5]-bodipy microcapsule sensor was prepared based on the use of environmentally friendly for the selective and sensitive detection of Cu(II) and Hg(II) ions in aqueous media. SEM results used in the characterization process of the materials synthesized at each stage confirmed the structural and morphological changes in the pore structure, while other characterization results (FT-IR and XRD) elucidated the role of pillar[5]arene compound and bodipy dye in the synthesis of magnetic microcapsule sensors. The colloidal solution of MS-Sp-P[5]-bodipy (water/ethanol)) showed two fluorescence bands centered at 402 and 540 nm. The detection limits of MS-Sp-P[5]-bodipy for Hg(II) and Cu(II) were calculated to be 0.06 µM and 2.27 µM, respectively (at 540 nm). The linear range of the magnetic sensor for Hg(II) and Cu(II) was found to be in the range of 1–150 µM and 10–150 µM, respectively. The experimental results (response time, pH, temperature, sensitivity and selectivity) demonstrated the applicability and potential of the prepared magnetic microcapsule sensor for the detection of Cu(II) and Hg(II) in water and tap water samples containing heavy metal ions.

Torrefaction of Forest Residues Using a Lab-Scale Reactor

Forest residues have been gaining interest as a source of renewable fuels due to their availability and the risks they represent for increasing forest fires. A major drawback for their removal and processing is the cost of transportation, which can be overcome through densification procedures, e.g., torrefaction. To optimize the torrefaction parameters, Cistus ladanifer residues from the Portuguese forest were torrefied for 30 min in a lab-scale reactor at 250 and 350 °C. The quality of the torrefied material was assessed, and its energy and mass yields were determined through thermal analysis. The changes in morphological structure occurring during torrefaction were analysed through scanning electron microscopy. When compared to the original biomass, the charcoal obtained at 350 °C had a substantial increase in energy density accompanied by a significant mass reduction. Increasing the mass in the reactor had a positive effect on the energy yield. For the highest mass tested, a mass reduction of around 30% was obtained and a char with no loss in energy content (with a cumulative heat flow (CHF) of 9.0 MJ/kg compared to 5.8 MJ/kg of the original biomass). Modelling of the reactor allowed the analysis of the heat profile required for torrefaction.

The Role of Gluten in Food Products and Dietary Restriction: Exploring the Potential for Restoring Immune Tolerance.

Wheat is extensively utilized in various processed foods due to unique proteins forming from the gluten network. The gluten network in food undergoes morphological and molecular structural changes during food processing, affecting the final quality and digestibility of the food. The present review introduces the formation of the gluten network and the role of gluten in the key steps of the production of several typical food products such as bread, pasta, and beer. Also, it summarizes the factors that affect the digestibility of gluten, considering that different processing conditions probably affect its structure and properties, contributing to an in-depth understanding of the digestion of gluten by the human body under various circumstances. Nevertheless, consumption of gluten protein may lead to the development of celiac disease (CD). The best way is theoretically proposed to prevent and treat CD by the inducement of oral tolerance, an immune non-response system formed by the interaction of oral food antigens with the intestinal immune system. This review proposes the restoration of oral tolerance in CD patients through adjunctive dietary therapy via gluten-encapsulated/modified dietary polyphenols. It will reduce the dietary restriction of gluten and help patients achieve a comprehensive dietary intake by better understanding the interactions between gluten and food-derived active products like polyphenols.

Silicon nanoparticles alleviate cadmium toxicity in rice (Oryza sativa L.) by modulating the nutritional profile and triggering stress-responsive genetic mechanisms

