Tissue damage to clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) exposed to different concentrations of nanoparticles of a stable polymer (polystyrene) compared to a biodegradable polymer (poly(lactic acid)).

Surface modification of chitin nanocrystals with hydroxyapatite deposition and polymer grafting for poly(lactic acid)-based osteogenic biomaterials.

Mechanistic insights into LuxS/AI-2 quorum sensing-regulated biofilm formation and its impact on the texture and flavor of kefir.

Microparticles have gained significant attention as promising injectable fillers for tissue defect repair, particularly in bone regeneration. While tailoring microparticle chemistry to guide osteogenic differentiation and bone regeneration has been extensively studied, the influence of microparticle shape remains less explored. We hypothesized that, similar to chemistry, microparticle shape can modulate the osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs). To test this, we employed a micromolding method to fabricate shape-defined microparticles from poly(lactic acid) (PLA) or PLA-nanohydroxyapatite (nHA) composites with different aspect ratios and sizes, and then co-cultured them with hMSCs to self-assemble into 3D microtissues. Microtissues containing composite microparticles showed significantly higher alkaline phosphatase activity, with high-aspect-ratio and small-sized microparticles eliciting the strongest response. Both microparticle shape and composition regulated hMSC osteogenic differentiation according to gene expression analysis. In the absence of nHA, PLA microparticles with higher aspect ratios significantly increased the expression of osteogenesis-related genes, including IBSP, SPP1, and MMP13, whereas others showed minimal effects. Introducing nHA altered this trend, with small-sized microparticles inducing the highest SPP1 expression and osteopontin production at late time points. Small-sized microparticles further promoted the expression of vinculin and yes-associated protein. Furthermore, etching composite microparticles to expose nHA on their surface amplified this size-dependent effect, leading to enhanced expression of the late osteogenic marker, BGLAP, in hMSC microtissues containing small cube composite microparticles. Our findings establish microparticle shape, especially size and aspect ratio, as fundamental design parameters that synergize with microparticle composition to direct hMSCs toward osteogenic lineage, offering a promising strategy for engineering injectable fillers for bone regeneration.

Acidity tuning of beta zeolite for efficient one-step lactide synthesis from lactic acid

The increasing interest in, and affordability of, 3-D printing has made fast prototyping and manufacturing of components and accessories increasingly popular in MRI research. In this work, visibility in magnetic resonance images and T1 and T2∗ relaxation times of 3-D printed thermoplastic materials were investigated with multi-band sweep imaging with Fourier transformation (MB-SWIFT) and single point imaging (SPI). Ten commonly available 3-D printable plastics were investigated at 9.4T. T1 relaxation times were estimated with inversion recovery (IR-LL) and saturation recovery Look-Locker (SR-LL) as well as variable flip angle (VFA) MB-SWIFT techniques. T2∗ relaxation times were estimated from SPI data. It was observed that acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and some poly(lactic acid) (PLA) -based filaments as well as a proprietary thermoplastic formulation generated detectable signal making them "MRI-visible". Glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate (PET-G) and nylon -based filaments as well as some PLA formulations were observed to be "MRI-invisible" with minimal to non-existent signal. T1 parameters were estimated to be between 463 and 773ms (VFA), 520-1004ms (IR-LL) and 222-296ms (SR-LL). Average T2∗ relaxation times with SPI were between 69 and 273μs. The results provide a quantitative basis for selecting fused deposition modeling (FDM) materials for ultrashort echo time MRI applications and highlight the importance of both pulse sequence and material composition when designing MRI-compatible structures.

Gamma irradiation-induced enhancement of agar-based bioplastics incorporating poly(lactic acid) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)

Bioconversion pathways for cassava pulp valorisation: Biomethane, lactic acid, butyric acid, and caproic acid

A comparative analysis of the effects of typical organic acids from fruit juice on modified milk: milk-clotting properties, dairy colloid system characteristics, and sensory quality.

A novel lactic acid bacterium, Sporolactobacillus sp. LBM15018, enhances the growth and caproate fermentation capacity of Caproicibacterium lactatifermentans through interspecies cross-feeding.

