Nanomaterials for the theranostics of obesity

Orally Ingested Self-Powered Stimulators for Targeted Gut-Brain Axis Electrostimulation to Treat Obesity and Metabolic Disorders

Obesity is a significant health concern that often leads to metabolic dysfunction and chronic diseases. This study introduces a novel approach to combat obesity using orally ingested self-powered electrostimulators. These electrostimulators consist of piezoelectric BaTiO3 (BTO) particles conjugated with capsaicin (Cap) and aim to activate the vagus nerve. Upon ingestion by diet-induced obese (DIO) mice, the BTO@Cap particles specifically target and bind to Cap-sensitive sensory nerve endings in the gastric mucosa. In response to stomach peristalsis, these particles generate electrical signals. The signals travel via the gut-brain axis, ultimately influencing the hypothalamus. By enhancing satiety signals in the brain, this neuromodulatory intervention reduces food intake, promotes energy metabolism, and demonstrates minimal toxicity. Over a 3-week period of daily treatments, DIO mice treated with BTO@Cap particles show a significant reduction in body weight compared to control mice, while maintaining their general locomotor activity. Furthermore, this BTO@Cap particle-based treatment mitigates various metabolic alterations associated with obesity. Importantly, this noninvasive and easy-to-administer intervention holds potential for addressing other intracerebral neurological diseases.

Facile adipocyte uptake and liver/adipose tissue delivery of conjugated linoleic acid-loaded tocol nanocarriers for a synergistic anti-adipogenesis effect

Obesity is a major risk to human health. Adipogenesis is blocked by α-tocopherol and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). However, their effect at preventing obesity is uncertain. The effectiveness of the bioactive agents is associated with their delivery method. Herein, we designed CLA-loaded tocol nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) for enhancing the anti-adipogenic activity of α-tocopherol and CLA. Adipogenesis inhibition by the nanocarriers was examined using an in vitro adipocyte model and an in vivo rat model fed a high fat diet (HFD). The targeting of the tocol NLCs into adipocytes and adipose tissues were also investigated. A synergistic anti-adipogenesis effect was observed for the combination of free α-tocopherol and CLA. Nanoparticles with different amounts of solid lipid were developed with an average size of 121‒151 nm. The NLCs with the smallest size (121 nm) showed greater adipocyte internalization and differentiation prevention than the larger size. The small-sized NLCs promoted CLA delivery into adipocytes by 5.5-fold as compared to free control. The nanocarriers reduced fat accumulation in adipocytes by counteracting the expression of the adipogenic transcription factors peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)γ and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)α, and lipogenic enzymes acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FAS). Localized administration of CLA-loaded tocol NLCs significantly reduced body weight, total cholesterol, and liver damage indicators in obese rats. The biodistribution study demonstrated that the nanoparticles mainly accumulated in liver and adipose tissues. The NLCs decreased adipocyte hypertrophy and cytokine overexpression in the groin and epididymis to a greater degree than the combination of free α-tocopherol and CLA. In conclusion, the lipid-based nanocarriers were verified to inhibit adipogenesis in an efficient and safe way.

Miniaturized centrifugation accelerated pipette-tip matrix solid-phase dispersion based on poly(deep eutectic solvents) surface imprinted graphene oxide composite adsorbent for rapid extraction of anti-adipogenesis markers from Solidago decurrens Lour