This study investigated the physiological and molecular responses of rice genotype ‘9311’ to Cd stress and the mitigating effects of silicon oxide nanoparticles (SiO NPs). Cd exposure severely hindered plant growth, chlorophyll content, photosynthesis, and Cd accumulation. However, SiO NPs supplementation, particularly the SiONP100 treatment, significantly alleviated Cd-induced toxicity, mitigating the adverse effects on plant growth while maintaining chlorophyll content and photosynthetic attributes. The SiONP100 treatment also reduced Cd accumulation, indicating a preference for Si uptake in genotype 9311. Complex interactions among Cd, Si, Mg, Ca, and K were uncovered, with fluctuations in MDA and H2O2 contents. Distinct morphological changes in stomatal aperture and mesophyll cell structures were observed, including changes in starch granules, grana thylakoids, and osmophilic plastoglobuli. Moreover, following SiONP100 supplementation, genotype 9311 increased peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities by 56%, 44%, and 53% in shoots and 62%, 49%, and 65% in roots, respectively, indicating a robust defense mechanism against Cd stress. Notably, OsNramp5, OsHMA3, OsSOD-Cu/Zn, OsCATA, OsCATB, and OsAPX1 showed significant expression after SiO NPs treatment, suggesting potential Cd translocation within rice tissues. Overall, SiO NPs supplementation holds promise for enhancing Cd tolerance in rice plants while maintaining essential physiological functions.

Efficient Cr(VI) sequestration from aqueous solution by chemically modified Garcinia kola hull particles: characterization, isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies.

There is a need for the removal of hexavalent chromium from contaminated water prior to its discharge into the environment, as part of industrial effluents, due to its toxic nature. In this present study, an adsorbent prepared via chemical modification of Garcinia kola hull particles (GK-HP) using NaOH was applied for Cr(VI) sequestration from aqueous solution. Both the raw (rGK-HP) and chemically modified Garcinia kola hull particles (cMGK-HP) were characterized using BET, SEM, XRD, FTIR, TGA, and EDS. The effects of pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, adsorbate initial concentration, and temperature on Cr(VI) sequestration were examined. The adsorbent, cMGK-HP, proved to be more effective for the adsorption process than rGK-HP with 96.25% removal efficiency at a pH of 2, a contact time of 60 min, an adsorbent dose of 5 g/L, Cr(VI) initial concentration of 20 mg/L and a temperature of 40°C. Isotherm and kinetic studies showed experimental data to be well-fitted with Langmuir isotherm and follow the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The thermodynamic study revealed adsorption nature to be feasible, occur via physisorption, spontaneous, and exothermic. Changes in morphological structure, textural property, spectral peak, phase composition, and chemical composition of adsorbents before and after Cr(VI) sequestration from solution were proved by SEM, BET, FTIR, XRD, and EDS analyses, respectively. cMGK-HP possessed excellent reusability attribute and high thermal stability as shown by TGA. In conclusion, the adsorption capacity of cMGK-HP is better than many other adsorbents generated from agrowastes used in previous studies for Cr(VI) removal.

Position of Polyclithrum within Gyrodactylidae (Monogenoidea): incongruences between morphological and molecular phylogenies.

This study aimed to enhance our understanding in monogenoid evolution by using morphological and molecular data to determine kinship relationships between species and changes in morphological structures over time. We focused on variations in characteristics among the organisms of the family Gyrodactylidae, concentrating on the phylogenetic position of Polyclithrum with other genera in the family. We collected specimens of Polyclithrum from the striped mullet, Mugil cephalus and Swingleus, and Fundulotrema specimens from mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus in estuarine systems of South Carolina, United States. In addition, we analyzed them and other genera (including e.g., Mormyrogyrodactylus, Gyrodactyloides, and Macrogyrodactylus) using both morphological and molecular (18S rDNA) approaches. We performed phylogenetic trees based on Maximum Parsymony, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference, and constructed a character morphological matrix by Parsimony Reconstruction of Ancestral Character States method. Our results suggest a homoplastic origin with evolutionary convergences in characters, revealing that there is inconsistency between our data and previously published works based solely on morphological structures of the group. The homoplasy scenario found in Gyrodactylidae can be a result of the limited set of putative homologous morphological features. However, differences between the phylogenies based on morphology and those based on molecular data may arise from both databases. While morphology remains essential in understanding the evolution of this group, molecular data, otherwise, provide a less biased source of information for constructing phylogenetic hypotheses. Combining these data facilitates a better comprehension of the homologous status of morphological features and to understand Gyrodactylidae evolutionary history.

Cytotoxic Potential of Novel Quinoline Derivative: 11-(1,4-Bisaminopropylpiperazinyl)5-methyl-5H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoline against Different Cancer Cell Lines via Activation and Deactivation of the Expression of Some Proteins.

