Sulfate Ester Research Articles

Rationalizing Counterion Selection for the Development of Lipophilic Salts: A Case Study with Venetoclax.

The use of lipid-based formulations (LBFs) can be hindered by low dose loading due to solubility limitations of candidate drugs in lipid vehicles. Formation of lipophilic salts through pairing these drugs with a lipophilic counterion has been demonstrated as a potential means to enhance dose loading in LBFs. This study investigated the screening of appropriate counterions to form lipophilic salts of the BCS class IV drug venetoclax. The physical properties, lipid solubility, and in vitro performance of the salts were analyzed. This study illustrated the versatility of alkyl sulfates and sulfonates as suitable counterions in lipophilic salt synthesis with up to ∼9-fold higher solubility in medium- and long-chain LBFs when compared to that of the free base form of venetoclax. All salts formulated as LBFs displayed superior in vitro performance when compared to the free base form of the drug due to the higher initial drug loadings in LBFs and increased affinity for colloidal species. Further, in vitro studies confirmed that venetoclax lipophilic salt forms using alkyl chain counterions demonstrated comparable in vitro performance to venetoclax docusate, thus reducing the potential for laxative effects related to docusate administration. High levels of the initial dose loading of venetoclax lipophilic salts were retained in a molecularly dispersed state during dispersion and digestion of the formulation, while also demonstrating increased levels of saturation in biorelevant media. The findings of this study suggest that alkyl chain sulfates and sulfonates can act as a suitable alternative counterion to docusate, facilitating the selection of counterions that can unlock the potential to formulate venetoclax as an LBF.

Cytosolic sulfotransferases in endocrine disruption.

The mammalian cytosolic sulfotransferases (SULTs) catalyze the sulfation of endocrine hormones as well as a broad array of drugs, environmental chemicals, and other xenobiotics. Many endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) interact with these SULTs as substrates and inhibitors, and thereby alter sulfation reactions responsible for metabolism and regulation of endocrine hormones such as estrogens and thyroid hormones. EDCs or their metabolites may also regulate expression of SULTs through direct interaction with nuclear receptors and other transcription factors. Moreover, some sulfate esters derived from EDCs (EDC-sulfates) may serve as ligands for endocrine hormone receptors. While the sulfation of an EDC can lead to its excretion in the urine or bile, it may also result in retention of the EDC-sulfate through its reversible binding to serum proteins and thereby enable transport to other tissues for intracellular hydrolysis and subsequent endocrine disruption. This mini-review outlines the potential roles of SULTs and sulfation in the effects of EDCs and our evolving understanding of these processes.

Experimental methods in chemical engineering: Karl Fischer titration

AbstractKarl Fischer titration (KF) measures the water content in organic and inorganic compounds. Water reacts with a titrant solution containing iodine and a sulphurous monoalkyl ester to produce a monoalkyl sulphate ester and HI. In volumetric titrators, a burette injects the titrant directly into a cell while coulometric titrators generate titrant in situ. Regardless of the volume of the sample, volumetric titration is limited to 100 mg, while coulometric titration is best suited for . KF is fast (), considered accurate (), and precise (). However, factors such as humidity, non‐standard analytes (hexane, isopropanol, ethylene glycol), tritrant composition, and temperature compromise its repeatability: the % sample standard deviation, (), varied from 2% to 60% (). This high variability is, in part, due to the experimental design that included samples and conditions ill‐suited for the technique. However, even for the tests for which KF is suitable, . Certain compounds react with the titrant, which increases the variability. The main sources of error affecting the analysis are ambient moisture, pH, solvent, sample handling, and titration speed. As of 2023, the Web of Science has indexed 1332 articles with Karl Fischer as a key word (Topic), but more than 3600 mentioning the technique (All fields). A bibliometric analysis classifies these contributions into five clusters: spectroscopy, stability, temperature, solubility, and mixtures.