Overweight and obesity are the causes of many diseases and have become global "epidemics". Research on natural active components with anti-adipogenesis effects in plants has aroused the interest of researchers. One of the most critical problems is establishing sample preparation and analytical techniques for quickly and selectively extracting and determining the active anti-adipogenesis components in complex plant matrices for developing new anti-adipogenic drugs. In this study, a new poly(deep eutectic solvents) surface imprinted graphene oxide composite (PDESs-MIP/GO) with high selectivity for phenolic acids was prepared using deep eutectic solvents as monomers and crosslinkers. A miniaturized centrifugation-accelerated pipette-tip matrix solid-phase dispersion method (CPT-MSPD) with PDESs-MIP/GO as adsorbent, coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography, was further developed for the rapid determination of anti-adipogenesis markers in Solidago decurrens Lour. (SDL). The established method was successfully used to determination anti-adipogenesis markers in SDL from different regions, with the advantages of accuracy (recoveries: 94.4 - 115.9 %, RSDs ≤ 9.8 %), speed (CPT-MSPD time: 11 min), selectivity (imprinting factor: ∼2.0), and economy (2 mg of adsorbent and 1 mL of solvents), which is in line with the current advanced principle of "3S+2A" in analytical chemistry.

Nanocrystalline Cellulose Modulates Dysregulated Intestinal Barriers in Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a recurrent chronic inflammation of the colon with increasing incidence and prevalence, which could increase the risk of colorectal cancer. It is urgent to find an effective method with few side effects. Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), which is from plant fibers, has a good biocompatibility and high biosafety. Herein, we used NCC to treat UC and evaluated its treatment effect by the disease activity index, intestinal pathology, inflammatory cytokines, tight junction proteins, and mucins. We studied the impact of NCC on mucin expression and gut microbiota to discuss the therapeutic mechanism. NCC can effectively treat UC by regulating the MAPK pathway of mucin 2 and the relative abundance of Akkermansia and Odoribacter, which could not cause the body damage. NCC could not cause body damage compared to the medications, while it had a better effect on the regulation of MUC2 compared to the present drug substitutes. NCC is a practical alternative for the treatment of UC.

Injectable cell-targeting fiber rods to promote lipolysis and regulate inflammation for obesity treatment

Obesity has become a worldwide public health problem and continues to be one of the leading causes of chronic diseases. Obesity treatment is challenged by large drug doses, high administration frequencies and severe side effects. Herein, we propose an antiobesity strategy through the local administration of HaRChr fiber rods loaded with chrysin and grafted with hyaluronic acid and AtsFRk fiber fragments loaded with raspberry ketone and grafted with adipocyte target sequences (ATSs). The hyaluronic acid grafts double the uptake levels of HaRChr by M1 macrophages to promote phenotype transformation from M1 to M2 through upregulating CD206 and downregulating CD86 expressions. ATS-mediated targeting and sustained release of raspberry ketone from AtsFRk increase the secretion of glycerol and adiponectin, and Oil red O staining shows much fewer lipid droplets in adipocytes. The combination treatment with AtsFRk and the conditioned media from HaRChr-treated macrophages elevates adiponectin levels, suggesting that M2 macrophages may secrete anti-inflammatory factors to stimulate adipocytes to produce adiponectin. Diet-induced obese mice showed significant weight losses of inguinal (49.7%) and epididymal (32.5%) adipose tissues after HaRChr/AtsFRk treatment, but no effect was observed on food intake. HaRChr/AtsFRk treatment reduces adipocyte volumes, lowers serum levels of triglycerides and total cholesterol and restores adiponectin levels to those of normal mice. In the meantime, HaRChr/AtsFRk treatment significantly elevates the gene expression of adiponectin and interleukin-10 and downregulates tissue necrosis factor-α expression in the inguinal adipose tissues. Thus, local injection of cell-targeting fiber rods and fragments demonstrates a feasible and effective antiobesity strategy through improving lipid metabolism and normalizing the inflammatory microenvironment.

Hmmr Acts as a Key Regulator in the ADSCs Proliferation and Mitosis

Obesity is a common chronic health problem that requires lifelong efforts for the successful treatment. The proliferation of ADSCs is an essential step in the development of obesity. Identifying key regulators of ADSCs will be a novel strategy for adipogenesis inhibition and obesity prevention. In this study, transcriptomes of 15532 ADSCs were firstly profiled by single cell RNA-sequencing. On the basis of gene expression patterns, 15 cell subpopulations (six defined cell types) were distinguished. A subpopulation was identified as CD168⁺ ADSCs, and it was demonstrated to play a vital role in ADSCs proliferation. Furthermore, Hmmr, a specific marker gene of CD168⁺ ADSCs was found to be a critical gene associated with ADSCs proliferation and mitosis. Hmmr knockout resulted that ADSCs growth nearly arrested and aberrant nuclear division occurred. Finally, it was revealed that Hmmr promoted ADSCs proliferation through the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 signaling pathway. This study identified Hmmr as a key regulator in ADSCs proliferation and mitosis, and suggested that Hmmr may be a novel target for obesity prevention.

