Biological Effects and Applications of Chitosan and Chito-Oligosaccharides

Secretome analysis of the chitinolytic machinery of Chitiniphilus shinanonensis and its implication in chitooligosaccharide production

Chitin's robust structure poses significant challenges for degradation, necessitating the study of microbial processes in chitin-rich environments. We assessed the chitinolytic bacterium Chitiniphilus shinanonensis DSM 23277T (SAY3T) for converting chitin biomass into valuable saccharides using various substrates (chitin flakes, α-chitin, and β-chitin) in shake flask cultures. The bacterium successfully grew on all substrates, achieving complete degradation, although chitin flakes required more time. Maximum growth was observed on β-chitin, followed by α-chitin and chitin flakes. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed bacterial colonization and potential hydrolytic activity on chitin flakes. Proteomic analysis via nanoLC-MS/MS identified 32 chitin-degrading enzymes distributed across secretome, periplasmic, and intracellular fractions, with a notable expression of glycoside hydrolases (families 18, 19, and 20), carbohydrate esterases (family 4), and auxiliary activity proteins (family 10). Among the family 18 chitinases, ChiM, ChiI, and ChiL were significantly upregulated on all chitinous substrates compared to glucose. The chitin-active-secretome exhibited optimal activity at pH 8.0 and 45 °C in 50 mM Tris-HCl. Moreover, the chitin-active-secretome effectively degraded chitin flakes, α-chitin, and β-chitin into chitobiose and GlcNAc, with β-chitin yielding the highest chitobiose levels. The diverse chitin-degrading enzymes of C. shinanonensis efficiently utilize recalcitrant chitin as a carbon and energy source, underscoring its industrial potential for chitin degradation.

Heparin-binding of the human chitinase-like protein YKL-40 is allosterically modified by chitin oligosaccharides

The chitinase-like protein YKL-40 (CHI3L1) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of inflammation and cancer. Recent studies highlight the growing interest in targeting and blocking the activity of YKL-40 to treat cancer. Some of those targeting-strategies have been developed to directly block the heparin-affinity of YKL-40 with promising results. This study explores how short chain chitooligosaccharides (ChOS) affect the heparin-binding affinity of YKL-40. Our findings reveal that ChOS act as allosteric effectors, decreasing the heparin-binding affinity of YKL-40 in a size- and dose-dependent manner. Our results provide insights into the heparin affinity of YKL-40 and how ChOS can be used to target the heparin activity of YKL-40 in diseases. Since ChOS has many beneficial properties, such as being non-toxic and biodegradable, these results provide intriguing opportunities for applying them as allosteric effectors of the heparin-binding affinity of YKL-40.

Discovering the anti-parasitic activity of melatonin loaded lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles against giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis in Balb/c infected mice

Background

Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium parvum are the primary causes of diarrhea with global attention due to the severe pathophysiological changes leading to mortality. During this study, we explored the biological protozoal contaminants (Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp.) in some areas of the Nile River. Then, we evaluated effectiveness of melatonin (Mel) and melatonin loaded lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles (Mel-LCNPs) against giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis in mice models using parasitological and inflammatory response examination.

Results

The number of positive samples for Cryptosporidium was higher than that for Giardia with percentage of 46.67% and 40.0%, respectively. Prior to treatment, the physical characterization (hydrodynamic size and zeta potential) and in vitro characterization of Mel-LCNPs were carried. Mel-LCNPs revealed a hydrodynamic size of 78.8 nm and a zeta potential of − 27.2 mV. Furthermore, they have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, while displaying minimal anticoagulant and cytotoxic effects during in vivo evaluation. Mel was consistently discharged from nanoparticles in a regulated and enduring manner for 36 h. Moreover, Mel in NPs has an entrapment efficiency (EE) of 33.6% and a drug loading capacity (DLC) of 7.2% and significant reduction (100% and 99.4%, respectively) in the shedding of Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts. This reduction was higher than that observed with Mel alone or LCNPs alone on the 14th day post-infection. Moreover, mice of group V, which received Mel-LCNP treatment, exhibited significantly normal levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) as well as healthy control mice group (group I).

Conclusion

Mel-LCNPs were highly effective preparations against giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis in Balb/c mice experimentally infected with proved antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunological modulatory characteristics.