MMP-9-responsive bFGF/FGF21 patch synergistically piloting the immune remodeling and regeneration of diabetic wounds.

Sucuk is a traditional Turkish dry fermented sausage, the quality and safety of which depend on physicochemical, microbiological, and biochemical changes during fermentation and ripening. Organic acids, their salts, and antioxidants such as ascorbic acid (AA) are widely used in fermented meat products; however, information about their main effects on quality attributes and microbial ecology in sucuk is limited. This study evaluated the main effects of AA levels (0, 500, and 1000 mg kg-1) and selected organic acids or salts (acetic, lactic, citric, and sorbic acids, and potassium sorbate; 1000 mg kg-1) on sucuk quality and safety. The pH, moisture, protein, fat content, lipolysis, proteolysis, thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values, and color parameters were not affected significantly by treatments (P > 0.05), whereas water activity was influenced significantly (P < 0.05). Increasing AA levels were associated with higher nitrate concentrations, whereas other anions, cations, and biogenic amine content did not differ among treatments. Higher AA levels, as well as sorbic acid and potassium sorbate treatments, increased shear force, shear work, hardness, and chewiness (P < 0.05). Lactic acid bacteria counts were affected significantly, whereas Micrococcus and Staphylococcus populations were not. Enterobacteriaceae and yeast and mold counts remained below the detection limit. These results show that AA levels and organic acid or salt type influenced water activity, texture, and lactic acid bacteria populations selectively in sucuk without markedly affecting basic composition or biogenic amine content, providing practical guidance for improving microbial stability and technological quality in fermented sausages. © 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.

• Organic acids strongly control gelatin yield and quality from animal bone residues • Citric acid maximizes gelatin yield, especially from pig bones • Acetic acid improves gel clarity, strength, and texture properties • Bone source determines gelatin performance: pig ≥ beef > chicken • Results guide sustainable use of animal by-products in food applications The valorization of bone waste from the beef, pork, and chicken industries is an important strategy for utilizing byproducts rich in biopolymers, such as gelatin. This study examined how the organic acids citric, acetic, and lactic influence the yield and the physicochemical, rheological, and functional qualities of gelatin extracted from bone waste of pigs, chickens, and beef. The methodology involved stages of cleaning and thermal degreasing, demineralization with 5% acetic acid, and acid-thermal extraction using solutions of 3% (w/v) citric, acetic, or lactic acid at a solid–liquid ratio of 1:3, at 80–90°C for 4 hours. Variables such as yield, clarity, colorimetric parameters (CIE Lab* and h°), and rheological and functional properties were analyzed. The results showed that citric acid increased extraction yield, especially for pig gelatin, while acetic acid produced gels with greater clarity and brightness and improved rheological properties. Functionally, citric acid supported foam stability, and acetic and lactic acids improved emulsifying stability, notably in bovine gelatin. Additionally, the source of bone significantly affected overall quality, following the order pig ≥ beef > chicken. Acetic acid optimized the overall quality of the gelatin, and citric acid increased the yield, making pig gelatin the most promising for food applications.

Functional Lactiplantibacillus plantarum MT213 screened from traditional sourdough and its promising in-situ preservation in steamed bread.

Graphene amine nanoparticles-reinforced poly(lactic acid)-poly(butylene adipate terephthalate) blend membranes: Structural and electrochemical characterization for supercapacitor applications

Enhanced pH-responsive 5-FU release from electrospun PLA/PEG fibers incorporating a fluorinated covalent organic framework

Synergistic pretreatment of sorghum straw using a three-component deep eutectic solvent benzyltrimethylammonium chloride/oxalic acid/lactic acid: Enhanced delignification and xylan removal for improved biomass valorization.

Optimization of anaerobic fermentation and aerobic stability of total mixed ration via wet distiller's grains incorporation: Insights into clean recycling and nitrogen emissions control.

Interfacial ReS bonds as charge transfer highways toward superior photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Design and fabrication of a 3D-Printed coronary poly (lactic acid) stent with in vitro characterization and cytocompatibility evaluation