Self-Propelled Janus Nanocatalytic Robots Guided by Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Enhanced Tumor Penetration and Therapy

Biomedical micro/nanorobots as active delivery systems with the features of self-propulsion and controllable navigation have made tremendous progress in disease therapy and diagnosis, detection, and biodetoxification. However, existing micro/nanorobots are still suffering from complex drug loading, physiological drug stability, and uncontrollable drug release. To solve these problems, micro/nanorobots and nanocatalytic medicine as two independent research fields were integrated in this study to achieve self-propulsion-induced deeper tumor penetration and catalytic reaction-initiated tumor therapy in vivo. We presented self-propelled Janus nanocatalytic robots (JNCRs) guided by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for in vivo enhanced tumor therapy. These JNCRs exhibited active movement in H₂O₂ solution, and their migration in the tumor tissue could be tracked by non-invasive MRI in real time. Both increased temperature and reactive oxygen species production were induced by near-infrared light irradiation and iron-mediated Fenton reaction, showing great potential for tumor photothermal and chemodynamic therapy. In comparison with passive nanoparticles, these self-propelled JNCRs enabled deeper tumor penetration and enhanced tumor therapy after intratumoral injection. Importantly, these robots with biocompatible components and byproducts exhibited biosecurity in the mouse model. It is expected that our work could promote the combination of micro/nanorobots and nanocatalytic medicine, resulting in improved tumor therapy and potential clinical transformations.

Nanocontroller-mediated dissolving hydrogel that can sustainably release cold-mimetic menthol to induce adipocyte browning for treating obesity and its related metabolic disorders

Obesity leads to the development of many metabolic diseases, causing severe health problems. Menthol can induce adipocyte browning and thus has been used to combat obesity. To deliver menthol with a sustained effect, an injectable hydrogel that comprises carboxymethyl chitosan and aldehyde-functionalized alginate that are crosslinked through dynamic Schiff-base linkages is developed to load menthol-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes (IC). To render the as-developed hydrogel soluble after its payload is released, amino acid-loaded liposomes, functioning as nanocontrollers, are covalently grafted onto networks of the hydrogel. Upon subcutaneous injection in mice with diet-induced obesity, the as-developed hydrogel absorbs body fluids and spontaneously swells, expanding and stretching its networks, gradually releasing the loaded IC. Menthol then disassociates from the released IC to induce adipocyte browning, triggering fat consumption and increasing energy expenditure. Meanwhile, the expanded hydrogel networks destabilize the grafted liposomes, which function as built-in nanocontrollers, unleashing their loaded amino acid molecules to disrupt the dynamic Schiff-base linkages, causing hydrogel to dissolve. The thus-developed nanocontroller-mediated dissolving hydrogel realizes the sustained release of menthol for treating obesity and its related metabolic disorders without leaving exogenous hydrogel materials inside the body, and thereby preventing any undesired adverse effects.

The progress of research on the application of redox nanomaterials in disease therapy

Redox imbalance can trigger cell dysfunction and damage and plays a vital role in the origin and progression of many diseases. Maintaining the balance between oxidants and antioxidants in vivo is a complicated and arduous task, leading to ongoing research into the construction of redox nanomaterials. Nanodrug platforms with redox characteristics can not only reduce the adverse effects of oxidative stress on tissues by removing excess oxidants from the body but also have multienzyme-like activity, which can play a cytotoxic role in tumor tissues through the catalytic oxidation of their substrates to produce harmful reactive oxygen species such as hydroxyl radicals. In this review, various redox nanomaterials currently used in disease therapy are discussed, emphasizing the treatment methods and their applications in tumors and other human tissues. Finally, the limitations of the current clinical application of redox nanomaterials are considered.

