Beyond depolymerization rates: Health‑aligned benchmarking for PET‑degrading enzymes in enzyme and microbial technology.

Truxillate polyesters derived from dimethoxycinnamic acid: Melt-polycondensation, properties, and hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation

Controllable peroxidase-like catalysis of chondroitin sulfate-hemin conjugates for in situ hydrogel formation in biomedical applications.

Dynamic linking bone ECM-mimic hydrogel for anti-inflammatory therapy of cranial defect.

Therapeutic potential of plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles as a phytomedicine in age-related diseases.

The treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) has remained a major clinical challenge because these disorders are biologically complex, exhibit inter-patient variability, are often diagnosed late, involve irreversible neurodegeneration, and face limitations due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The presence of the BBB is one of the most critical obstacles in AD and PD therapy, hindering the potential to elevate their treatment to a new level. To do so, nanotechnology has introduced the design of nanomedicine-based delivery systems that optimize pharmacokinetics and enhance brain exposure across the BBB. Additionally, many promising agents, such as peptides, proteins, small interfering RNA (siRNA), antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds, neurotrophic factors, and small molecules with poor solubility, have failed due to instability, toxicity, or poor pharmacokinetics. Thus, delivery systems can protect them from enzymatic degradation, improve solubility and stability, and enable controlled release. Among the diverse array of nanocarriers studied, liposomes and polymeric nanoparticles have received significant attention. They can be surface functionalized with targeting ligands and designed to exploit receptor-mediated transcytosis, leading to selective and enhanced brain targeting while reducing systemic exposure. Their ability to incorporate both hydrophobic and hydrophilic compounds allows for flexible formulation design and supports targeted delivery strategies that reduce off-target toxicity. They offer biocompatibility, adjustable physicochemical characteristics, and significant potential for targeted brain delivery. Accordingly, this review focuses on liposomal and polymeric nanoparticle-based delivery systems, critically assessing their pharmaceutical design and preclinical performance to identify translational gaps and highlight emerging strategies for effective brain-targeted therapies in AD and PD.

Bioactive peptides derived from protein hydrolysates provide various health benefits; however, their practical application is limited by low gastrointestinal stability, enzymatic degradation, and poor intestinal absorption. Overcoming these challenges remains a key bottleneck for oral peptide delivery. This study aimed to develop and systematically compare uni-axial and co-axial electrospun pullulan/carboxymethylcellulose fibers incorporating liposome-encapsulated glutenin hydrolysate (GH) to enhance its stability, mucoadhesion, and controlled release along the gastrointestinal system. GH (7.5 mg mL-1) was encapsulated into lecithin-phytosterol (1:0.5, w/w) liposomes, yielding an average size of 76 nm and an encapsulation efficiency of 57.52%. These liposomes were successfully embedded into nanofibers, showing homogeneous distribution and GH loading efficiencies of 61.04-85.22%. Compared with free GH, liposomal systems preserved the antioxidant activity (ABTS and FRAP values) of GH during gastrointestinal digestion, while the non-hybrid formulation demonstrated reduced preservation. Liposome-loaded nanofibers exhibited markedly lower GH release under gastric conditions (21.05-25.85%) than free-GH fibers (42.69%), while co-axial fibers provided the most sustained intestinal release. Additionally, liposomal incorporation significantly enhanced mucoadhesive properties. The hybrid liposome-nanofiber approach integrates protective and controlled-delivery mechanisms, resulting in enhanced preservation of antioxidant activity and sustained release compared with conventional fibers. This food-grade strategy shows strong potential for oral delivery of bioactive peptides in functional food and nutraceutical applications requiring gastrointestinal stability. © 2026 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Crosslinking is a key step in the production of stable all-natural polymeric scaffolds for tissue engineering, as it slows the degradation and increases the mechanical properties of the material. In this study, we investigate the crosslinking parameters of a natural, anisotropic scaffold produced from gelatine, chitosan and cellulose through a modified freeze drying protocol, with the goal of maintaining the porous architecture of the scaffold while improving its degradation and mechanical strength. Genipin and EDC were selected as the two crosslinking alternatives, while crosslinker concentration and solvent system (ethanol-to-water ratio) were the optimized parameters. The degree of crosslinking was quantified through a 2,4,6-Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid assay, and the scaffolds were further tested for hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation, swelling and mechanical properties. Scaffolds achieve ultimate tensile strength values of up to 4MPa, in the relevant physiological range for tendon applications, and crosslinking degrees in the range of 70% - 90%. While scaffolds processed with both crosslinkers maintain the desired pore alignment, genipin was the most successful at delaying the degradation of the material, with 85% of the initial mass of the scaffold remaining after 21days of immersion in PBS. The solvent system of the crosslinking solution was investigated, with varying ratios of ethanol to water, finding that adding water is necessary for optimal swelling, homogeneous crosslinking and low cytotoxicity of the scaffolds, highlighting the importance of this parameter in the genipin crosslinking process. Genipin crosslinked scaffolds were found to be capable of sustaining the attachment and proliferation of tendon derived stem cells up to 21days in both 21% and 2% oxygen environments, yielding a strong stable scaffold suitable for supporting tendon regeneration in-vitro.

