Application of poly(amidoamine)-inositol hexakisphosphate conjugates for improving resin-dentine bond longevity.

Enhancing oxidative stress defense to improve docosahexaenoic acid production in Schizochytrium sp. HX-308.

Reaction enhanced surface segregation method via phytic acid and Fe3+ complexation for high-performance nanofiltration membrane

Improving brown rice quality: Effects of different processing treatments on functionality and nutrition.

Refractory wounds caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections are characterized by biofilm formation, persistent inflammation, and impaired angiogenesis, requiring stage-specific therapeutic strategies. Herein, we propose a three-in-one multifunctional metal-organic gel-encapsulated microneedle (Cu-MOG MN) with integrated antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and pro-angiogenic capabilities for the programmed treatment of infected wound. Cu-MOG is constructed via facile coordination and self-assembly between naturally antioxidant phytic acid (PA) and essential trace element copper, and exhibits well-defined pH-responsive multienzyme activities. During the early stage of bacterial infection, Cu-MOG activates superoxide dismutase-peroxidase (SOD-POD) cascade to generate localized reactive oxygen species (ROS), enabling efficient bacterial eradication and biofilm disruption. As the wound microenvironment transitions to neutral inflammatory conditions, the catalytic profile shifts to SOD-glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, scavenging excess ROS and alleviating oxidative stress. In addition, Cu-MOG exerts potent immunomodulatory effects by promoting macrophage polarization toward the pro-regenerative M2 phenotype, while simultaneously enhancing collagen deposition, angiogenesis, and cell migration to accelerate wound healing. Collectively, the Cu-MOG MN system achieves a comprehensive therapeutic cascade through synergistic deep tissue penetration, pH-responsive antibacterial/anti-inflammatory actions, and pro-regenerative stimulation of collagen deposition/angiogenesis, showing great potential for precise, dynamic and adaptive treatment of refractory wounds.

Phytic acid-polyaniline supported Au catalyst for the 4-nitrophenol reduction: Insights into the phytic acid effect on catalytic performance

A holey porous carbon nitride system has been prepared from melamine and cyanuric acid. It is further attached to Nickel phytic acid complex. Detailed morphological and elemental features have been further correlated with the ongoing photophysical properties. Later, the excited state dynamics has been clarified by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Results suggest a highly efficient photoinduced charge separation process between the two counterparts of the composite system. The overall charge separation process has been further supported by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and transient photocurrent studies. Finally, the composite system has been utilized for photocatalytic H2 production from water. The H2 production efficiency has reached up to 11mmol/g under full Xe light irradiation and it remains active even under near-infrared light irradiation. The calculated apparent QYs for the H2 productions are ∼7% and 4.2% at 400 and 850nm, respectively.

Achieving macroscale liquid superlubricity via phytic acid complex-based environmentally friendly lubricants

Phytic acid is a phosphorus-rich molecule, which is produced by plants using water-soluble phosphates absorbed from soil. It can potentially serve as a phosphorus source in the syntheses of organic phosphates; however, this approach has not been utilized for the preparation of phosphate esters. In this study, we report the first successful synthesis of phosphate esters using phytic acid as a phosphorus source. Crude products of phosphate diesters were obtained through the reactions of commercially available phytic acid and aromatic alcohols with 31P nuclear magnetic resonance yields up to 83%. We also isolated a portion of the reaction substrates with yields up to 60%. Next, we extracted phytic acid from rice bran with a recovery of 4.2% and then conducted an esterification reaction using the extracted phytic acid and phenol. As a result, diphenyl phosphate with a yield of 44% was obtained. This work can facilitate the development of an environmentally friendly method for producing phosphate esters that does not rely on phosphate rock but instead uses biomass as a phosphorus source.