Nanocrystalline Cellulose Cures Constipation via Gut Microbiota Metabolism

Constipation can seriously affect the quality of life and increase the risk of colorectal cancer. The present strategies for constipation therapy have adverse effects, such as causing irreversible intestinal damage and affecting the absorption of nutrients. Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), which is from natural plants, has good biocompatibility and high safety. Herein, we used NCC to treat constipation assessed by the black stool, intestinal tissue sections, and serum biomarkers. We studied the effect of NCC on gut microbiota and discussed the correlation of gut microbiota and metabolites. We evaluated the long-term biosafety of NCC. NCC could effectively treat constipation through gut microbiota metabolism, which required a small dosage and did not affect the organs and intestines. NCC could be used as an alternative to medications and dietary fiber for constipation therapy.

Biomaterial-Based Therapeutic Strategies for Obesity and Its Comorbidities

Obesity is a global public health issue that results in many health complications or comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and fatty liver. Pharmacotherapy alone or combined with either lifestyle alteration or surgery represents the main modality to combat obesity and its complications. However, most anti-obesity drugs are limited by their bioavailability, target specificity, and potential toxic effects. Only a handful of drugs, including orlistat, liraglutide, and semaglutide, are currently approved for clinical obesity treatment. Thus, there is an urgent need for alternative treatment strategies. Based on the new revelation of the pathogenesis of obesity and the efforts toward the multi-disciplinary integration of materials, chemistry, biotechnology, and pharmacy, some emerging obesity treatment strategies are gradually entering the field of preclinical and clinical research. Herein, by analyzing the current situation and challenges of various new obesity treatment strategies such as small-molecule drugs, natural drugs, and biotechnology drugs, the advanced functions and prospects of biomaterials in obesity-targeted delivery, as well as their biological activities and applications in obesity treatment, are systematically summarized. Finally, based on the systematic analysis of biomaterial-based obesity therapeutic strategies, the future prospects and challenges in this field are proposed.

Impact of nanomaterials on the intestinal mucosal barrier and its application in treating intestinal diseases

The intestinal mucosal barrier (IMB) is one of the important barriers to prevent harmful substances and pathogens from entering the body environment and to maintain intestinal homeostasis. The dysfunction of the IMB is associated with intestinal diseases and disorders. Nanomaterials have been widely used in medicine and as drug carriers due to their large specific surface area, strong adsorbability, and good biocompatibility. In this review, we comprehensively discuss the impact of typical nanomaterials on the IMB and summarize the treatment of intestinal diseases by using nanomaterials. The effects of nanomaterials on the IMB are mainly influenced by factors such as the dosage, size, morphology, and surface functional groups of nanomaterials. There is huge potential and a broad prospect for the application of nanomaterials in regulating the IMB for achieving an optimal therapeutic effect for antibiotics, oral vaccines, drug carriers, and so on.

Inhibition of Lipid Accumulation and Adipokine Levels in Maturing Adipocytes by Bauhinia rufescens (Lam.) Stem Bark Extract Loaded Titanium Oxide Nanoparticles