Algae polysaccharide-induced transport transformation of nanoplastics in seawater-saturated porous media

This study examined the distinct effects of algae polysaccharides (AP), namely sodium alginate (SA), fucoidan (FU), and laminarin (LA), on the aggregation of nanoplastics (NP) in seawater, as well as their subsequent transport in seawater-saturated sea sand. The pristine 50 nm NP tended to form large aggregates, with an average size of approximately 934.5 ± 11 nm. Recovery of NP from the effluent (Meff) was low, at only 18.2 %, and a ripening effect was observed in the breakthrough curve (BTC). Upon the addition of SA, which contains carboxyl groups, the zeta (ζ)-potential of the NP increased by 2.8 mV. This modest enhancement of electrostatic interaction with NP colloids led to a reduction in the aggregation size of NP to 598.0 ± 27 nm and effectively mitigated the ripening effect observed in the BTC. Furthermore, SA's adherence to the sand surface and the resulting increase in electrostatic repulsion, caused a rise in Meff to 27.5 %. In contrast, the introduction of FU, which contains sulfate ester groups, resulted in a surge in ζ-potential of the NP to -27.7 ± 0.76 mV. The intensified electrostatic repulsion between NP and between NP and sand greatly increased Meff to 45.6 %. Unlike the effects of SA and FU, the addition of LA, a neutral compound, caused a near disappearance of ζ-potential of NP (-3.25 ± 0.68 mV). This change enhanced the steric hindrance effect, resulting in complete stabilization of particles and a blocking effect in the BTC of NP. Quantum chemical simulations supported the significant changes in the electrostatic potential of NP colloids induced by SA, FU and LA. In summary, the presence of AP can induce variability in the mobility of NP in seawater-saturated porous media, depending on the nature of the weak, strong, or non-electrostatic interactions between colloids, which are influenced by the structure and functionalization of the polysaccharides themselves. These findings provide valuable insights into the complex and variable behavior of NP transport in the marine environment.

Applying a Phase-Separation Parameterization in Modeling Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation from Acid-Driven Reactive Uptake of Isoprene Epoxydiols under Humid Conditions.

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from acid-driven reactive uptake of isoprene epoxydiols (IEPOX) contributes up to 40% of organic aerosol (OA) mass in fine particulate matter. Previous work showed that IEPOX substantially converts particulate inorganic sulfates to surface-active organosulfates (OSs). This decreases aerosol acidity and creates a viscous organic-rich shell that poses as a diffusion barrier, inhibiting additional reactive uptake of IEPOX. To account for this "self-limiting" effect, we developed a phase-separation box model to evaluate parameterizations of IEPOX reactive uptake against time-resolved chamber measurements of IEPOX-SOA tracers, including 2-methyltetrols (2-MT) and methyltetrol sulfates (MTS), at ~ 50% relative humidity. The phase-separation model was most sensitive to the mass accommodation coefficient, IEPOX diffusivity in the organic shell, and ratio of the third-order reaction rate constants forming 2-MT and MTS ( ). In particular, had to be lower than 0.1 to bring model predictions of 2-MT and MTS in closer agreement with chamber measurements; prior studies reported values larger than 0.71. The model-derived rate constants favor more particulate MTS formation due to 2-MT likely off-gassing at ambient-relevant OA loadings. Incorporating this parametrization into chemical transport models is expected to predict lower IEPOX-SOA mass and volatility due to the predominance of OSs.

