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Over the past five years, there has been growing interest in the design of modified cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as nanoscale antimicrobial agents in potential end-user applications such as food preservation/packaging, additive manufacturing, biomedical and water purification. The interest of applying CNCs-based antimicrobial agents arise due to their abilities to be derived from renewable bioresources and their excellent physicochemical properties including rod-like morphologies, large specific surface area, low toxicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability and sustainability. The presence of ample surface hydroxyl groups further allows easy chemical surface modifications for the design of advanced functional CNCs-based antimicrobial materials. Furthermore, CNCs are used to support antimicrobial agents that are subjected to instability issues. The current review summarizes recent progress in CNC-inorganic hybrid-based materials (Ag and Zn nanoparticles, other metal/metal oxide) and CNC-organic hybrid-based materials (polymers, chitosan, simple organic molecules). It focuses on their design, syntheses and applications with a brief discussion on their probable modes of antimicrobial action whereby the roles of CNCs and/or the antimicrobial agents are highlighted. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the immobilization of antibodies and enzymes on aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES)-functionalized bioanalytical platforms for biosensing and diagnostic devices. It discusses the role of immobilization strategies and their impact on sensitivity, detection limit and operational and storage stability. It further reflects on the advantages of APTES biosensors in analytical applications including easy preparation, stable monolayers and uniform immobilization surface.

Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), a rigid rod-like nanoscale material, can be produced from cellulosic biomass in powder, liquid, or gel forms by acid and chemical hydrolysis. Owing to its unique and exceptional physicochemical properties, the incorporation of a small amount of NCC into plastic enhances the mechanical strength of the latter by several orders of magnitudes. Carbohydrate-based NCC poses no serious environmental concerns, providing further impetus for the development and applications of this green and renewable biomaterial to fabricate lightweight and biodegradable composites and aerogels. Surface functionalization of NCC remains the main focus of NCC research to tailor its properties for dispersion in hydrophilic or hydrophobic media. It is of uttermost importance to develop tools and protocols for imaging of NCC in a complex matrix and quantify its reinforcement effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), a rod-shaped nanoscale material with exceptional strength and physicochemical properties, can be prepared from inexpensive renewable biomass. Besides its potential use as a reinforcing agent for industrial biocomposites, pristine NCC exhibits low toxicity and poses no serious environmental concerns, providing impetus for its use in bioapplications. Here, we review recent developments in the use of modified NCC for emerging bioapplications, specifically enzyme immobilization, antimicrobial and medical materials, green catalysis, biosensing and controlled drug delivery. We focus on the modification of NCC with chemical functionalities and inorganic nanoparticles, reviewing practical considerations such as reusability, toxicity and scale-up capability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Graphene, graphene oxide, sulfonated graphene, and sulfonated graphene oxide (SGO) have been prepared, characterized and tested for the dehydration of xylose to furfural in water. In particular, SGO was proven to be a rapid and water-tolerant solid acid catalyst even at very low catalyst loadings down to 0.5wt.% vs xylose, maintaining its initial activity after 12 tested repetitions at 200°C, with an average yield of 61% in comparison to 44% for the uncatalyzed system. Raman spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, 13C solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and surface area analysis suggested that the aryl sulfonic acid groups were the key active sites for high temperature production of furfural in water. They were more thermally stable under the reaction conditions and acidic than other functional groups attached to the graphene surface. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A construction project is mostly initiated by the needs of the client. In order to satisfy the client’s requirements in terms of time, cost, and quality, various procurement methods are recommended for selection to increase the chance of success for the complex sequence of activities. Design-build (D&B) integrates design and construction to overcome some of the hurdles inherent in the traditional design-bid-build method. It has been extensively used worldwide and its distinctive features are claimed to deal with the problems of the traditional design-bid-build method. An investigation into the determinants of successful D&B projects can therefore help set a benchmark study for industry practitioners to compare their project performance. To better indicate the success level of D&B projects, the writers developed a project success index for D&B projects in the Hong Kong context, which is assessed by the key project performance indicators of time, cost, quality, and functionality. Multiple regression analysis is then applied to show that the project nature, the effective project management action, and the adoption of innovative management approaches are the critical success factors for D&B projects. The identification of success criteria can furnish project participants with indicators to attain success for their D&B projects for benchmarking and control purposes. The predictors for D&B project success were also