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The incidence of cognitive impairment is rising globally, but there is no effective therapy. Recent studies showed that fucoidan (Fuc), a sulfated polysaccharide enriched in brown algae, is widely used due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and prebiotic effects. However, the effects and mechanisms of Fuc on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuronal cell damage and cognitive impairment in mice need to be explored further. In the present study, we found that Fuc treatment protected HT22 cells from LPS-induced damage by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes. Fuc exerted neuroprotective effects in mice with LPS-induced cognitive impairment by ameliorating neuroinflammation, promoting neurogenesis, and reducing blood-brain barrier and intestinal barrier permeability. Mechanistically, Fuc supplement significantly restructured the gut microbiota composition, which may be related to glucose and fructose metabolism. In conclusion, Fuc ameliorated LPS-induced neuronal cell damage and cognitive impairment in mice, suggesting that Fuc may be a medicinal and food homologous functional agent to improve cognitive function. The possible mechanism by which Fucoidan ameliorates LPS-induced cognitive impairment in mice, especially by remodeling gut microbiota. [Display omitted] • Fuc protected HT22 cells from LPS-induced damage via the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome. • Fuc exerted neuroprotective effects on LPS-induced cognitive impairment by reducing BBB and gut permeability. • Fuc remodeled the gut microbiota, which may be related to glucose and fructose metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1) is one of the most widespread contaminants in agricultural commodities. Pleurotus eryngii (PE) is widely used as a feed additive for its anti-inflammatory properties, and its major active substance is believed to be polysaccharides. This study aims to explore the underlying mechanism of dietary PE polysaccharides alleviating AFB 1 -induced toxicity in ducks. The major monosaccharide components of PE polysaccharides were identified as glucose, mannose, galactose, glucuronic acid, and fucose. The results showed that dietary PE polysaccharides could alleviate liver inflammation, alleviate intestinal barrier dysfunction, and change the imbalanced gut microbiota induced by AFB 1 in ducks. However, PE polysaccharides failed to exert protective roles on the liver and intestine injury induced by AFB 1 in antibiotic-treated ducks. The PE + AFB 1 -originated microbiota showed a positive effect on intestinal barrier and inflammation, the SCFAs transport via the gut-liver axis, and liver inflammation compared with the AFB 1 -originated microbiota in ducks. These findings provided a possible mechanism that PE polysaccharides alleviated AFB 1 -induced liver inflammation in ducks by remodeling gut microbiota, regulating microbiota-derived SCFAs transport via the gut-liver axis, and inhibiting inflammatory gene expressions in the liver, which may provide new insight for therapeutic methods against AFB 1 exposure in animals. [Display omitted] • PE polysaccharides alleviate the inflammation induced by AFB 1 in ducks. • PE polysaccharides fail to exert positive effects in antibiotics-treated ducks. • The transport of SCFAs plays an important role in regulating inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapeseed-derived peptides (RPPs) can maintain the homeostasis of human blood glucose by inhibiting Dipeptidyl Peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) and activating the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR). However, these peptides are susceptible to hydrolysis in the gastrointestinal tract. To enhance the therapeutic potential of these peptides, we developed a chitosan/sodium alginate-based nanocarrier to encapsulate two RPP variants, rapeseed-derived cruciferin peptide (RCPP) and rapeseed-derived napin peptide (RNPP). A convenient three-channel device was employed to prepare chitosan (CS)/sodium alginate (ALG)-RPPs nanoparticles (CS/ALG-RPPs) at a ratio of 1:3:1 for CS, ALG, and RPPs. CS/ALG-RPPs possessed optimal encapsulation efficiencies of 90.7 % (CS/ALG-RNPP) and 91.4 % (CS/ALG-RCPP), with loading capacities of 15.38 % (CS/ALG-RNPP) and 16.63 % (CS/ALG-RCPP) at the specified ratios. The electrostatic association between CS and ALG was corroborated by zeta potential and near infrared analysis. 13C NMR analysis verified successful RPPs loading, with CS/ALG-RNPP displaying superior stability. Pharmacokinetics showed that both nanoparticles were sustained release and transported irregularly (0.43 < n < 0.85). Compared with the control group, CS/ALG-RPPs exhibited significantly increased glucose tolerance, serum GLP-1 (Glucagon-like peptide 1) content, and CaSR expression which play pivotal roles in glucose homeostasis (* p < 0.05). These findings proposed that CS/ALG-RPPs hold promise in achieving sustained release within the intestinal epithelium, thereby augmenting the therapeutic efficacy of targeted peptides. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin is a biopolymer with high carbon content, making lignin-based carbon fiber an important research direction. In the process of carbonization to prepare carbon fibers, lignin fibers are easily softened and fused, which destroys the microstructure of fibers, thereby reducing the quality of lignin-based carbon fibers. Therefore, it is non-negligible to pre-oxidize lignin fibers before carbonization to prevent fiber fusion and maintain fiber structure. Therefore, the effects of pre-oxidation temperature and heating rate on the structure of pre-oxidation lignin fibers with controllable diameter and thickness prepared by melt-blowing were studied in detail. During pre-oxidation, crosslinking and aromatization of lignin fibers occurred, and alkyl and benzene rings were mainly oxidized to form carbonyl groups. The aromatization degree of the pre-oxidized product was recorded at 280 °C and 0.25 °C/min, and the oxygen content reached 15 %–20 %, making it suitable for the preparation of bio-based carbon fibers. On this basis, carbon fibers with porous morphology can be prepared with a graphitization of 0.54 and a resistivity of 0.02 Ω cm−1. These materials are expected to be applicable in sensors, catalytic materials and other fields. [Display omitted] • The pre-oxidation temperature of lignin impacts the carbon fiber properties. • The heating rate of lignin impacts the carbon fiber properties. • The optimum condition to produce is heating up to 280 °C at 0.25 °C/min. • Lignin-based carbon fiber has high graphitization and high electrical conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chitin-based magnetic hyper-cross-linked polymer (labeled as Ch-MHCP) has been successfully synthesized and utilized for highly-effective solid-phase extraction of neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs). The extraction capability of Ch-MHCP for four common NEOs is higher than that of four commercial sorbents including octadecyl-silane C18, oasis hydrophilic/lipophilic balanced sorbent, oasis mixed anion sorbent and poly-phenylacetic mixed anion sorbent. The large number of hydroxyl and amide groups as well as benzene rings in Ch-MHCP allow the H-bond and π-π* interaction to be the principal adsorption mechanism of Ch-MHCP for NEOs. Besides, polar interaction was also involved in the adsorption process. In combination of Ch-MHCP based extraction technique with high-performance liquid chromatography, a novel analytical method for sensitive detection of NEOs in lemon juice and tomatoes has been established. At optimal conditions, wide linear ranges were obtained to be 0.20–100 ng mL−1 for lemon juice and 0.80–1000 ng g−1 for tomatoes. The detection limits were 0.06–0.12 ng mL−1 for lemon juice and 0.24–0.60 ng g−1 for tomatoes. This work not only provides a powerful tool for simultaneously detecting four NEOs in lemon juice and tomatoes, but also offers a new insight into the preparation of bio-based magnetic sorbents for adsorption/removal of pollutants. • A chitin-based magnetic bio-sorbent (Ch-MHCP) was synthesized for the first time. • Ch-MHCP exhibited good adsorption performance to neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs). • A Ch-MHCP based MSPE-HPLC-DAD method was developed to determine four NEOs. • Hydrogen bond and π-π interaction were proved to be the main adsorption mechanism. • Ch-MHCP holds great application prospect in adsorption of a variety of pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chitin-based magnetic hyper-cross-linked polymer (labeled as Ch-MHCP) has been successfully synthesized and utilized for highly-effective solid-phase extraction of neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs). The extraction capability of Ch-MHCP for four common NEOs is higher than that of four commercial sorbents including octadecyl-silane C18, oasis hydrophilic/lipophilic balanced sorbent, oasis mixed anion sorbent and poly-phenylacetic mixed anion sorbent. The large number of hydroxyl and amide groups as well as benzene rings in Ch-MHCP allow the H-bond and π-π* interaction to be the principal adsorption mechanism of Ch-MHCP for NEOs. Besides, polar interaction was also involved in the adsorption process. In combination of Ch-MHCP based extraction technique with high-performance liquid chromatography, a novel analytical method for sensitive detection of NEOs in lemon juice and tomatoes has been established. At optimal conditions, wide linear ranges were obtained to be 0.20–100 ng mL−1 for lemon juice and 0.80–1000 ng g−1 for tomatoes. The detection limits were 0.06–0.12 ng mL−1 for lemon juice and 0.24–0.60 ng g−1 for tomatoes. This work not only provides a powerful tool for simultaneously detecting four NEOs in lemon juice and tomatoes, but also offers a new insight into the preparation of bio-based magnetic sorbents for adsorption/removal of pollutants. • A chitin-based magnetic bio-sorbent (Ch-MHCP) was synthesized for the first time. • Ch-MHCP exhibited good adsorption performance to neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs). • A Ch-MHCP based MSPE-HPLC-DAD method was developed to determine four NEOs. • Hydrogen bond and π-π interaction were proved to be the main adsorption mechanism. • Ch-MHCP holds great application prospect in adsorption of a variety of pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an attempt to diversify lignin applications, in this study, electrospun mats composed of ultrathin carbon fibers from Eucalyptus globulus Lignin (EKL) and sugarcane bagasse Kraft lignin (BKL) capable of detecting certain human body motions were