Insights on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Carbohydrate Binding from Profiles of Cystic Fibrosis Isolates Using Multivalent Fluorescent Glycopolymers Bearing Pendant Monosaccharides.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa contributes to frequent, persistent, and, often, polymicrobial respiratory tract infections for individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). Chronic CF infections lead to bronchiectasis and a shortened lifespan. P. aeruginosa expresses numerous adhesins, including lectins known to bind the epithelial cell and mucin glycoconjugates. Blocking carbohydrate-mediated host-pathogen and intra-biofilm interactions critical to the initiation and perpetuation of colonization offer promise as anti-infective treatment strategies. To inform anti-adhesion therapies, we profiled the monosaccharide binding of P. aeruginosa from CF and non-CF sources, and assessed whether specific bacterial phenotypic characteristics affected carbohydrate-binding patterns. Focusing at the cellular level, microscopic and spectrofluorometric tools permitted the solution-phase analysis of P. aeruginosa binding to a panel of fluorescent glycopolymers possessing distinct pendant monosaccharides. All P. aeruginosa demonstrated significant binding to glycopolymers specific for α-D-galactose, β-D-N-acetylgalactosamine, and β-D-galactose-3-sulfate. In each culture, a small subpopulation accounted for the binding. The carbohydrate anomeric configuration and sulfate ester presence markedly influenced binding. While this opportunistic pathogen from CF hosts presented with various colony morphologies and physiological activities, no phenotypic, physiological, or structural feature predicted enhanced or diminished monosaccharide binding. Important to anti-adhesive therapeutic strategies, these findings suggest that, regardless of phenotype or clinical source, P. aeruginosa maintain a small subpopulation that may readily associate with specific configurations of specific monosaccharides. This report provides insights into whole-cell P. aeruginosa carbohydrate-binding profiles and into the context within which successful anti-adhesive and/or anti-virulence anti-infective agents for CF must contend.

Preparation of magnetic Fe3O4/PAM composite microspheres by inverse emulsion polymerization

The stable micro-aqueous groups (MAGs) were prepared by using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sorbitan fatty acid ester (Span80) as emulsifiers. Fe3O4/PAM composite microspheres (CMPs) were obtained by inverse emulsion polymerization in MAGs. The experimental results showed that the size of the spherical Fe3O4/PAM CMPs was about 135-420nm and the saturation magnetization value of them was about 23.3emu/g. In the Fe3O4/PAM CMPs, the mass fraction of PAM was about 76.5%. The viscosity of the emulsion containing Fe3O4/PAM CMPs increased with the increase of current and decreased with the increase of shear rate

Acetylation of cotton knitted fabrics for improved quick drying after water absorption

Quick drying after water or sweat absorption is an important function of underwear. In this study, the hydroxy groups of cotton knitted fabrics (CFs) were partially acetylated, maintaining the original fabric structure. The following three heterogeneous acetylation processes were used: Ac-I (Ac2O/H2SO4/toluene), Ac-II (Ac2O/H2SO4/AcOH/water), and Ac-III (Ac2O/AcONa) systems (Ac2O, acetic anhydride; AcOH, acetic acid; AcONa, sodium acetate). Acetylated cotton knitted fabrics (AcCFs) with degree of substitution (DS) ≤ 0.5 and yields of > 80% were prepared. AcCFs prepared with the Ac-III system gave high degree of polymerization (DP) values of > 1500, whereas those prepared with the Ac-II system exhibited low DP values of ≤ 400. The moisture contents of AcCFs at 20 °C and 65% relative humidity decreased from 7.1 to 4.7% with increasing DS value up to 0.46; introducing hydrophobic acetyl groups into the CFs decreased their hydrophilic nature. Quick drying similar to that of a polyester fabric was achieved for some of the AcCFs with DS values of < 0.2. When the acetyl groups in the AcCFs were homogeneously distributed across each fiber width (achieved for AcCFs prepared with the Ac-II system), quick drying was evident in the AcCFs. The crystallinities and crystal widths of cellulose I for the AcCFs with DS values of ≤ 0.28 were almost unchanged compared with those of the original CFs. However, neither the crystallinities nor crystal widths of cellulose I were directly related to quick drying after water absorption. Thermal degradation of the AcCFs varied between the acetylation systems, and depended on the DP values and/or the presence of sulfate ester groups in the AcCFs.Graphical

The effect of Ni- and Mo-based materials on thermochemical sulfate reduction by glycerol under hydrothermal process conditions