Improving sugar and respiratory metabolism in pear wounds by postharvest dipping with chitosan and chitooligosaccharide

Chitosan (CTS) and its degradation product, chitooligosaccharide (COS), promote fruit healing by activating phenylpropanoid metabolism. This study investigates their effects on sucrose metabolism in pear wounds. CTS and COS were found to activate neutral invertase, acid invertase, sucrose synthase, and sucrose phosphate synthase, increasing sucrose, glucose, and fructose levels in fruit wounds. They also enhanced sorbitol dehydrogenase activity and promoted sorbitol accumulation. In addition, CTS and COS improved the activities of hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, and pyruvate kinase, increasing phosphoenolpyruvate and ATP production. They activated glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and increased erythrose-4-phosphate, NADPH, and shikimic acid levels. In conclusion, CTS and COS support the formation of the healing closing layer by supplying carbon skeletons, energy, and reducing power through the activation of sugar and respiratory metabolism during the healing process. Compared to CTS, COS was superior in activating the above metabolisms, which is expected to be widely used as a chitin product in postharvest fruit and vegetable preservation and provide new insights into preserving pear freshness.

Chitosan-based electrospun fibers for bone-tissue engineering: Recent research advancements

Chitosan, a sustainable and highly abundant animal-derived biopolymer, possesses versatile properties, such as solubility, film-forming ability, viscosity, ion binding, and antimicrobial qualities, which are suitable for biomedical applications. Due to its charged nature, chitosan is a lucrative biopolymer for scaffold fabrication, especially for bone-tissue engineering applications, using the electrospinning method, which is an industrially suitable, scalable, and swift method for fabricating porous nanocomposite structures. Despite a lot of research being conducted on chitosan-based electrospun materials for bone tissue engineering, the research on this topic has not been thoroughly reviewed. This review article aims to fill this knowledge gap and provides an in-depth discussion of the research on this topic. To start with, a brief overview of bone tissue engineering has been provided, followed by the properties of chitosan, which make it an important biopolymer for this application. Also, the important factors that must be considered while electrospinning chitosan, especially considering its application in bone tissue engineering, have been debated. Further, the type of chitosan-based electrospun material has been discussed along with the recent advancements in this research area. Finally, a brief perspective on the future of this technology has been provided.

Chitosan and its derivatives regulate lactic acid synthesis during milk fermentation

Introduction

The influence of chitosan's physicochemical characteristics on the functionality of lactic acid bacteria and the production of lactic acid remains very obscure and contradictory to date. While some studies have shown a stimulatory effect of oligochitosans on the growth of Lactobacillus spp, other studies declare a bactericidal effect of chitosan. The lack and contradiction of knowledge prompted us to study the effect of chitosan on the growth and productivity of L. bulgaricus in the presence of chitosan and its derivatives.

Methods

We used high molecular weight chitosan (350 kDa) and oligochitosans (25.4 and 45.3 kDa). The experiment was carried out with commercial strain of L. bulgaricus and the low fat skim cow milk powder reconstituted with sterile distilled water. After fermentation, dynamic viscosity, titratable acidity, pH, content of lactic acid, colony forming units, chitosan and oligochitosans radii were measured in the samples. Fermented dairy products were also examined using sodium dodecyl sulfate electrophoretic analysis, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and light microscopy.

Results and discussion

The results of the study showed that when L. bulgaricus was cultured in the presence of 25.4 kDa oligochitosans at concentrations of 0.0025%, 0.005%, 0.0075% and 0.01%, the average rate of LA synthesis over 24 hours was 11.0 × 10-3 mol/L/h, 8.7 × 10-3 mol/L/h, 6.8 × 10-3 mol/L/h, 5.8 × 10-3 mol/L/h, respectively. The 45.3 kDa oligochitosans had a similar effect, while the average rate of lactic acid synthesis in the control sample was only 3.5 × 10-3 mol/L/h. Notably, 350 kDa chitosan did not affect the rate of lactic acid synthesis compared with the control sample. Interestingly, interaction of chitosan with L. bulgaricus led to a slowdown in the synthesis of propanol, an increase in the content of unsaturated and saturated fatty acids, and a change in the composition and content of other secondary metabolites. The quantity of L. bulgaricus in a sample with 0.01% chitosan exceeded their content in the control sample by more than 1,700 times. At the same chitosan concentration, the fermentation process was slowed down, increasing the shelf life of the fermented milk product from 5 to 17 days while maintaining a high content of L. bulgaricus (6.34 × 106 CFU/g).