Polyamide 6 is an important engineering thermoplastic; however, its practical use is often constrained by its high flammability. Although aluminum diethylphosphinate is widely employed as a flame retardant for polyamide 6, its relatively slow char-forming kinetics hinders the attainment of the stringent 750 °C glow-wire ignition temperature required for electrical applications at moderate loadings. To address this limitation, a synergist was fabricated via the self-assembly of phytic acid, benzoguanamine, and ZnSO4·7H2O and subsequently incorporated to enhance the char-forming capability and flame retardancy of polyamide 6/aluminum diethylphosphinate composites. The results revealed that the synergist acted as an efficient charring promoter, improving flame retardancy. At a total loading of 15 wt%, the composite reached a UL-94 V-0 rating and high limiting oxygen index of 30.7%. Cone calorimetry data indicate that the peak heat release rate decreased by 34.0%, and the smoke production rate decreased by 33.3% compared with the polyamide 6/aluminum diethylphosphinate composites. Mechanistic analysis indicated that the synergist catalyzed the carbonization of the polyamide 6, enabling the formation of a dense thermally insulating char barrier in the condensed phase. Notably, the optimized formulation achieved a glow-wire ignition temperature of 750 °C, demonstrating its strong potential for high-safety electrical applications.

Enzyme technology, characterized by high efficiency, environmental compatibility, and precise controllability, has become a pivotal biocatalytic approach for quality enhancement and nutritional improvement in modern food industries. This review summarizes recent advances and underlying mechanisms of enzyme applications in food processing optimization, nutritional enhancement, and functional food development. In terms of process optimization, enzymes such as transglutaminase, laccase, and peroxidase enhance protein crosslinking, thereby markedly improving the texture and stability of dairy products, meat products, and plant-based protein systems. Proteases and lipases play essential roles in flavor development, maturation, and modulation of sensory attributes. From a nutritional perspective, enzymatic hydrolysis significantly improves the bioavailability of proteins, minerals, and dietary fibers, while simultaneously degrading antinutritional factors and harmful compounds, including phytic acid, tannins, food allergens, and acrylamide, thus contributing to improved food safety and nutritional balance. With respect to functional innovation, enzyme-directed production of bioactive peptides has demonstrated notable antihypertensive, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities. In addition, enzymatic synthesis of functional oligosaccharides and rare sugars, glycosylation-based modification of polyphenols, and enzyme-assisted extraction of plant bioactive compounds provide novel strategies and technological support for the development of functional foods. Owing to their high specificity and eco-friendly nature, enzyme technologies are driving food and nutrition sciences toward more precise, personalized, and sustainable development pathways. Despite these advances, critical research gaps remain, particularly in the limited mechanistic understanding of enzyme behavior in complex food matrices, the insufficient integration of multi-omics data with enzymatic process design, and the challenges associated with translating laboratory-scale enzymatic strategies into robust, data-driven, and scalable industrial applications.

In this study, we report the design and synthesis of a bifunctional Fe-N-P@TDC electrocatalyst derived from renewable precursors, tannin and phytic acid. The catalyst was prepared through a mechanochemical reaction of these precursors with urea and FeCl3 as nitrogen (N) and iron (Fe) precursors, respectively, followed by simple pyrolysis at 900°C. The innovative integration of phosphorus (P) atoms coordinated to Fe-Nx single-atom sites creates a unique electronic environment that enhances catalytic activity for both ORR and HER. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations reveal that FeN2P2 and FeNP3 configurations are the most active sites, showing synergistic effects of P coordination in weakening intermediate adsorption energies and promoting reaction kinetics. The Fe-N-P@TDC catalyst exhibits superior bifunctional activity, with ORR half-wave potentials and HER overpotentials comparable to commercial Pt/C, but at a fraction of the cost and higher stability. This work demonstrates that fine-tuning of Fe-Nx coordination with P atoms in sustainable carbon matrices offers a viable route toward efficient, durable, and low-cost electrocatalysts for clean energy conversion.