Catalytic hydrothermal gasification (cHTG) is a sustainable and promising route to convert wet biomass into renewable methane, but the catalyst is deactivated by small amounts of soluble sulfate stemming from the biomass feedstock. Under hydrothermal conditions, sulfate can be converted to the strong catalyst poisons thiols or sulfides by thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR). In this work, we explored the extent to which TSR occurs under conditions relevant to cHTG operation, along with the impact of various materials on the reaction. Our results indicated that within 60 min, an aqueous solution of 20 wt% glycerol and 10 mM potassium sulfate at 25 MPa started to produce organosulfur compounds at ca. 420–440 °C, with yields for the volatile ones of 3% and 6% at 440 °C and 490 °C, respectively. The main products were non-volatile organosulfur compounds (NVOSC), which were tentatively identified as sulfate esters of glycerol or of glycerol decomposition products. A smaller fraction of products consisted of volatile organosulfur compounds (VOSC). The VOSC identified from the TSR with glycerol were mostly alkyl thiophenes, as well as methanethiol, disulfides and trisulfides with no evidence of H2S formed. Ni-, Mo-, or NiMox-based materials did not show any catalytic effect on sulfate reduction, independent of the sulfidation of the material. Glycerol was proven to be much more reactive towards TSR than acetone, as no TSR products could be observed when acetone was used as a reducing agent. A reaction pathway for the formation of thiophenes from H2S and glycerol is proposed that consists of the dehydration of glycerol, the formation of CO and H2 from glycerol decomposition, hydroformylation of acrolein, and the Paal-Knorr synthesis with succinaldehyde and H2S as intermediates.

Effect of concentration of kappa-carrageenan on the physico-chemical properties of rice starch film

This study aimed to enhance the properties of rice starch (RS) and kappa-carrageenan (KC) edible film. The properties were observed at various RS/KC ratios (0.5 to 2.5 w/v) and glycerol (1% w/v). The highest tensile strength was at the ratio of RC/KC (1:1) of 1.7502 MPa, further addition of RC resulted in a decrease in tensile strength. The best elongation at break was also found in the variable with a RS/KC (1:1) of 39.7%. The highest solubility in RS/KC ratio was 0.5:1 which is 52.727%. The solubility of edible film in water decreased with the addition of rice starch concentration. The fourier transform infrared (FTIR) show the new peak in 3305 cm-1 indicate O-H groups, 2935 cm1 (asymmetric stretching vibration peak of C-H), 1023 cm-1 (interaction between the film structure and hydroxyl group of plasticizers) and 850 cm-1 (ester sulphate group).

Ulvans are not equal - Linkage and substitution patterns in ulvan polysaccharides differ with Ulva morphology

Ulva are hardy green seaweeds that contain the sulfated polysaccharide ulvan and grow in two distinct morphologies: foliose and tubular. The authors hypothesise that ulvan from tubular species are more structurally complex than ulvans from foliose species. Herein, using standardised methods, the glycosyl linkage positions and sulfate ester substitutions of constituent monosaccharides of ulvan isolated from foliose (U. lacinulata and U. stenophylloides) and tubular (U. prolifera and U. ralfsii) species of Ulva were investigated. Comparison of native ulvans with 80 and 100 °C desulfated counterparts indicated that 4-linked rhamnose is predominantly 3-O-sulfated in all four ulvans. Ulvans from the foliose species predominantly contained →3,4)-Rhap-(1→, →4)-GlcAp-(1→ and →4)-IdoAp-(1→, collectively accounting for 67 to 81 mol% of the total linkages. In contrast, these same linkages in ulvans from the tubular species only collectively accounted for 29 to 36 mol%. Instead, ulvan from tubular species contained a combination of →2,3,4)-Rhap-(1→, terminal Rhap-(1→, →4)-GlcAp-(1→, →4)-Xylp-(1→, and/or →4)-Galp-(1→ in high proportions; some of the latter three residues were also likely O-2 sulfated. The results presented here suggest that ulvan from foliose species are predominantly unbranched polysaccharides composed of repeat disaccharides while ulvans from tubular species contain a greater diversity of branch and sulfate substitution locations.

