Lignin particles as green pore-forming agents for the fabrication of microporous polysulfone membranes

Controlled synthesis of superhydrophilic flower-like hierarchical porous diboronate affinity materials for capturing biomarkers

BACKGROUND

Boronate affinity chromatography represents a powerful analytical technique for the selective separation and enrichment of biomolecules containing cis-diol moieties, including carbohydrates, glycoproteins, and other cis-dihydroxy compounds. While boronate affinity materials (BAMs) have shown promise in glycosylation-based separation and analysis, their practical application is hindered by non-biocompatible binding pH, low enrichment efficiency for low-abundance samples, non-specific adsorption, and limited loading capacity. To address these limitations, this work focuses on developing flower-like hierarchical porous diboronate affinity materials (FHP-DBAMs) with enhanced binding strength, selectivity, and capacity for cis-diol-containing biomolecules.

RESULTS

FHP-DBAM was synthesized via a facile sol-gel method, using tetrahydroxydiboron as a hydrophilic diboronic acid monomer. The electron-withdrawing nature and hydrophilicity of diboronate affinity mechanism enable FHP-DBAM to operate at lower pH values (pH ≥ 5), addressing the biocompatibility issue. DFT and experiment calculations confirm the enhanced cis-diol binding affinity of diboronate affinity mechanism compared with monoboronate affinity mechanism, resulting in a remarkably low dissociation constant (DFT Kd = 6.74 × 10-5 M, experiment Kd = 9.95 × 10-5 M) for FHP-DBAM. Furthermore, the unique flower-like hierarchical porous structure provides a high surface area and nanoconfinement effect, significantly boosting target molecule loading capacity and affinity reaction kinetics. Compared to traditional BAMs, FHP-DBAM exhibits over ten times higher loading capacity. As a proof-of-concept, FHP-DBAM successfully captures the biomarker GM1 in breast cancer cells MCF-7 with high efficiency.

SIGNIFICANCE AND NOVELTY

This work introduces diboronate affinity mechanism and flower-like hierarchical porous structure as new solution to overcome the limitations of conventional BAMs. FHP-DBAMs achieve lower binding pH, enhanced selectivity, and stronger binding stability through diboronate affinity mechanism. The unique flower-like porous structure maximizes surface area and active sites, addressing low enrichment efficiency and loading capacity. These advancements are critical for the efficient and biocompatible separation of cis-diol-containing biomolecules.

Supra-Hybrid Nanocarriers of Calix[4]Arene and PLGA for Enhanced Encapsulation and Extended Delivery of Gossypol in Cancer Therapy

In this study, supra-hybrid nanocarriers Cal-P NPs are developed by combining amphiphilic macrocyclic calix[4]arene and PLGA, offering adequate stability and multifunctionality as a single-platform nanocarrier resulting in monodispersed nanoparticles with unique synthetic tunability and an optimized hydrophobic core for therapeutic encapsulation. Unlike conventional multicomponent systems, the design eliminates the need for many external stabilizers while enabling tailored PEGylation for controlled drug release, as demonstrated with hydrophobic gossypol. This innovation addresses key limitations in cancer nanomedicine, including premature drug leakage and dose frequency, through a synthetically tunable and structurally optimized, bioresistant core. Gossypol, a model bioactive molecule with poor water solubility, is effectively loaded into the Cal-P NPs, significantly enhancing its aqueous solubility to millimolar concentrations. The encapsulation is driven by favorable interactions between gossypol and the hydrophobic groups of calixarene and PLGA, resulting in a stable core with sustained release properties. Validated through in vivo pharmacokinetic studies and detailed anticancer experiments in two distinct cancer cell lines, GP-Cal-P NPs demonstrated their potential as a robust platform for therapeutic delivery. These findings emphasize the versatility of Cal-P NPs in addressing challenges associated with hydrophobic drugs and highlight their promise for further preclinical and clinical development.