The present study reports a cost-effective, environmentally friendly method to increase the bioavailability and bio-efficacy of B. rufescens stem bark extract in the biological system via functional modification as B. rufescens stem bark nanoparticles (BR-TO₂-NPs). The biosynthesis of BR- -NPs was confirmed by UV-visible (UV-vis) and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction analyses. The shifts in FT-IR stretching vibrations of carboxylic and nitro groups (1615 cm^-1), the O-H of phenolics or carboxylic acids (3405 cm^-1), alkanes, and alkyne groups (2925 and 2224 cm^-1) of the plant extract and lattice (455) indicated successful biosynthesis of BR- -NPs. Compared with the stem bark extract, 40 ng/dL dose of BR- -NPs led to a reduction in adipogenesis and an increase in mitochondrial biogenesis-related gene expressions, adiponectin-R1, PPARγC1α, UCP-1, and PRDM16, in maturing-adipocytes. This confirmed the intracellular uptake, bioavailability, and bio-efficiency of BR-TiO₂-NPs. The lipid-lowering capacity of BR-TiO₂-NPs effectively inhibited the metabolic inflammation-related gene markers, IL-6, TNF-α, LTB4-R, and Nf-κb. Further, BR-TiO₂-NPs stimulating mitochondrial thermogenesis capacity was proven by the significantly enhanced CREB-1 and AMPK protein levels in adipocytes. In conclusion, BR-TiO₂-NPs effectively inhibited lipid accumulation and proinflammatory adipokine levels in maturing adipocytes; it may help to overcome obesity-associated comorbidities.

Anticoagulant Hydrogel Tubes with Poly(ɛ-Caprolactone) Sheaths for Small-Diameter Vascular Grafts

Small-diameter vascular grafts (inner diameter < 6 mm) are useful in treating cardiovascular diseases. The off-the-shelf small-diameter vascular grafts for clinical applications remain a great limitation owing to their thrombogenicity or intimal hyperplasia. Herein, bilayer anticoagulant hydrogel tubes with poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) sheaths are prepared by freeze-thawing and electrospinning, which contain nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-heparin/poly-L-lysine nanoparticles tube as an inner layer and PCL sheath as an outer layer. The structure, anticoagulant property, and biocompatibility of the inner layer are studied. The effects of thickness of the outer layer on perfusion performance and mechanical property of hydrogel tubes with PCL sheaths (PCL-NFC/PVA-NPs tubes) are investigated. The effect of compliance of PCL-NFC/PVA-NPs tubes on their blood flow is studied by numerical simulation. The tissue compatibility and the patency of PCL-NFC/PVA-NPs tubes are evaluated by implantation in subcutaneous tissue of rats and carotid artery of rabbits. PCL-NFC/PVA-NPs tubes have prominent anticoagulation, sufficient burst pressure and good compliance similar to native arteries. PCL-NFC/PVA-NPs tubes facilitate infiltration of host cells and achieve active proliferation of recruited cells, which will be a promising candidate for small-diameter vascular grafts.

Nanocapsule-mediated sustained H2 release in the gut ameliorates metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is estimated to affect a quarter of all population and represents a major health threat to all societies. Yet, currently no approved pharmacological treatment is available for MAFLD. H₂-rich water has recently been reported to reduce hepatic lipid accumulation in MAFLD patients but its efficacy is limited due to low H₂ dosage. Increasing H₂ dose may enhance its therapeutic effects but remains technically challenging. In this study, we designed and synthesized a hydrogen nanocapsule by encapsulating ammonia borane into hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles to achieve ultrahigh and sustained H₂ release in the gut. We then investigated its efficacy in treating early-stage MAFLD and other metabolic dysfunctions such as obesity and diabetes. The hydrogen nanocapsule attenuated both diet-induced and genetic mutation induced early-stage MAFLD, obesity, and diabetes in mice, without any tissue toxicity. Mechanistically, we discovered that sustained and ultrahigh H₂ supply by hydrogen nanocapsule increased, among other species, the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, highlighting reshaped gut microbiota as a potential mechanism of H₂ in treating metabolic dysfunctions. Moreover, hepatic transcriptome showed a reprogramed liver metabolism profile with reduced lipid synthesis and increased fatty acid metabolism.