Molecular structure effects of passivation agents on the performance of perovskite solar cells

The performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is affected by a non-radiative recombination process involving defects in the perovskite films. To tackle this challenge, herein, aryl sulfonates and alkyl sulfates with distinct molecular structures, specifically sodium benzenesulfonate (SBS) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), as additives to passivate the defects in the methyl ammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) perovskite films. This study examines the impact of the molecular structure of these additives on both the characteristics of the perovskite films and the performance of the PSCs. The results demonstrate that both SBS and SDS, which contain –S-O- and Na+ ions in their structures, effectively increase the efficiency of PSCs. This improvement is attributed to the ability of these ions to interact with oppositely charged defects, leading to reduced trap densities in the perovskite films. Remarkably, SDS stands out with its long alkyl chain and a larger head group (C-O-S-O-) carrying a higher negative charge, showcasing superior defect passivation compared to SBS. The SBS molecule, on the other hand, features a phenyl group and a smaller head group (C-S-O-) with a reduced negative charge. This is primarily due to the significant role played by the phenyl ring in delocalizing the negative charge. As a result, the SDS-treated PSCs can achieve a remarkable champion power conversion efficiency of 20.70 %. Additionally, the contact angle of water on the SDS-treated perovskite films surpasses that on the SBS-treated film. This highlights an enhanced hydrophobic characteristic, ultimately bolstering the stability of SDS-treated PSCs.

Characterization of Organosulfates (OSs) in typical urban areas in Eastern China: Source, Process, and Volatility

Organosulfates (OSs) are an important component of secondary organic aerosols (SOA), accounting for ~30% of total organic aerosol. In this study, OSs in eastern China were investigated to understand their diurnal evolution, source, and volatility using high-resolution mass spectrometry. In polluted days, we identified a total of 5,147 organic molecules, including 1,206 OS molecules. The average molecular weight (m.w.) and carbon chain length of OSs in this study exceeded the commonly recognized range (500 Da). OSs were mostly composed of newly formed low oxidation state compounds as well as aged aliphatic and aromatic ones. The number and abundance of aromatic and aliphatic OSs with low saturation, volatility, O/Cw as well as H/Cw increased greatly with rising PM2.5 concentrations. The daytime photo-oxidation resulted in a large number of high m.w. (HMW, > 500 Da) OSs. OSs with m.w. <500 Da, and many oxygen atoms were newly generated during the nighttime, mainly dominated by liquid-phase oxidation processes. The result of OSs with higher m.w. and lower volatility was due to increased dimerization and oligomerization. During pollution formatting, OSs with small DBE values (between 0 and 6) appeared; meanwhile, the number of highly unsaturated OSs with DBE > 7 (mainly aromatic OSs) increased by about 34%. This study is useful for clarifying the secondary formation and properties of HMW OSs in a polluted environment in China.

Seasonal and taxa impact on edible sea cucumber's metabolome and in relation to its cytotoxicity as analyzed via UHPLC/HR‐MS/MS‐based molecular networking and chemometrics

AbstractSea cucumbers, belonging to class Holothuroidea, are marine invertebrates with substantial bioactive compounds. This study provides the first comparative metabolome profiling of Holothuria atra and Actinopyga crassa sea cucumbers in relation to their season of collection to dissect between winter and summer samples, providing several first‐time reported metabolites as well as the effect of metabolome variation on their cytotoxic activity against colon and prostate cancer cell lines. Ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with high‐resolution mass spectrometry and global natural products social molecular networking followed by multivariate data analysis were employed for metabolite profiling and seasonal biomarker assignment for each species. The cytotoxic activity was evaluated using in vitro assays against prostate and colon cancer cell lines. A total of 113 metabolites were annotated in both species, including 4 organic acids, 21 sulfoquinovosyl glycerol (sulfolipids), 5 alkyl sulfates, 13 sulfated/saponins, 8 sulfated/triterpene mono/di‐glycosides, 10 triterpenes, 13 sulfated/sterols, 32 phospholipids, 4 sphingolipids, and 3 glycerolipids, several of which are new or first‐time reported. Multivariate data analyses revealed lipid accumulation in summer samples versus triterpene and saponin enrichment in winter‐collected samples, particularly in H. atra, rationalizing its potent cytotoxic activity (IC50 6–12 µg/mL) as revealed using a regression model. However, winter‐collected samples of A. crassa are relatively the least abundant in antinutrient saponins, thus considered to have higher food value.