Phytic acid in grains chelates essential minerals, thereby reducing the bioavailability of phosphorus and micronutrients in maize-based food and feed. Understanding the temporal expression pattern of the phytase1 gene, which regulates phytase activity, holds immense potential for maize biofortification efforts. The expression of the phytase1 gene and its impact on phytase activity were explored at different grain developmental stages using maize inbreds with contrasting activity. The phytase1 expression pattern was analyzed using quantitative RT-PCR with adh1 as a reference gene. Combined ANOVA revealed significant variation (p < 0.01) due to inbreds (G) and developmental stages (DAP). High phytase genotypes, PMI-Q1 (1302.0 U kg- 1), PMI-PV7 (1345.0 U kg- 1), and PMI-PV8 (1413.3 U kg- 1) showed higher expression of the phytase1 gene transcript levels of 0.114, 0.109, and 0.104, respectively. PMI-PV2 (586.4 U kg- 1), PMI-PV4 (688.3 U kg- 1), and PMI-PV5 (650.8 U kg- 1) with the lower phytase activity had lower expression of phytase1 transcript levels of 0.040, 0.031, and 0.036, respectively. Furthermore, the correlation between phytase activity and relative expression pattern at different developmental stages was positive (p < 0.01; r = 0.79, 0.86, and 0.89 at 15, 30, and 45 DAP, respectively). Notably highest phytase activity was found at 15 DAP (1127.7 U kg- 1) and declined progressively towards 45 DAP (895.4 U kg- 1) across genotypes, with a corresponding reduction in phytase1 gene expression. Validating the high phytase genotypes through gene expression profiling offers promising donors for maize molecular breeding to transfer high phytase activity into elite genotypes.

Seed vigor is a key agronomic trait that integrates germination capacity and seedling establishment, critically influencing rice productivity. Inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6) serves as a major phosphorus reservoir in seeds, yet its regulatory mechanism in seed vigor remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that exogenous IP6 application inhibited seed germination and seedling growth of japonica rice (Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica cv. Zhonghua11) in a dose-dependent manner; 10 mM IP6 reduced seed germination by 100%, while 100 μM IP6 suppressed primary root length by 33.6% compared to the control. This inhibitory effect is likely mediated by antagonizing auxin signaling, as supported by suppressed DR5::GUS expression and altered transcription of auxin-responsive genes. OsIPK2, a key enzyme in IP6 biosynthesis, showed high expression during early development in rice. RNA interference of OsIPK2 led to a 40.8-61.7% reduction in seed IP6 content, 45.3-65% higher zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) accumulation, and a 35.4-53.5% lower germination rate compared to wild-type (WT). Conversely, OsIPK2-RNAi seedlings exhibited enhanced growth and resistance to IP6, which was associated with misregulation of auxin-responsive genes and a decrease in the repressive histone mark H3K27me3 at their loci. Furthermore, endogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels significantly reduced in Ri-1 but unchanged in Ri-2, while abscisic acid (ABA) content and the IAA/ABA ratio remained unaltered compared to wild-type. Our findings reveal that OsIPK2 balances seed vigor and seedling development by modulating inositol phosphate metabolism, auxin responses, and epigenetic regulation, providing insights for improving seed quality in cereals. Whether the regulatory role of OsIPK2 in seed vigor is conserved across other rice subspecies requires further investigation.

Self-healing and adhesive eutectogels with dual conductive networks for multimodal health monitoring and human-computer interaction.

Phytases hydrolyze phytic acid (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate), releasing inorganic phosphorus and essential minerals, thereby increasing their bioavailability for animals and humans. However, low native production and the limited stability of wild-type enzymes hinder their industrial applications. In this study, the PHY7227 gene from Talaromyces pinophilus was cloned and expressed in Komagataella phaffii, yielding a recombinant phytase with a specific activity of 371.29 U/mg. The identity of this phytase was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and LC-MS/MS. The recombinant phytase exhibited a molecular mass of ~ 75kDa, maximum activity at pH 5.5 and at 55°C and 60°C and showed higher specificity for sodium phytate, exhibiting Km app and Vmax app values of 0.947 mM and 7.67 µmol×s- 1, respectively, against this substrate. The enzyme showed significant thermostability at 50°C and it was not inhibited by EDTA, DTT, or β-mercaptoethanol. In order to immobilize the phytase using the cross-linked enzyme aggregate (CLEA), 70% (v/v) isopropanol provided the highest CLEA immobilization yield, 83%, and activity recovery of 70.8%. Compared to the free form, the immobilized phytase exhibited enhanced thermostability at 50°C and a broader pH activity range. The immobilized phytase maintained over 60% of its initial activity after ten cycles of reuse in sodium phytate hydrolysis. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of CLEA immobilization for the recombinant phytase and highlight its potential for industrial applications, especially in animal feed production.

