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L-asparaginase (L-ASNase) is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of L-asparagine to L-aspartic acid and ammonia and is used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It is also toxic to the cells of some solid tumors, including melanoma cells. Immobilization of this enzyme can improve its activity against melanoma tumor cells. In this work, the properties of bacterial cellulose (BC) and feasibility of BC films as a new carrier for immobilized L-ASNase were investigated. Different values of growth time were used to obtain BC films with different thicknesses and porosities, which determine the water content and the ability to adsorb and release L-ASNase. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the adsorption of the enzyme on the BC films. The total activity of adsorbed L-ASNase and its release were investigated for films grown for 48, 72 or 96 h. BC films grown for 96 h showed the most pronounced release as described by zero-order and Korsmayer-Peppas models. The release was characterized by controlled diffusion where the drug was released at a constant rate. BC films with immobilized L-ASNase could induce cytotoxicity in A875 human melanoma cells. With further development, immobilization of L-ASNase on BC may become a potent strategy for anticancer drug delivery to superficial tumors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This research is dedicated to the studies of the microscale morphology of bacterial cellulose (BC) obtained by means of static cultivation of Gluconacetobacter hansenii GH-1/2008. We found that the microscale morphology depended on the BC production rate that was varied by using different glucose concentrations in the cultivation medium. It was revealed that at higher production rates, BC fibrils were aligned in a liquid-crystalline-like (LC-like) order. The observed helical alignment was always left-handed. The half-periods of the helix varied from 50 μm to 150 μm depending on the cultivation conditions. The mechanical and water absorption properties of the obtained BC pellicles were measured. The former correlated mainly with the density of the samples; the latter were the best for films with layered structure, where the BC had segregated into fleece sheets separated by gaps with low density of fibrils., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A biosafety study was carried out concerning the metabolites of Streptomyces tauricus strain 19/97 M. This strain is a promising producer of biological preparations and shows antagonistic properties against Fusarium fungi, which cause Fusarium wilt disease. The strain has a pronounced biological activity against conifers, cereals and legumes. The treatment of planting material reduces infections, increases germination and furthers plant productivity. Using metabolites, we understood the culture liquid separated by filtration after the cultivation of the strain. Animals of different taxonomic affiliations were used as test objects: (CBA × C57BI/6) F1 hybrid mice ( Mus musculus) (warm-blooded organisms), Daphnia magna Straus (planktonic crustaceans) and the unicellular alga Chlorella vulgaris Beijer . In the study, we were guided by the test standards for acute oral toxicity and irritation to the skin, mucous membranes of the eyes and inhalation toxicity. The research results showed that the metabolites of the strain are not acutely toxic to organisms of different taxonomic levels. The metabolites of the strain do not have an irritating effect on the skin and mucous membranes of warm-blooded animals. Based on the studies carried out, metabolites can be used for creating a fungicidal biological preparation.

The functionalization of the bacterial cellulose (BC) surface with a chitosan biopolymer to expand the areas of possible applications of the modified BC is an important scientific task. The creation of such composites in the carbonic acid solutions that were performed in this work has several advantages in terms of being biocompatible and eco-friendly. Quantitative analysis of chitosan content in the composite was conducted by tritium-labeled chitosan radioactivity detection method and this showed three times increased chitosan loading. Different physicochemical methods showed successful incorporation of chitosan into the BC matrix and interaction with it through hydrogen bonds. Microscopy results showed that the chitosan coating with a thickness of around 10 nm was formed in the bulk of BC, covering each microfibril. It was found that the inner specific surface area increased 1.5 times on deposition of chitosan from the solutions in carbonic acid., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A stable preparation of agaricinic acid nanoparticles was obtained. The mean hydrodynamic size of nanoparticles according to photon correlation spectroscopy was 200 nm and zeta potential was -57 mV. Cytotoxic activity of agaricinic acid nanoparticles against human HepG2 hepatoma cells was evaluated. Nanoparticles with a low concentration of agaricinic acid stimulated and with high concentration - suppressed metabolic activity and viability of hepatoma cells. The EC 50 for the stimulating effect was 32.8 μg/ml, and the IC 50 =602.1 mg/ml. The preparation of agaricinic acid nanoparticles can be used in medicine as a potential antitumor agent.

In this paper, we perform a systematic analysis of the structural organization of bacterial cellulose (BC). We report four types of organization of the BC mass, produced by Gluconacetobacter hansenii that occur depending on cultivation conditions. Two of those, particularly, plywood type one and layers of micro-sized tubes were observed and described for the first time. In spherical BC particles (pellets), we found the layered structure that had previously been reported for planar geometry only. We suggest a model explaining why layers form in BC films and attempt to reveal the impact of different factors on the BC microscale morphology. We assume that the main factor that has direct impact on the type of structure formed is the rate of BC mass accumulation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest, (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Quantitative measurement of pH and metabolite gradients by microscopy is one of the challenges in the production of scaffold-grown organoids and multicellular aggregates. Herein, we used the cellulose-binding domain (CBD) of the Cellulomonas fimi CenA protein for designing biosensor scaffolds that allow measurement of pH and Ca 2+ gradients by fluorescence intensity and lifetime imaging (FLIM) detection modes. By fusing CBD with pH-sensitive enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (CBD-ECFP), we achieved efficient labeling of cellulose-based scaffolds based on nanofibrillar, bacterial cellulose, and decellularized plant materials. CBD-ECFP bound to the cellulose matrices demonstrated pH sensitivity comparable to untagged ECFP (1.9-2.3 ns for pH 6-8), thus making it compatible with FLIM-based analysis of extracellular pH. By using 3D culture of human colon cancer cells (HCT116) and adult stem cell-derived mouse intestinal organoids, we evaluated the utility of the produced biosensor scaffold. CBD-ECFP was sensitive to increases in extracellular acidification: the results showed a decline in 0.2-0.4 pH units in response to membrane depolarization by the protonophore FCCP. With the intestinal organoid model, we demonstrated multiparametric imaging by combining extracellular acidification (FLIM) with phosphorescent probe-based monitoring of cell oxygenation. The described labeling strategy allows for the design of extracellular pH-sensitive scaffolds for multiparametric FLIM assays and their use in engineered live cancer and stem cell-derived tissues. Collectively, this research can help in achieving the controlled biofabrication of 3D tissue models with known metabolic characteristics. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: We designed biosensors consisting of a cellulose-binding domain (CBD) and pH- and Ca 2+ -sensitive fluorescent proteins. CBD-tagged biosensors efficiently label various types of cellulose matrices including nanofibrillar cellulose and decellularized plant materials. Hybrid biosensing cellulose scaffolds designed in this study were successfully tested by multiparameter FLIM microscopy in 3D cultures of cancer cells and mouse intestinal organoids., (Copyright © 2018 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The Trichoderma citrinoviride VKPM F-1228 strain produces a complex of peptide-based antibiotics with antibacterial and antimycotic action. Synthesis of peptaibols is closely related to the conidiogenesis in the culture. The optimal procedure of the strain cultivation for production of peptaibols is stationary growing for 14 days at a temperature of 28 degrees C and pH 7.5 followed by formation of a dense mycelium film on the modified Saburo medium containing 30 gr/l of glucose and 12.5 gr/l of peptone. Eight individual peptaibols were extracted. The spectrum of their activity was estimated with the use of opportunistic bacteria and micromycetes as well as pathogenic clinical aspergilli. Compounds 9, 13, 14, 15 and 16 were shown active against opportunistic fungi and bacteria including methicillin resistant S. aureus, whereas compounds 9, 13 and 14 in addition showed antimycotic activity against clinical aspergilli.