determined to enrich the knowledge base for the D&B procurement system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have emerged as a leading biomass-based nanomaterial owing to their unique functional properties and sustainable resourcing. Sulfated cellulose nanocrystals (sCNCs), produced by sulfuric acid-assisted hydrolysis of cellulose, is currently the predominant form of this class of nanomaterial; its utilization leads the way in terms of CNC commercialization activities and industrial applications. The functional properties, including high crystallinity, colloidal stability, and uniform nanoscale dimensions, can also be attained through carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals (cCNCs). Herein, we review recent progress in methods and feedstock materials for producing cCNCs, describe their functional properties, and discuss the initial successes in their applications. Comparisons are made to sCNCs to highlight some of the inherent advantages that cCNCs may possess in similar applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan is readily available from various biomass waste streams including crustaceans, cephalopods, insects, and fungus. The polymer possesses primary amine groups which are great handles for functionalization. Yet efficient functionalization with high degree of substitution is challenging to achieve via solvothermal methods due to limitations in chitosan solvation properties. Herein we report a mechanochemical and aging-based method directly addressing this point. Working in the solid phase helps stabilize the formation of Schiff bases from chitosan and aldehydes, affording a novel pathway to the green functionalization of chitosan by reductive alkylation, with unprecedentedly high degrees of substitution. The method showed great efficacy and compatibility for chitosan to be functionalized with 21 different aldehyde substrates and a low process mass intensity (PMI) of 36. This work also opens a new avenue for the development of mechanochemical and aging-based reductive amination transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-cell protein (SCP) is an evolving biotechnological concept that can potentially align protein production with the global sustainability commitment. This review presents an overview of SCP's current outlook, including production, commercial prospects, and sustainability status. It also elaborates on the potential of the evolving digital twin concept in improving SCP production's efficiency and sustainability performance. An expanding body of work was identified, with well-explored fermentative approaches and varying substrates and microbes. Whereas interest in first-generation substrates such as methane is gradually fading due to their high competitiveness and acquisition cost, second-generation substrates such as lignocellulosic materials and agro-industrial wastes are rapidly evolving due to their availability, low cost, appreciable nutrient density, and alignment with the circular bioeconomy path. Sustainability assessment of current production attaches substantial environmental, mainly global warming and land use offset, and economic savings to SCP production. Moreover, it emphasizes conventional energy use as a hotspot contributor to all impact categories. However, research on life cycle costing, social life cycle assessment, and environmental nutrition concepts is limited. Current trends project rapid market growth for SCP due to expanding feed, food, and nonfood applications. The rapid influx of transformative innovations such as mixed culture biotechnology and the emerging digital twin concept that present catalytic advantages in achieving market growth and sustainability cobenefits are backing these projections. Several sensor and predictive technologies are available to enable an SCP-digital twin path, presenting an opportunity to enhance green and precision SCP production. Despite these innovations, significant efforts are required to overcome limitations concerning toxicity, legislative restrictions, technical constraints, and consumer neophobia to bolster commerce and market value. [Display omitted] • Agro-industrial waste upcycling should frontline circular bioeconomy actions for value recovery. • Single Cell Protein production can align protein supply with global sustainability commitment. • Closing sustainability loop in pulse protein extraction with single cell protein pathway. • Combine environment, economic, social, and nutrition metrics in single cell protein assessment. • Adopt digital twin to for better control and optimization of single cell protein production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• %Amylose of pea flours had a good correlation with %starch (r = -0.990, p < 0.001). • %Amylose showed positive correlations with %protein and %dietary fiber (p < 0.001). • A higher amylose content increased starch gelatinization temp. of pea flours. • Pea flours with more amylose needed higher heating temp. to give viscosity and gel. • %Amylose increased %resistant starch but did not influence protein digestibility. In this study, ten pea flours covering a broad range of amylose content (37.2–77.6 %, dsb) were characterized for functional and nutritional properties. As the amylose contents increased, the starch contents of the pea flours showed a downward trend (r = -0.990, p < 0.001 in Pearson correlation) but their protein and total dietary fiber contents exhibited an upward trend (r = 0.915, p < 0.001 and r = 0.885, p < 0.001, respectively). A greater amylose content tended to increase starch gelatinization temperatures of the pea flours, which thus required a higher cooking temperature for pasting viscosity development and subsequent gel formation. An increased amylose level reduced in vitro starch digestibility of the cooked pea flours (r = -0.944, p < 0.001) but did not influence in vitro protein digestibility. The insightful findings will be valuable for utilizing the diverse pea lines to create new flour, starch, and protein ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is currently facing a global health crisis due to the rapid increase in antimicrobial-resistant bacterial infections. One of the most concerning pathogens is Acinetobacter baumannii, which is listed as a Priority 1 pathogen by the World Health Organization. This Gram-negative bacterium has many intrinsic antibiotic resistance mechanisms and the ability to quickly acquire new resistance determinants from its environment. A limited number of effective antibiotics against this pathogen complicates the treatment of A. baumannii infections. A potential treatment option that is rapidly gaining interest is "phage therapy", or the clinical application of bacteriophages to selectively kill bacteria. The myoviruses DLP1 and DLP2 (vB_AbaM-DLP_1 and vB_AbaM-DLP_2, respectively) were isolated from sewage samples using a capsule minus variant of A. baumannii strain AB5075. Host range analysis of these phages against 107 A. baumannii strains shows a limited host range, infecting 15 and 21 for phages DLP1 and DLP2, respectively. Phage DLP1 has a large burst size of 239 PFU/cell, a latency period of 20 min, and virulence index of 0.93. In contrast, DLP2 has a smaller burst size of 24 PFU/cell, a latency period of 20 min, and virulence index of 0.86. Both phages show potential for use as therapeutics to combat A. baumannii infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cationic nanomaterials are promising candidates for the development of effective antibacterial agents by taking advantage of the nanoscale effects as well as other exceptional physicochemical properties of nanomaterials. In this study, carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals (cCNCs) derived from softwood pulp were coated with cationic poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) of varying molecular weights. The resulting cationic carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals coated with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (cCNCs–PDDA) nanomaterials were characterized for their structural and morphological properties using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, elemental analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Cationic cCNCs–PDDA were investigated for their antibacterial properties against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli 23934 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using a bacterial lawn growth inhibition assay. cCNC–PDDA materials displayed marked antibacterial activity, particularly against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. Overall, our results indicated that cCNCs–PDDA could be a potential candidate for antibacterial applications such as antibacterial surfaces or coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumer demand for starch continues to grow to meet food consumption needs. However, starch producers are increasingly looking towards non-food, industrial applications to access new markets for revenue generation, while aiming for whole crop utilization to meet sustainability metrics. Native starch properties limit its utilization in many industrial applications, therefore, it is modified through different chemical, enzymatic, and physical processes. This review examines innovation in starch transformation processes, and how modified starch and its functional properties can be used in industrial applications beyond the traditional sectors of textiles and papermaking. Currently, the market value of modified starch is 2.7× greater than native starch and is anticipated to increase through next-generation applications (e.g. packaging, energy and regenerative medicine) enabled by emerging technologies in 3D printing and nanotechnology. Opportunities for increasing the use of other botanical starch sources besides industry-leading corn are also presented through the lens of global market trends. [Display omitted] • Non-food, industrial applications are identified as a means for starch producers to access new markets for revenue generation. • The utility of native starch is limited in most industrial applications. • The current market value for modified starch is 2.7× greater than native starch. • Recent advances in chemical, enzymatic, and physical modification of starch are presented. • Traditional and next-generation industrial applications are assessed based on research innovation and global market trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To unlock nature's potential for functional biomaterials, many efforts have been devoted to isolating the nanocrystalline domains within the supramolecular structure of polysaccharides. Yet, low reactivity and yield in aqueous systems along with excessive solvent usage hinders its development. In this report, the first solvent‐free pathway to access carboxylated chitin and cellulose nanocrystals with excellent mass balance is described, relying on a new method coined high‐humidity shaker aging (HHSA). The method involves a mild grinding of the polysaccharide with ammonium persulfate followed by an aging phase under high‐humidity and on a shaker plate. Insights into the mechanism were uncovered, which highlighted the unique role of high humidity to afford a gradual uptake of water by the material up to deliquescence when the reaction is complete. This process was then validated for direct synthesis of nanocrystals from biomass sources including crab and soft wood pulp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To unlock nature's potential for functional biomaterials, many efforts have been devoted to isolating the nanocrystalline domains within the supramolecular structure of polysaccharides. Yet, low reactivity and yield in aqueous systems along with excessive solvent usage hinders its development. In this report, the first solvent‐free pathway to access carboxylated chitin and cellulose nanocrystals with excellent mass balance is described, relying on a new method coined high‐humidity shaker aging (HHSA). The method involves a mild grinding of the