222-nm far-UVC/H2O2 photodegradation as a versatile and effective tool for depolymerizing starch-rich materials and its application as a sustainable approach to starch liquefaction.

Identification of key enzymes for pyraclostrobin degradation by Burkholderia sp. G-1 and its multifunctional bioremediation potential

Large-leaf yellow tea oligosaccharides alleviate T2DM by promoting GLP-1 secretion and regulating intestinal mucosal barrier.

Radiolabeled cyclic peptides in precision oncology: Current advances and future perspectives.

Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are synthetic analogues of nucleic acids featuring a neutral peptide-backbone that provides exceptional stability and resistance to enzymatic degradation. They are highly specific towards complementary DNA or RNA sequences rendering them ideal capture probes for sensitive and selective biosensing. The uncharged backbone minimizes nonspecific interactions and reduces background noise in bioelectronic devices, thereby improving signal-to-noise ratios. The precise immobilization of PNAs on gold substrates allows the development of real-time, label-free electrochemical and optical sensors. Parameters - such as immobilization strategy, concentration, temperature, substrate morphology - that strongly influences the surface probe density and ultimately play key roles in the sensor's performance are discussed within this review. Furthermore, this review highlights current strategies for tuning planar gold-based PNA sensors and outlines how nucleic acid sensor technologies can be leveraged to evaluate emerging PNA-based antisense oligonucleotides. Given the relevance of PNA derivatives in therapeutic oligonucleotide development, it further shows how sensor platforms can be used to assess and improve the design and binding kinetics of new PNA antisense drug candidates.

• PDMS demonstrated notable biodegradation under anaerobic sludge conditions through microbially mediated hydrolysis. • Structural analysis confirmed Si–O–Si bond cleavage and formation of silanol terminal groups during degradation. • Degradation led to a marked reduction in the thermal stability of PDMS. • Key degradation products identified were low-molecular-weight cyclic and linear siloxanes. • Degradation altered functional properties: dielectric constant decreased, viscosity dropped, and interfacial tension with water reduced. • Metagenomic analysis revealed an anaerobic consortium (e.g., Usitatibacter) enriched with genes for xenobiotics biodegradation. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a widely used silicon-based polymer known for its excellent chemical and thermal stability, with broad applications in the power industry and consumer products. Due to its recalcitrance to degradation and persistence in the environment, PDMS has emerged as a potential organic pollutant. Therefore, developing effective environmental degradation methods is urgently needed, among which microbial degradation represents a promising solution. In this study, a laboratory-simulated anaerobic sludge environment was used to conduct an 18-day degradation experiment on PDMS. During this period, the PDMS samples exhibited a mass loss of approximately 28.50%. Structural changes during degradation were systematically analyzed using techniques such as gel permeation chromatography (GPC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results indicated significant molecular chain scission of PDMS under anaerobic conditions. After 18 days of degradation, the molecular weight of the samples decreased by 24%. DSC and TGA showed a decline in the thermal properties of the degraded samples, with the initial decomposition temperature and glass transition temperature decreasing by 43.7°C and 3.1°C, respectively. Concurrently, the dielectric constant decreased across the measured frequency range, rheological properties decayed, and the interfacial tension between PDMS and water significantly dropped, indicating alterations in material polarity, flow behavior, and surface hydrophobicity. Additionally, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed cleavage of Si–O–Si bonds, accompanied by enhanced –OH signals, indicating hydrolysis of the PDMS backbone and the formation of silanol terminals. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis detected degradation products containing cyclic and linear low-molecular-weight siloxanes (D4, hydroxyl-terminated L4, etc.). Metagenomic analysis of the microbial community revealed an anaerobic consortium dominated by genera such as Usitatibacter, Aquihabitans , and Pseudomonas , whose functional gene profile demonstrated a strong potential for xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism. Finally, from a microscopic perspective, this study elucidated the microbial-mediated hydrolysis mechanism of PDMS in anaerobic sludge, providing new insights for the development of biodegradation technologies for silicon-based polymers.

Injectable and transient hydrogel with programmable lifetime by endogenous coordination crosslinking and enzymatic de-crosslinking.

Development of an injectable thermosensitive hydrogel depot system for controlled and sustained subcutaneous drug delivery.

AI agent-based discovery of D-enantiomeric antimicrobial peptides against multidrug-resistant bacterial infection.

H2O2-driven enzymatic degradation of halophenols and toxicity assessment

Highly sensitive detection of HER2 DNA based on enzyme-free target-triggered biped DNA walker combined with ARGET ATRP.

Physicochemical recycling of perlite from agar extraction waste for repeated reuse and its enhancement mechanism on agar quality.