fabricated and their chemical structures fully investigated accordingly. Results suggested that the main chemical structure of EKL was slightly linear with sinapyl alcohol and coniferyl alcohol as the basic units and pinoresinol, arylglycerol- β -aryl ether, phenylcoumaran, with diphenylethane as the main linkages. The slightly linear EKL and cross-linked BKL tended to form amorphous carbon and graphite crystallites under the same heat treatment process respectively, thereby resulting in a large difference in the resistance of fabricated sensors. The amplitude of signals due to changes in the relative resistance (△R/R 0) for EKL ultrathin carbon fiber (CF)-based sensor was approximately 9 × 104 during the finger bending process, while large (△R/R 0 ~380) and small (△R/R 0 < 10) relative resistance variations due to BKL-CF-based sensors were detected during the arm bending and finger pressing motions respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ulva prolifera macroalgae blooming caused by water eutrophication seriously affects the marine ecological environment. Exploring an efficient approach to turning algae biomass waste into high-value-added products is significant. The present work aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of the bioactive polysaccharide extraction from Ulva prolifera and to evaluate its potential biomedical application. A short autoclave process was proposed and optimized using the response surface methodology to extract Ulva polysaccharides (UP) with high molar mass. Our results indicated that UP with high molar mass (9.17 × 105 g/mol) and competitive radical scavenging activity (up to 53.4 %) could be effectively extracted with the assistance of Na 2 CO 3 (1.3 %, wt.) at a solid-liquid ratio of 1/10 in 26 min. The obtained UP mainly composes of galactose (9.4 %), glucose (73.1 %), xylose (9.6 %), and mannose (4.7 %). The biocompatibility of the UP and its potential application as a bioactive ingredient in 3D cell culture has been evaluated and confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy and fluorescence microscope imaging inspection. This work demonstrated the feasibility of extracting bioactive sulfated polysaccharides with potential applications in biomedicine from biomass waste. Meanwhile, this work also provided an alternative solution to deal with the environmental challenges incurred by algae blooming worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocellulose-based biomaterials have gained significant attention in various fields, especially in medical and pharmaceutical areas, due to their unique properties, including non-toxicity, high specific surface area, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and abundant feasible and sophisticated strategies for functional modification. The biosafety of nanocellulose itself is a prerequisite to ensure the safe and effective application of biomaterials as they interact with living cells, tissues, and organs at the nanoscale. Potential residual endogenous impurities and exogenous contaminants could lead to the failure of the intended functionalities or even serious health complications if they are not adequately removed and assessed before use. This review summarizes the sources of impurities in nanocellulose that may pose potential hazards to their biosafety, including endogenous impurities that co-exist in the cellulosic raw materials themselves and exogenous contaminants caused by external exposure. Strategies to reduce or completely remove these impurities are outlined and classified as chemical, physical, biological, and combined methods. Additionally, key points that require careful consideration in the interpretation of the biosafety evaluation outcomes were discussed to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the nanocellulose-based biomaterials in medical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution caused by bisphenol A (BPA) has become the world problem. Designing and preparing cost-effective and biodegradable sorbents for the effectively adsorptive removal of bisphenol A from wastewater is of immense significance. Herein, a natural polysaccharide (chitin) was used as raw materials to be grafted with styrene (GS), then crosslinked with α,α'-dichloro-p-xylene (DCX) to form the hyper-crosslinked polymer (labeled as CGS@DCX). The CGS@DCX showed high adsorptive affinity for bisphenol A, with adsorption capacity of 441 mg g−1. Various studies gave an insight into the adsorption process, demonstrating that the highly efficient adsorption of BPA by the CGS@DCX is mainly based on the π-π stacking, hydrogen-bond interaction, polar interaction and pore adsorption. Moreover, the CGS@DCX had high chemical stability, good reusability (9 cycles) and fast adsorption kinetics (10 min) for adsorption of BPA. This work provides a promising strategy for the design and synthesis of novel yet eco-friendly sorbents to solve environmental problems. • A bio-sorbent, CGS@DCX, is prepared using natural chitin as raw material. • CGS@DCX displays large adsorption capacity and fast adsorption rate towards BPA. • Multiple interaction forces promote the BPA adsorption on the CGS@DCX bio-sorbent. • The CGS@DCX exhibited good application prospect for removal of other pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hardwood Kraft lignin (HKL)-based ultrafine carbon fibers