Nanomaterials and the Serosal Immune System in the Thoracic and Peritoneal Cavities

The thoracic and peritoneal cavities are lined by serous membranes and are home of the serosal immune system. This immune system fuses innate and adaptive immunity, to maintain local homeostasis and repair local tissue damage, and to cooperate closely with the mucosal immune system. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are found abundantly in the thoracic and peritoneal cavities, and they are crucial in first defense against pathogenic viruses and bacteria. Nanomaterials (NMs) can enter the cavities intentionally for medical purposes, or unintentionally following environmental exposure; subsequent serosal inflammation and cancer (mesothelioma) has gained significant interest. However, reports on adverse effects of NM on ILCs and other components of the serosal immune system are scarce or even lacking. As ILCs are crucial in the first defense against pathogenic viruses and bacteria, it is possible that serosal exposure to NM may lead to a reduced resistance against pathogens. Additionally, affected serosal lymphoid tissues and cells may disturb adipose tissue homeostasis. This review aims to provide insight into key effects of NM on the serosal immune system.

Environmental and Exergetic Analysis of Large-Scale Production of Citric Acid-Coated Magnetite Nanoparticles via Computer-Aided Process Engineering Tools

Considering that functional magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles with exceptional physicochemical properties can be highly applicable in different fields, scaling-up strategies are becoming important for their large-scale production. This study reports simulations of scaled-up production of citric acid-coated magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4-cit), aiming to evaluate the potential environmental impacts (PEIs) and the exergetic efficiency. The simulations were performed using the waste reduction algorithm and the Aspen Plus software. PEI and energy/exergy performance are calculated and quantified. The inlet and outlet streams are estimated by expanding the mass and energy flow, setting operating parameters of processing units, and defining a thermodynamic model for properties estimation. The high environmental performance of the production process is attributed to the low outlet rate of PEI compared to the inlet rate. The product streams generate low PEI contribution (-3.2 × 103 PEI/y) because of the generation of environmentally friendlier substances. The highest results in human toxicity potential (3.2 × 103 PEI/y), terrestrial toxicity potential (3.2 × 103 PEI/y), and photochemical oxidation potential (2.6 × 104 PEI/y) are attributed to the ethanol within the waste streams. The energy source contribution is considerably low with 27 PEI/y in the acidification potential ascribed to the elevated levels of hydrogen ions into the atmosphere. The global exergy of 1.38% is attributed to the high irreversibilities (1.7 × 105 MJ/h) in the separation stage, especially, to the centrifuge CF-2 (5.07%). The sensitivity analysis establishes that the global exergy efficiency increases when the performance of the centrifuge CF-2 is improved, suggesting to address enhancements toward low disposal of ethanol in the wastewater.

Advances in Hollow Inorganic Nanomedicines for Photothermal-Based Therapies

Nanotechnology has prompted the development of hollow inorganic nanomedicine. These medicines are now widely investigated as photothermal-based therapies for various diseases due to their high loading capacity, tuneable wavelength, relatively small size and low density. We begin this review with a brief introduction, followed by a summary of the development of imaging-guided photothermal therapy (PTT) for cancer treatment during the last three years (from 2017 to 2020). We then introduce the antibacterial effects of these medicines on some bacterial infections, in which the pathogenic bacteria can be killed by mild photothermal effects, ions and antibiotic release. Other diseases can also be treated using hollow inorganic photothermal agents. Specifically, we discuss the use of PTT for treating Alzheimer's disease, obesity and endometriosis. Finally, we share our perspectives on the current challenges and future prospects of using hollow inorganic materials in clinical PTT for various diseases.

Adsorptivity of cationic cellulose nanocrystals for phosphate and its application in hyperphosphatemia therapy

Nanocellulose has gained much attention because of its excellent properties. Cationic cellulose nanocrystals (cCNC) shows good adsorptivity toward negative ions and molecules. Phosphate binders are most used to treat hyperphosphatemia and it is significant to develop its alternatives with high specific and low cost in the clinic. Herein, we prepared cCNC and characterized it by FTIR, TEM, dynamic light scattering, and viscosity method. We simulated the binding process of cationic cellulose for phosphate and used it as phosphate binder for hyperphosphatemia therapy to study the phosphate binding effect and evaluate the oral toxicity. Cationic cellulose improved the conditions of mice models and efficiently decreased the level of phosphate in the serum. cCNC had a better binding effect than cationic microcrystalline cellulose both in vitro and in vivo. cCNC could be used as alternatives to phosphate binder for therapy of chronic renal failure and hyperphosphatemia.