polysaccharide with ammonium persulfate followed by an aging phase under high‐humidity and on a shaker plate. Insights into the mechanism were uncovered, which highlighted the unique role of high humidity to afford a gradual uptake of water by the material up to deliquescence when the reaction is complete. This process was then validated for direct synthesis of nanocrystals from biomass sources including crab and soft wood pulp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tough bioadhesion has important implications in engineering and medicine but remains challenging to form and control. We report an ultrasound (US)-mediated strategy to achieve tough bioadhesion with controllability and fatigue resistance. Without chemical reaction, the US can amplify the adhesion energy and interfacial fatigue threshold between hydrogels and porcine skin by up to 100 and 10 times. Combined experiments and theoretical modeling suggest that the key mechanism is US-induced cavitation, which propels and immobilizes anchoring primers into tissues with mitigated barrier effects. Our strategy achieves spatial patterning of tough bioadhesion, on-demand detachment, and transdermal drug delivery. This work expands the material repertoire for tough bioadhesion and enables bioadhesive technologies with high-level controllability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An improved enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assay using one-step antibody immobilization has been developed for the detection of human fetuin A (HFA), a specific biomarker for atherosclerosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The anti-HFA formed a stable complex with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) by ionic and hydrophobic interactions. The complex adsorbed on microtiter plates exhibited a detection range of 4.9 pg mL-1 to 20 ng mL-1 HFA, with a limit of detection of 7 pgmL-1. Furthermore, an analytical sensitivity of 10 pg mL-1 was achieved, representing a 51-fold increase in sensitivity over the commercial sandwich ELISA kit. The results obtained for HFA spiked in diluted human whole blood and plasma showed the same precision as the commercial kit. When stored at 4°C in 0.1 Mphosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4), the anti-HFA bound microtiter plates displayed no significant decrease in their functional activity after two months. The new ELISA procedure was extended for the detection of C-reactive protein, human albumin and human lipocalin-2 with excellent analytical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The huge worldwide demand for vaccines targeting SARS-CoV-2 has necessitated the continued development of novel improved formulations capable of reducing the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic. Herein, we evaluated novel protein subunit vaccine formulations containing a resistin-trimerized spike antigen, SmT1. When combined with sulfated lactosyl archaeol (SLA) archaeosome adjuvant, formulations induced robust antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses in mice. Antibodies had strong neutralizing activity, preventing viral spike binding and viral infection. In addition, the formulations were highly efficacious in a hamster challenge model reducing viral load and body weight loss even after a single vaccination. The antigen-specific antibodies generated by our vaccine formulations had stronger neutralizing activity than human convalescent plasma, neutralizing the spike proteins of the B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 variants of concern. As such, our SmT1 antigen along with SLA archaeosome adjuvant comprise a promising platform for the development of efficacious protein subunit vaccine formulations for SARS-CoV-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine biomass waste is a remarkable source of functional molecules and materials. Yet material extraction, conversion and processing are often chemically intensive, preventing the widespread and clean use of these abundant resources for high-end applications. Moreover, current challenges in biomedicine call for the design of novel materials with better functional and mechanical properties. Herein, we present a novel chemical process to afford chitosan nanocrystals (ChsNCs), which uniquely combine a high degree of deacetylation, rod shape and high crystallinity for mechanical robustness. This method is a simple solid-state aging process starting from chitin nanocrystals (ChNCs) and requiring limited chemical and energetic input, which we have quantified using process mass intensity as the sustainability metric. This method, as well as a previously reported solution-based method, afforded a family of novel nanomaterials, which we used to form alginate hydrogels. The resulting materials are the first examples of ChsNC-based hydrogels and featured superior performances in terms of both rheological properties, as well as sustained drug release, as compared to previously reported chitosan/alginate systems. This work opens an avenue for functional soft materials using a green resource via a clean process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Success has always been the ultimate goal of every activity, and a construction project is no exception. Due to the ambiguous definition of project success and the different perceptions of participants toward this concept, it may be difficult to tell whether a project is successful as there is a lack of consensus. Time, cost, and quality have long been the success criteria used to evaluate the performance of a construction project. However, such a list has been criticized as not being comprehensive. Even studies of the project success of a particular construction method, such as the design/build procurement system, are lacking in most previous research considering construction projects in general. This paper sets out to establish criteria for project success for a design/build project in construction, first by identifying relevant measures of project success