with different pore structures and properties were prepared by controlling the intermolecular interaction between HKL and incorporated poly(ethylene glycol)- block -poly(propylene glycol)- block -poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-PPG-PEG) triblock copolymer. The thermal properties of HKL-based ultrafine fibers together with the morphology and pore structures of HKL-based ultrafine carbon fibers were extensively investigated with DSC, TG, SEM, BET, DLS and HRTEM to provide comprehensive knowledge on the effect of added PEG-PPG-PEG on the properties of obtained fibers. Results suggested that addition of PEG-PPG-PEG increased the thermal stability of HKL and promoted the formation of graphite crystallites in HKL-based ultrafine carbon fibers via enhanced intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions. The electrochemical behavior of HKL-based ultrafine carbon fibers with different PEG-PPG-PEG contents were also characterized to expand their potential application in electrochemical capacitors. All the HKL ultrafine carbon fibers-based electrodes showed good capacitive behavior and stability. Besides, the specific capacitance of HKL-based ultrafine carbon fibers can be significantly tuned by the addition of PEG-PPG-PEG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We identified and characterized a novel superoxide dismutase (SOD), designated as CcSOD1, from the cDNA library from the tentacle tissue of the jellyfish Cyanea capillata. The full-length cDNA sequence of CcSOD1 consists of 745 nucleotides with an open reading frame encoding a mature protein of 154 amino acids, sharing a predicted structure similar to the typical Cu/Zn-SODs. The CcSOD1 coding sequence was cloned into the expression vector pET-24a and successfully expressed in Escherichia coli Rosetta (DE3) pLysS. The recombinant protein rCcSOD1 was purified by HisTrap High Performance chelating column chromatography and analyzed for its biological function. Our results showed that the purified rCcSOD1 could inhibit superoxide anion and keep active in a pH interval of 4.5–9 and a temperature interval of 10–70°C. Even when heated at 70°C for 60 min, rCcSOD1 retained 100% activity, indicating a relatively high thermostability. These results suggest that CcSOD1 protein may play an important role in protecting jellyfish from oxidative damage and can serve as a new resource for antioxidant products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jellyfish grow rapidly and have a strong regenerative ability, indicating that they may express high levels of growth factors. Therefore, the aim of this research was to isolate the growth-promoting components from the jellyfish Cyanea capillata (C. capillata) and to further explore the underlying mechanisms. In this study, we first isolated and identified a novel polypeptide from C. capillata tentacles using size-exclusion chromatography followed by reverse-phase HPLC. This peptide, consisting of 58 amino acids (MW 5782.9 Da), belonged to the granulin (GRN) family of growth factors; thus, we named it Cyanea capillata granulin-1 (Cc GRN-1). Second, using CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, we verified that Cc GRN-1 at the 0.5 μg/ml concentration could promote cell proliferation and increase the expression of cell-cycle proteins (CyclinB1 and CyclinD1). Third, signaling pathways studies showed that Cc GRN-1 could activate the PI3K/Akt- and ERK1/2 MAPK–signaling pathways but not the JNK MAPK- or NF-κB-signaling pathways. Subsequently, we further confirmed that the Cc GRN-1-induced cell proliferation and migration were associated only with the ERK1/2 MAPK–signaling pathway. Considering all of these factors, Cc GRN-1, as the first jellyfish-derived GRN homologue, possesses growth-promoting properties and may be a candidate for novel therapeutics to promote human wound healing in unfavorable conditions. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bacterium strain, designated as CMF-2, was isolated from the jellyfish Cyanea capillata and its culture supernatant exhibited a significant antimicrobial activity. The strain CMF-2 was identified as Pseudomonas sp. based on the morphological, biochemical and physiological characteristics as well as 16S rRNA sequence analysis. In this study, an antimicrobial protein, named as CAP-1, was isolated from the culture of CMF-2 through ammonium sulfate precipitation and gel filtration chromatography. According to the result of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), a major band indicated that the antimicrobial protein had a molecular mass of about 15 kDa, and it was identified as a hypothetical protein by MALDI-TOF-MS analysis and Mascot searching. CAP-1 displayed a broad antimicrobial spectrum against the indicator bacteria and fungus, including Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans , especially some marine-derived microorganisms such as Vibrio vulnificus , Vibrio alginolyticus , Vibrio parahaemolyticus , Vibrio cholera , and Vibrio anguillarum , but showed little impact on tumor cells and normal human cells. The protein CAP-1 remained a stable antimicrobial activity in a wide range of temperature (20–80 °C) and pH (2–10) conditions. These results suggested that CAP-1 might have a specific antimicrobial function not due to cytotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]