Effects of Opioid Withdrawal on Psychobiology in People Living with HIV.

Many persons with opioid use disorders (OUDs) have HIV disease and experience clinically significant stress after they enroll in abstinence-based treatment and undergo medically assisted withdrawal. We examined whether opioid withdrawal affects virologic control, inflammatory markers, cognition, and mood in persons with an OUD and HIV, and explored whether measures of withdrawal stress, such as activation of the HPA axis, contribute to alterations in immune function, cognition, and mood. Study participants were 53 persons with HIV who were admitted for OUD treatment at the City Addiction Hospital in Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation. Participants were examined at admission, at the anticipated peak of withdrawal 3 to 7 days after the last day of a clonidine-based withdrawal process lasting 7 to 14 days, and 3 to 4 weeks after completing withdrawal. At these times, participants received medical exams and were evaluated for symptoms of withdrawal, as well as cognition and mood. Viral load, plasma cortisol, DHEA sulfate ester (DHEA-S), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and soluble CD14 (sCD14) were determined. Multivariable models examined the relationships between markers of HPA activation and the other parameters over time. HPA activation as indexed by cortisol/DHEA-S ratio increased during withdrawal, as did markers of immune activation, IL-6 and sCD14. There were no significant associations between viral load and indicators of HPA activation. In longitudinal analyses, higher cortisol/DHEA sulfate was related to worse cognition overall, and more mood disturbance. Increase in IL-6 was associated with worse cognitive performance on a learning task. There were no significant associations with sCD14. Worsening of cognition and measures of mood disturbance during withdrawal were associated with activation of the HPA axis and some measures of inflammation. Whether repeated episodes of opioid withdrawal have a cumulative impact on long-term HIV outcomes and neurocognition is a topic for further investigation.

Many-body dissipative particle dynamics simulations of micellization of sodium alkyl sulfates.

We present a study of micelle formation in alkyl sulfate surfactants using the simulation method of many-body dissipative particle dynamics (MDPD). We parametrise our model by tuning the intermolecular interactions in order to reproduce experimental values for the chemical potential and density at room temperature. Using this approach, we find that our model shows good agreement with experimental values for the critical micelle concentration (CMC). Furthermore, we show that our model can accurately predict CMC trends, which result from varying properties such as surfactant tail length and the salt concentration. We apply our model to investigate the effect of aggregation number on various micellar properties, such as the shape of individual micelles and the fraction of bound counterions. We show that micelles become aspherical at large aggregation numbers, in line with experimental predictions, and that longer tail surfactants are generally more spherical at all aggregation numbers compared to those which are shorter. We find excellent agreement between our simulations and experimental values for the degree of counterion binding, a factor that is crucial to accurately studying micellar shape, but one that is typically overlooked in the existing literature.

Synthesis and Characterization of Cellulose Acetate from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFB) as Membrane Material

Indonesia is the world’s largest palm oil producer and exporter, can produce 230 kg of OPEFB. The utilization of OPEFB is still at 10%, even though OPEFB is composed of 37.26% cellulose. This research aims to find out how to synthesize and characterize cellulose acetate from OPEFB cellulose into membrane material. The synthesis of cellulose acetate using the acetylation method is carried out in several processes. The activation process expands the surface of the cellulose fibers. The acetylation process is intended to substitute cellulose hydroxyl groups with acetyl groups. The hydrolysis removes some acetyl groups from trimester cellulose and reduces the combination of sulfate esters. In the results of FTIR analysis, carbonyl groups (C=O) and acetyl groups (C-O) have high peak depths in OPEFB cellulose acetate. Based on the calculation of acetyl content, OPEFB cellulose acetate has an acetyl content of 39.82% with a degree of substitution of 2.44. The results of XRD analysis show that OPEFB cellulose acetate has a crystallinity index of 34.5%. In TGA analysis, the thermal stability of cellulose acetate is up to a temperature of 210°C. Based on the research results, OPEFB cellulose can be synthesized into cellulose acetate using the acetylation method.