Mussel-inspired adhesive and tough hydrogel for drug release based on lignin-containing cellulose nanofiber

Lignin-containing cellulose nanofiber (LCNF)-based hydrogels are promising eco-friendly biomaterials, yet the role of lignin in enhancing their adhesion and mechanics remains to be explored. Herein, quaternized lignin-containing cellulose nanofibers (QALCNFs) with varying lignin contents were synthesized from bagasse using a deep eutectic solvent (DES). The relationship between lignin content and the adhesion and mechanical properties of QALCNF hydrogels was systematically investigated. Results demonstrated that lignin in QALCNFs enhanced the hydrogel's gelation time, adhesion and mechanical properties through the provision of quinone/catechol groups, which undergo reversible free radical transformations. As the lignin content decreased, the nanofiber bundles gradually transitioned into more uniform nanofibers, forming a hydrogel with a hierarchical porous structure, superior adhesion, and mechanical properties. Conversely, insufficient lignin content weakened the hydrogel's performance by reducing the quinone/catechol content and decreasing hydrogel porosity. Consequently, QAMLCNF-H exhibited outstanding toughness (2400 J/m2), adhesion strength (114.6 kPa), and high porosity (∼86 %), along with sustained drug release performance, effective antibacterial properties, and excellent cytocompatibility. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of how lignin content in QALCNFs influences hydrogel adhesion, mechanical properties, and drug release behavior, offering valuable insights for the development of high-performance LCNF-based hydrogel biomaterials.

Effect of rheological behaviors of polyacrylonitrile grafted sericin solution on film structure and mechanical properties

Sericin protein possesses excellent biocompatibility, antioxidation, and processability. Nevertheless, manufacturing large quantities of strong and tough pure regenerated sericin materials remains a significant challenge. Herein, we design a lightweight structural sericin film with high ductility by combining radical chain polymerization reaction and liquid-solid phase inversion method. The resulting polyacrylonitrile grafted sericin films exhibit the ability to switch between high strength and high toughness effortlessly, the maximum tensile strength and Young's modulus values are 21.92 ± 1.51 MPa and 8.14 ± 0.09 MPa, respectively, while the elongation at break and toughness reaches up to 344.10 ± 35.40 % and 10.84 ± 1.02 MJ·m-3, respectively. Our findings suggest that incorporating sericin into regenerated films contributes to the transformation of their mechanical properties through influencing the entanglement of molecular chains within polymerized solutions. Structural analyses conducted using infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction confirm that sericin modulates the mechanical properties by affecting the transition of condensed matter conformation. This work presents a convenient yet effective strategy for simultaneously addressing the recycling of sericin as well as producing regenerated protein-based films that hold potential applications in biomedical, wearable, or food packaging.

Sustainable lignin nanoparticles from coconut fiber waste for enhancing multifunctional properties of macroalgae biofilms

Multifunctional and sustainable packaging biofilms felicitous to changeable conditions are in large demand as substitutes to petroleum-derived synthetic films. Macroalgae with noticeable film-formation, abundant, low-cost, and edible properties is a promising bioresource for sustainable and eco-friendly packaging materials. However, the poor hydrophobicity and mechanical properties of sustainable macroalgae biofilms seriously impede their practical applications. Herein, lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) produced by a sustainable approach from black liquor of coconut fiber waste were incorporated in the macroalgae matrix to improve the water tolerance and mechanical characteristics of the biofilms. The effect of different LNPs loadings on the performance of biofilms, such as physical, morphological, surface roughness, structural, water resistance, mechanical, and thermal behaviors, were systematically evaluated and found to be considerably improved. Biofilm with 6 % LNPs presented the optimum enhancement in most ultimate performances. The optimized biofilm exhibited great hydrophobic features with a water contact angle of over 100° and high enhancement in the tensile strength of >60 %. This study proposes a facile and sustainable approach for designing and developing LNPs-macroalgae biofilms with excellent and multifunctional properties for sustainable high-performance packaging materials.

Antibacterial mechanism of lignin and lignin-based antimicrobial materials in different fields

The control of microbial infection transmission often relies on the utilization of synthetic and metal-based antimicrobial agents. However, their non-biodegradability and inadequate disposal practices lead to significant environmental contamination. To address this concern, the quest for natural alternatives has gained paramount importance. Lignin, a widely available renewable aromatic compound, emerges as a promising candidate owing to its inherent phenolic moiety, which lends itself well to acting as a natural antimicrobial agent either independently or in combination with other agents. This article provides a comprehensive account of the structure and primary classes of lignin. Additionally, it elucidates the antimicrobial mechanism of lignin, the factors influencing its efficacy, and the methods employed for its detection. Moreover, it describes the progress made in developing the antimicrobial capacity of lignin in different areas. In conclusion, this paper not only outlines the current state of research on the antimicrobial function of lignin, but also identifies challenges and future possibilities for enhancing its antimicrobial properties. This work holds great significance in the ongoing endeavor to contribute to high-impact research on natural alternatives for controlling infections and fostering environmentally conscious practices.