The current study evaluated the cytotoxic activity of 11-(1,4-bisaminopropylpiperazinyl)5-methyl-5H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoline (BAPPN), a novel derivative of 5-methyl-5H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoline, against hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2), colon carcinoma (HCT-116), breast (MCF-7), and lung (A549) cancer cell lines and the possible molecular mechanism through which it exerts its cytotoxic activity. BAPPN was synthesized and characterized with FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy. The binding affinity scores of BAPPN for caspase-3 PDB: 7JL7 was -7.836, with an RMSD of 1.483° A. In silico screening of ADME properties indicated that BAPPN showed promising oral bioavailability records in addition to their high gastrointestinal absorption and blood-brain barrier penetrability. BAPPN induced cytotoxicity, with IC50 values of 3.3, 23, 3.1, and 9.96 μg/mL against cancer cells HepG2, HCT-116, MCF-7, and A549, respectively. In addition, it induced cell injury and morphological changes in ultracellular structure, including cellular delayed activity, vanishing of membrane blebbing, microvilli, cytoplasmic condensation, and shrunken nucleus with more condensed chromatin autophagosomes. Furthermore, BAPPN significantly increased the protein expression of caspase-3 and tumor suppressor protein (P53). However, it significantly reduced the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein into the medium and decreased the protein expression of proliferation cellular nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki67 in HepG2, HCT-116, MCF-7, and A549 cells. This study indicates that BAPPN has cytotoxic action against liver, colon, breast, and lung cancer cell lines via the up-regulation of apoptotic proteins, caspase-3 and P53, and the downregulation of proliferative proteins, VEGF, PCNA, and Ki67.

Microcosmic mechanism of metal–organic framework enhanced thermoplastic polyurethane exposed to laser-induced shock wave

Incorporating nano-particles into polymer matrix has enabled improving shock wave mitigation (SWM) ability. Vast majority of researchers adopted inorganic nano-materials to enhance polymer matrix. Due to the incompatibility between inorganic nano-particles and polymers, complicated interface modification processes were often used. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have good compatibility with polymers and show excellent SWM capabilities. However, they are brittle and experience lattice collapse after shock loading. Based on this, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) enhanced by zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) was proposed and prepared. The mixtures can not only improve the SWM ability of polymers, but also address the brittleness of MOFs. Additionally, scholars often use simulation methods to study energy dissipation mechanism of materials, rarely evidences of microstructural changes observed to support theoretical speculations. In this work, by analyzing surface morphology and molecular structural changes, energy dissipative mechanism was investigated. With addition amount of 5 wt% and 10 wt% ZIF-8 particles in TPU, the pressure can be reduced by 0.074 GPa and 0.1478 GPa than neat TPU. TPUM-10 had a stronger deformation resistance and SWM ability. Moreover, main chemical structures were remained unchanged after shock. The increased ability of SWM may relate to hydrogen bond forming process and delayed material failure.

Synergetic removal of hazardous pollutants from aqueous environment using lignocellulosic biosorbents

Water pollution with dyes that are non-biodegradable has become a very concerning environmental problem in the world today. Therefore, the aim of this research was to optimize an adsorption process for the removal of one of the most harmful dyes Eriochrome Black T (EBT). For the first time, native hazelnut shells were used as biosorbents in this regard. The biomaterial was analysed by infrared spectroscopy with Fourier transformation, scanning electron microscopy, electron dispersive spectroscopy, Boehm titrations, physicochemical analysis and by determination of zero charge point and cation exchange capacity. Dye concentration was established by UV–Vis spectrophotometer and heavy metals concentration by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Characterization techniques of EBT showed successful removal from wastewater due to the obvious changes in morphological and composition structure of the hazelnut shell. The highest capacity of adsorption (5.8 mg/g) and removal efficiency (75.3%) was found at pH 3, sorbent mass 500 mg, 80 mg/L EBT concentration, 90 min contact time and solution temperature 20 °C. The pseudo-second-order model described the best investigated process and maximum Langmuir’s adsorption capacity was 27.55 mg/g. The interfering effect of seven heavy metals increased removal efficiency to 98% showing a positive impact. Furthermore, the process was found feasible with negative values of Gibbs free energy and exothermic with negative values of enthalpy change (-35.26 kJ/mol). The utilized green and environmentally friendly sorbent under optimized conditions could be used in real textile industries for EBT and heavy metals removal.