Chitosan beads were prepared with phytic acid to develop a biocompatible matrix for enzyme immobilization. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was immobilized on phytic acid-modified chitosan beads, and its catalytic activity was measured using 2-methoxyphenol. The concentration of phytic acid used was varied, with optimal enzyme activity at a concentration of 25 mM phytic acid. The phytic acid/chitosan beads were characterized using FTIR, SEM, and their swelling behavior was investigated at room temperature. The beads exhibited slightly higher levels of water absorption, 20 ± 2 of mass for phytic acid/chitosan versus 18.6 ± 1.5 for chitosan beads. The activity of HRP (free and immobilized) was examined in aqueous-nonaqueous mixtures (5:95) of dimethylformamide (DMF), hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), methanol (MeOH), acetonitrile (ACN), ethanol (EtOH), acetone, and propanol. Immobilized HRP showed good stability in DMF, MeOH, ACN, EtOH, and acetone, maintaining over 40% of its initial activity after 6 h incubation in the solvent mixtures, demonstrating the successful use of phytic acid-chitosan as an enzyme support.

Phytic acid (PA), a naturally occurring phosphorylated anti-nutrient present in various food sources, exhibits both health benefits and adverse effects. Due to its strong metal-chelating ability, excessive intake can negatively impact human health, while its persistence in agricultural runoff also contributes to environmental pollution. Therefore, sensitive and reliable detection of PA is crucial for promoting both human well-being and sustainable development. In this study, we have developed and synthesized a series of metallosalen complexes containing zinc, copper, and iron centers. The zinc-based complexes exhibited high selectivity toward PA, showing a distinct fluorescence turn-off response accompanied by a visible color change from deep yellow to faint. Mechanistic investigations revealed that the observed quenching originated from PA-induced aggregation of the complexes via coordination through phosphate groups and electrostatic interactions. Notably, the dimeric zinc complex demonstrated a significantly stronger quenching effect compared to monomeric zinc complex, with a detection limit as low as 2.10 µM. In contrast, replacing zinc with iron resulted in a turn-off to turn-on response, attributed to demetallation of the iron complex upon PA addition, while the copper-based complex showed negligible interaction. Furthermore, the zinc complex with superior sensitivity was successfully applied for the quantification of PA in vegetable extracts such as carrot, soybean, and sesame seed, achieving excellent recovery rates between 97.2% and 115.2% with relative standard deviations (RSD) of 2-3.7%. Finally, a cellulose-based paper strip embedded with this zinc complex was fabricated for rapid, on-site PA detection.

Engineered phytic acid-lignin networks: one-pot strategy toward stable, multifunctional bio-based materials.

Conventional methods for recycling metals from the leachate of spent sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) cathodes encounter several challenges, such as high energy consumption, complicated process and environmental pollution. Herein, a capric acid-driven three-phase antisolvent precipitation (CTAP) strategy is used for the low-energy and sustainable recovery of metal and lixiviant from the leachate associated with SIBs cathode vanadium phosphate sodium (NVP) and low-melting mixture solvents (LoMMSs). The CTAP strategy results in a three-phase precipitation, with the upper layer representing the capric acid phase, the middle layer consisting of the lixiviant phase, and the bottom layer comprising the solid phase. Through the CTAP strategy, capric acid achieves the antisolvent precipitation efficiencies of 86.8% for Na and 50.5% for V when applied to leachate from NVP and LoMMS polyethylene glycol 200:phytic acid; nevertheless, capric acid is ineffective in precipitating metals from leachate derived from LoMMSs that combine polyethylene glycol 200 with citric acid, benzoic acid, urea, or acetamide. Additionally, the LoMMSs using polyethylene glycol 200:phytic acid as the lixiviant achieve maximum leaching efficiencies of 99.1% for Na and 94.4% for V from NVP at a mild temperature of 80 °C over 24 hours, with a liquid-to-solid ratio of 200 after optimizing factors, such as hydrogen bond donors, molar ratios, temperature, time, liquid-to-solid ratio and scalability. This work provides an energy-saving, process-simplified and eco-friendly strategy for the separation of metals from SIBs leachate.