for a construction project in past studies, with particular emphasis on design/build projects, and then by establishing a comprehensive assessment framework for project success for design/build projects. The significant impacts on the construction field of study, in terms of educational value and practical use, are also presented. With little research in the project success of design/build projects, the writers suggest a research focus for the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, the demand for protein continues to exceed its supply due to the geometric increase in population. For sustainability reasons, the high demand is leading to a shift in interest from animal-based protein, towards consuming high plant protein, sourced mainly from legumes and pulses. Traditional methods for protein extraction have been deployed to ensure availability and convenient utilization of these novel protein sources. Dry and wet fractionation are the two main categories of traditional protein extraction methods, with dry fractionation being more sustainable and frequently used. However, the repercussions trailing these methods keep encouraging research towards greener extraction pathways to ensure more protein availability and sustainability. The key drivers of this transition are increased yield, quality, uniformity and process eco-friendliness. Microwave, ultrasonic energy, pulse electric field, hydrodynamic cavitation extraction and tribo-electrostatic separation, among other novel technologies, appear to be the most likely techniques to dominate in the next few decades. This prospection hinges on available data of their performance efficiency in pulse / legume protein extraction and observed relatively higher yield potentials, protein quality, demand for less water, solvents and energy. The latter inarguably favors the food-energy-water nexus and could contribute considerably to environmental sustainability. Nonetheless, available knowledge cannot suffice effective and sustainable deployments of these techniques in legume protein extraction. Therefore, the gap on process performance and possible optimization of process parameters of these novel technologies deserves urgent attention. The product-process efficiency is highly critical for better understanding of the chances for process scale-up. This has been identified as the present stage of research in this domain. [Display omitted] • Pulses and legumes play essential roles in tackling food security problems globally. • Conventional legume protein extraction methods impact negatively on the environment. • Paucity of studies on green technologies in protein extraction limit their scale up. • With Green technologies, water-food-energy nexus future projection is achievable. • Ultrasound and dry fractionation offer desirable trade off to sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein extraction from pulses has received significant attention in the food processing industry, and as such, several studies have been conducted to develop new methods and to improve upon the conventional methods. In all these, a broad data synthesis to pool and analyze data from these studies to assess and understand the status quo of the pulse-protein extraction technologies, is still wanting. Therefore, there is the need to synthesize data reported by the extensive collection of studies to inform stakeholders on the right pathways for development, critical understanding, and optimization purposes. A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the efficiency of three main extraction processes under two performance indicators of efficiency -protein purity and protein recovery with data points from 41 published studies. The meta-analysis showed that processing conditions affect purity and recovery levels. Several investigations are still to be conducted to understand critical aspects of the pulse extraction processes. Challenges and hotspots requiring further research for a better understanding of some aspects of the extraction process are also presented. • Meta analysis of pulse protein extraction and its impacts on purity and recovery is conducted. • No significant observable difference in protein purity and recovery exists among different pulses. • Thorough studies on effect of voltage on the protein purity is required for the electrostatic separation method. • There are trade-offs between purity and recovery as values of processing conditions increase or decrease. • Hybrid fractionation, the more sustainable and efficient pathway, has been exploited the least. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple procedure was developed for the fabrication of electrochemical glucose biosensors using glucose oxidase (GOx), with graphene or multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Graphene and MWCNTs were dispersed in 0.25% 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and drop cast on 1% KOH-pre-treated glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs). The EDC (1-ethyl-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide)-activated GOx was then bound covalently on the graphene- or MWCNT-modified GCE. Both the graphene- and MWCNT-based biosensors detected the entire pathophysiological range of blood glucose in humans, 1.4-27.9 mM. However, the direct electron transfer (DET) between GOx and the modified GCE's surface was only observed for the MWCNT-based biosensor. The MWCNT-based glucose biosensor also provided over a four-fold higher current signal than its graphene counterpart. Several interfering substances, including drug metabolites, provoked negligible interference at pathological levels for both the MWCNT- and graphene-based biosensors. However, the former was more prone to interfering substances and drug metabolites at extremely pathological concentrations than its graphene counterpart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hong Kong’s construction industry has shown significant improvement in safety performance since the turn of the century. The number of