Genetic engineering of novel super long-acting Exendin-4 chimeric protein for effective treatment of metabolic and cognitive complications of obesity

A common bottleneck challenge for many therapeutic proteins lies in their short plasma half-lives, which often makes the treatment far less compliant or even disables achieving sufficient therapeutic efficacy. To address this problem, we introduce a novel drug delivery strategy based on the genetic fusion of an albumin binding domain (ABD) and an anti-neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) affibody (AFF) to therapeutic proteins. This ABD-AFF fusion strategy can provide a synergistic effect on extending the plasma residence time by, on one hand, preventing the rapid glomerular filtration via ABD-mediated albumin binding and, on the other hand, increasing the efficiency of FcRn-mediated recycling by AFF-mediated high-affinity binding to the FcRn. In this research, we explored the feasibility of applying the ABD-AFF fusion strategy to exendin-4 (EX), a clinically available anti-diabetic peptide possessing a short plasma half-life. The EX-ABD-AFF produced from the E. coli displayed a remarkably (241-fold) longer plasma half-life than the SUMO tagged-EX (SUMO-EX) (0.7 h) in mice. Furthermore, in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed obese mice model, the EX-ABD-AFF could provide significant hypoglycemic effects for over 12 days, accompanied by a reduction of body weight. In the long-term study, the EX-ABD-AFF could significantly reverse the obesity-related metabolic complications (hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and hepatic steatosis) and, moreover, improve cognitive deficits. Overall, this study demonstrated that the ABD-AFF fusion could be an effective strategy to greatly increase the plasma half-lives of therapeutic proteins and thus markedly improve their druggability.

Nanosystems of plant-based pigments and its relationship with oxidative stress

Plant-based pigments are widely present in nature, they are classified depending on their chemical structure as tetrapyrroles, carotenoids, polyphenolic compounds, and alkaloids and are extensively used in medicine, food industry, clothes, and others. Recently they have been investigated due to their role in the areas of food processing, food safety and quality, packaging, and nutrition. Many studies indicate a relationship between bioactive pigments and Non-Communicable Diseases derived from oxidative stress. Their biological applications can help in preventing oxidative injuries in the cell caused by oxygen and nitrogen reactive species. Those pigments are easily degraded by light, oxygen, temperature, pH conditions, among others. Nanotechnology offers the possibility to protect bioactive ingredients and increase its bioavailability after oral administration. Safety to humans (mainly evaluated from toxicity data) is the first concern for these products. In the present work, we present a comprehensive outlook of the most important plant-based pigments used as food colorants, the principal nanotechnology systems prepared with them, and the relationship of these compounds with the oxidative stress and related Non-Communicable Disease.

A review on nanocellulose as a lightweight filler of polyolefin composites

Nanocellulose (NC) possesses low density, high aspect ratio, impressive mechanical properties, nanoscale dimensions, which shows huge potential applications as a reinforced filler. Polyolefin (PO), represented by polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), has been widely used in industries. Recently nanocellulose/polyolefin nanocomposites (NC/PO nanocomposites) have caught more attention from the application of automotive components, aerospace, furniture, building, home appliances, and sport. In this review, the surface modifications of nanocellulose and polyolefin are summarized respectively, such as surface adsorption modification, small molecule modification, and graft copolymerization modification. The common preparations of NC/PO nanocomposites are discussed, including the melting compounding, the solvent casting, and the in-situ polymerization. The lightweight, mechanical properties, and aging-resistant properties of NC/PO nanocomposites are highlighted. Finally, the potentials and challenges for industrial production development of NC/PO nanocomposites are discussed.