Rapid determination of hydrogen peroxide produced by Lactobacillus using enzyme coupled rhodamine isocyanide/calcium phosphate nanoparticles

Cyclodextrins as non-viral vectors in cancer theranostics: A review

Cancer ranks as the top cause of death following cardiovascular diseases. Identifying cancer patients at early stages presents significant challenges due to the asymptomatic nature of early-stage tumors. Conversely, the advancement of therapy resistance has led to a reduction in cancer treatment efficacy. Consequently, utilizing nanoparticles for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer can greatly enhance the prognosis and results for patients. CDs are recognized entities in the pharmaceutical domain and have been extensively used for therapeutic purposes in disease treatment. These non-viral vectors have shown efficacy in inhibiting both solid tumors and hematological malignancies through targeted drug delivery. CDs can enhance the administration of medications and genes in cancer treatment by ensuring their continuous release. The stimuli-responsive CDs have enhanced the targeted delivery of payloads at the tumor location, responding to the stimuli in TME such as pH, redox and light. CDs can serve as effective carriers that enhance the efficacy of phototherapy by improving the solubility and delivery of phototherapeutic agents, enabling integration with chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The administration of immunomodulators through CDs can enhance cancer immunotherapy and boost the infiltration of immune cells. Ultimately, CDs can aid in cancer diagnosis and the identification of biomarkers.

An Overview of the Use and Applications of Limosilactobacillus fermentum in Broiler Chickens

The implementation of government regulations on antibiotic use, along with the public's concern for drug resistance, has strengthened interest in developing alternatives not only aimed at preserving animal production but also at reducing the effects of pathogenic infections. Probiotics, in particular, are considered microorganisms that induce health benefits in the host after consumption of adequate amounts; they have been established as a potential strategy for improving growth, especially by stimulating intestinal homeostasis. Probiotics are commonly associated with lactic acid bacteria, and Limosilactobacillus fermentum is a well-studied species recognized for its favorable characteristics, including adhesion to epithelial cells, production of antimicrobial compounds, and activation of receptors that prompt the transcription of immune-associated genes. Recently, this species has been used in animal production. Different studies have shown that the application of L. fermentum strains not only improves the intestinal ecosystem but also reduces the effects caused by potentially pathogenic microorganisms. These studies have also revealed key insights into the mechanisms behind the actions exerted by this probiotic. In this manuscript, we aim to provide a concise overview of the effects of L. fermentum administration on broiler chicken health and performance.

A Method to Encapsulate Small Organic Molecules in Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles Based on the Supramolecular Chemistry of Cyclodextrin

Calcium phosphate nanoparticles (CPNPs) encapsulating small organic molecules, such as imaging agents and drugs, are considered to be ideal devices for cancer diagnosis or therapy. However, it is generally difficult to encapsulate small organic molecules in CPNPs because of the lack of solubility in water or binding affinity to calcium phosphate. To solve these issues, we utilized the carboxymethyl β-cyclodextrin (CM-β-CD) to increase the solubility and binding affinity to small organic molecules for the encapsulation into CPNPs in this work. The results indicated that the model molecules, hydrophilic rhodamine B (RB) and hydrophobic docetaxel (Dtxl), are successfully encapsulated into CPNPs with the assistance of CM-β-CD. We also demonstrated the CPNPs could be remarkably internalized into A549 cells, resulting in the efficient inhibition of tumor cells' growth.

Comparative Study on the Characteristics of Weissella cibaria CMU and Probiotic Strains for Oral Care

Probiotics have been demonstrated as a new paradigm to substitute antibiotic treatment for dental caries, gingivitis, and chronic periodontitis. The present work was conducted to compare the characteristics of oral care probiotics: Weissella cibaria CMU (Chonnam Medical University) and four commercial probiotic strains. Survival rates under poor oral conditions, acid production, hydrogen peroxide production, as well as inhibition of biofilm formation, coaggregation, antibacterial activity, and inhibition of volatile sulfur compounds were evaluated. The viability of W. cibaria CMU was not affected by treatment of 100 mg/L lysozyme for 90 min and 1 mM hydrogen peroxide for 6 h. Interestingly, W. cibaria produced less acid and more hydrogen peroxide than the other four probiotics. W. cibaria inhibited biofilm formation by Streptococcus mutans at lower concentrations (S. mutans/CMU = 8) and efficiently coaggregated with Fusobacterium nucleatum. W. cibaria CMU and two commercial probiotics, including Lactobacillus salivarius and Lactobacillus reuteri, showed high antibacterial activities (>97%) against cariogens (S. mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus), and against periodontopathogens (F. nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis). All of the lactic acid bacterial strains in this study significantly reduced levels of hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan produced by F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis (p < 0.05). These results suggest that W. cibaria CMU is applicable as an oral care probiotic.

Nanobiocatalysis: Nanostructured materials – a minireview

The field of nanobiocatalysis has experienced a rapid growth due to recent advances in nanotechnology. However, biocatalytic processes are often limited by the lack of stability of the enzymes and their short lifetime. Therefore, immobilization is key to the successful implementation of industrial processes based on enzymes. Immobilization of enzymes on functionalized nanostructured materials could give higher stability to nanobiocatalysts while maintaining free enzyme activity and easy recyclability under various conditions. This review will discuss recent developments in nanobiocatalysis to improve the stability of the enzyme using various nanostructured materials such as mesoporous materials, nanofibers, nanoparticles, nanotubes, and individual nanoparticles enzymes. Also, this review summarizes the recent evolution of nanostructured biocatalysts with an emphasis on those formed with polymers. Based on the synthetic procedures used, established methods fall into two important categories: “grafting onto” and “grafting from”. The fundamentals of each method in enhancing enzyme stability and the use of these new nanobiocatalysts as tools for different applications in different areas are discussed.