industrial accidents in the construction industry has decreased from 11,925 in 2000 to 3,833 in 2004, which is an encouraging drop of almost 68%. However, the category “fall of person from height” has always represented a large proportion of the industrial accidents, particularly fatal accidents. In 2004, fall of person from height represented just over 47% of the total number of fatal accidents in the construction industry. The statistics show that although the overall number of accidents has dropped immensely, the same does not apply for fall from height accidents. According to statistics provided by the Labor Dept. of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, there were a total of 22 fatal industrial accidents associated with fall of persons from height in repair, maintenance, alteration, and addition works during 2000–2004. When analyzing these case studies, 12 common factors were identified for analyzing these case studies and strategies were suggested to prevent recurrence of similar accidents in each case. The top five strategies were: (1) provide and maintain a safe system of work; (2) provide a suitable working platform; (3) (tier) provide safety information/training/instruction/supervision; (4) (tier) provide suitable fall arresting system/anchorage; and (5) maintain safe workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant new insights into the interactions of the potent insulin-enhancing compound bis(maltolato)oxovanadium (IV) (BMOV) with the serum proteins, apo-transferrin and albumin, are presented. Identical reaction products are observed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) with either BMOV or vanadyl sulfate (VOSO4) in solutions of human serum apo-transferrin. Further detailed study rules out the presence of a ternary ligand-vanadyl-transferrin complex proposed previously. By contrast, differences in reaction products are observed for the interactions of BMOV and VOSO4 with human serum albumin (HSA), wherein adduct formation between albumin and BMOV is detected. In BMOV-albumin solutions, vanadyl ions are bound in a unique manner not observed in comparable solutions of VOSO4 and albumin. Presentation of chelated vanadyl ions precludes binding at the numerous nonspecific sites and produces a unique EPR spectrum which is assigned to a BMOV-HSA adduct. The adduct species cannot be produced, however, from a solution of VOSO4 and HSA titrated with maltol. Addition of maltol to a VOSO4- EISA solution instead results in formation of a different end product which has been assigned as a ternary complex, VO(ma)(HSA). Furthermore, analysis of solution equilibria using a model system of BMOV with 1 -methylimidazole (formation constant log K1 = 4.5(1), by difference electronic absorption spectroscopy) lends support to an adduct binding mode (VO(ma)2-HSA) proposed herein for BMOV and EISA. This detailed report of an in vitro reactivity difference between VOSO4 and BMOV may have bearing on the form of active vanadium metabolites delivered to target tissues. Albumin binding of vanadium chelates is seen to have a potentially dramatic effect on pharmacokinetics, transport, and efficacy of these antidiabetic chelates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. While novel treatments have improved survival outcomes for some patients, new treatment modalities/platforms are needed to combat a wider variety of tumor types. Cancer vaccines harness the power of the immune system to generate targeted tumor-specific immune responses. Liposomes composed of glycolipids derived from archaea (i.e., archaeosomes) have been shown to be potent adjuvants, inducing robust, long-lasting humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to a variety of antigens. Herein, we evaluated the ability of archaeosomes composed of sulfated lactosyl archaeol (SLA), a semi-synthetic archaeal glycolipid, to enhance the immunogenicity of a synthetic long peptide-based vaccine formulation containing the dominant CD8+ T cell epitope, SIINFEKL, from the weakly immunogenic model antigen ovalbumin. One advantage of immunizing with long peptides is the ability to include multiple epitopes, for example, the long peptide antigen was also designed to include the immediately adjacent CD4+ epitope, TEWTSSNVMEER. SLA archaeosomes were tested alone or in combination with the toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) agonist Poly(I:C). Overall, SLA archaeosomes synergized strongly with Poly(I:C) to induce robust antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses, which were highly functional in an in vivo cytolytic assay. Furthermore, immunization with this vaccine formulation suppressed tumor growth and extended mouse survival in a mouse melanoma tumor model. Overall, the combination of SLA archaeosomes and Poly(I:C) appears to be a promising adjuvant system when used along with long peptide-based antigens targeting cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeosomes, composed of sulfated lactosyl archaeol (SLA) glycolipids, have been proven to be an effective vaccine adjuvant in multiple preclinical models of infectious disease or cancer. SLA archaeosomes are a promising adjuvant candidate due to their ability to strongly stimulate both humoral and cytotoxic immune responses when simply admixed with an antigen. In the present study, we evaluated whether the adjuvant effects of SLA archaeosomes could be further enhanced when combined with other adjuvants. SLA archaeosomes were co-administered with five different Toll-like Receptor (TLR) agonists or the saponin QS-21 using ovalbumin as a model antigen in mice. Both humoral and cellular immune responses were greatly enhanced compared to either adjuvant alone when SLA archaeosomes were combined with either the TLR3 agonist poly(I:C) or the TLR9 agonist CpG. These results were also confirmed in a separate study using Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and support the further evaluation of these adjuvant combinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]