A Plasmid-Borne Gene Cluster Flanked by Two Restriction-Modification Systems Enables an Arctic Strain of Psychrobacter sp. to Decompose SDS.

The cold-adapted Psychrobacter sp. strain DAB_AL62B, isolated from ornithogenic deposits on the Arctic island of Spitsbergen, harbors a 34.5 kb plasmid, pP62BP1, which carries a genetic SLF module predicted to enable the host bacterium to metabolize alkyl sulfates including sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), a common anionic surfactant. In this work, we experimentally confirmed that the pP62BP1-harboring strain is capable of SDS degradation. The slfCHSL genes were shown to form an operon whose main promoter, PslfC, is negatively regulated by the product of the slfR gene in the absence of potential substrates. We showed that lauryl aldehyde acts as an inducer of the operon. The analysis of the draft genome sequence of the DAB_AL62B strain revealed that the crucial enzyme of the SDS degradation pathway-an alkyl sulfatase-is encoded only within the plasmid. The SLF module is flanked by two restriction-modification systems, which were shown to exhibit the same sequence specificity. We hypothesize that the maintenance of pP62BP1 may be dependent on this unique genetic organization.

Fucoidan's Molecular Targets: A Comprehensive Review of Its Unique and Multiple Targets Accounting for Promising Bioactivities Supported by In Silico Studies.

Fucoidan is a class of multifunctional polysaccharides derived from marine organisms. Its unique and diversified physicochemical and chemical properties have qualified them for potential and promising pharmacological uses in human diseases, including inflammation, tumors, immunity disorders, kidney diseases, and diabetes. Physicochemical and chemical properties are the main contributors to these bioactivities. The previous literature has attributed such activities to its ability to target key enzymes and receptors involved in potential disease pathways, either directly or indirectly, where the anionic sulfate ester groups are mainly involved in these interactions. These findings also confirm the advantageous pharmacological uses of sulfated versus non-sulfated polysaccharides. The current review shall highlight the molecular targets of fucoidans, especially enzymes, and the subsequent responses via either the upregulation or downregulation of mediators' expression in various tissue abnormalities. In addition, in silico studies will be applied to support the previous findings and show the significant contributors. The current review may help in understanding the molecular mechanisms of fucoidan. Also, the findings of this review may be utilized in the design of specific oligomers inspired by fucoidan with the purpose of treating life-threatening human diseases effectively.

Binder‐free, non‐carcinogenic surfactant‐based cellulose‐rich bagasse foams as acoustic panels

AbstractToward identifying environmentally friendly sound‐absorbing materials, the fabrication of biodegradable bagasse foams and their acoustic absorption and transmission loss were investigated. 10‐mm‐thick bagasse foams were fabricated using different concentrations of four non‐carcinogenic surfactants: sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium bicarbonate (SB), potassium oleate (PO), and polyoxyethylene sorbitol ester (T20). Electron microscopy revealed that the foams comprised microfibers with a 10%–25% porosity. The foams were found to be thermally stable up to 300 °C. While foams fabricated using SDS were found to have a maximum increment in acoustic absorption (by 200%), those made of T20 had a mild decrease in absorption. The increment in absorption was attributed to the decrease in crystallinity and increase in porosity of microstructure, and the decrement to the decrease in viscous nature. Minimal changes were observed in the transmission loss of the foams. The results presented here demonstrate a simple, scalable green method to fabricate porous biodegradable foams of bagasse, without using any binder or filler, suitable for acoustic insulation that fits sustainable development objectives.