Comparison of the protective effects of chitosan oligosaccharides and chitin oligosaccharide on apoptosis, inflammation and oxidative stress

Chitin degradation products, especially chitosan oligosaccharides (COSs), are highly valued in various industrial fields, such as food, medicine, cosmetics and agriculture, for their rich resources and high cost-effectiveness. However, little is known about the impact of acetylation on COS cellular bioactivity. The present study aimed to compare the differential effects of COS and highly N-acetylated COS (NACOS), known as chitin oligosaccharide, on H2O2-induced cell stress. MTT assay showed that pretreatment with NACOS and COS markedly inhibited H2O2-induced RAW264.7 cell death in a concentration-dependent manner. Flow cytometry indicated that NACOS and COS exerted an anti-apoptosis effect on H2O2-induced oxidative damage in RAW264.7 cells. NACOS and COS treatment ameliorated H2O2-induced RAW264.7 cell cycle arrest. Western blotting revealed that the anti-oxidation effects of NACOS and COS were mediated by suppressing expression of proteins involved in H2O2-induced apoptosis, including Bax, Bcl-2 and cleaved PARP. Furthermore, the antagonist effects of NACOS were greater than those of COS, suggesting that acetylation was essential for the protective effects of COS.

Characterisation of Tenebrio molitor Reared on Substrates Supplemented with Chestnut Shell

Tenebrio molitor larvae represent a sustainable protein source for food and feed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the supplementation of chestnut shell, a by-product of the agro-industrial chain, in growth substrates for T. molitor larvae rearing. Seven-week-old larvae were reared on three different growth substrates: the control group (CTRL) was fed wheat bran, treatment group one was fed wheat bran supplemented with 12.5% w/w chestnut shell (TRT1), and treatment group two was fed wheat bran supplemented with 25% w/w chestnut shell (TRT2). Larval weight, substrate consumption, and mortality were recorded weekly. After 14 days, insect meals were produced for bromatological and colorimetric analysis, and bacterial inhibition activity assay using a microdilution method. The amino acid profile of insects was determined using quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Our results showed a lower feed conversion ratio and higher larval survival rate % in TRT2 compared to CTRL (p < 0.05). Proteins and lipids of TRT2 were higher than other groups (p < 0.05). Important differences were observed in the amino acid profile of TRT1 and TRT2 compared to CTRL (p < 0.05). TRT1 and TRT2 showed higher E. coli inhibitory activity than CTRL (p < 0.05). In conclusion, chestnut shell supplementation improved the survival and functional characteristics of larvae and likely impacted the insects' metabolism.

Advancements in application of chitosan and cyclodextrins in biomedicine and pharmaceutics: recent progress and future trends

The global community is faced with numerous health concerns such as cancer, cardiovascular and neurological diseases, diabetes, joint pain, osteoporosis, among others. With the advancement of research in the fields of materials chemistry and medicine, pharmaceutical technology and biomedical analysis have entered a new stage of development. The utilization of natural oligosaccharides and polysaccharides in pharmaceutical/biomedical studies has gained significant attention. Over the past decade, several studies have shown that chitosan and cyclodextrin have promising biomedical implications in background analysis, ongoing development, and critical applications in biomedical and pharmaceutical research fields. This review introduces different types of saccharides/natural biopolymers such as chitosan and cyclodextrin and discusses their wide-ranging applications in the biomedical/pharmaceutical research area. Recent research advances in pharmaceutics and drug delivery based on cyclodextrin, and their response to smart stimuli, as well as the biological functions of cyclodextrin and chitosan, such as the immunomodulatory effects, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties, have also been discussed, along with their applications in tissue engineering, wound dressing, and drug delivery systems. Finally, the innovative applications of chitosan and cyclodextrin in the pharmaceutical/biomedicine were reviewed, and current challenges, research/technological gaps, and future development opportunities were surveyed.

Pharmaceutical applications of chitosan in skin regeneration: A review

Skin regeneration is the process that restores damaged tissues. When the body experiences trauma or surgical incisions, the skin and tissues on the wound surface become damaged. The body repairs this damage through complex physiological processes to restore the original structural and functional states of the affected tissues. Chitosan, a degradable natural bioactive polysaccharide, has attracted widespread attention partly owing to its excellent biocompatibility and antimicrobial properties; additionally, a modified form of this compound has been shown to promote skin regeneration. This review evaluates the recent research progress in the application of chitosan to promote skin regeneration. First, we discuss the basic principles of the extraction and preparation processes of chitosan from its source. Subsequently, we describe the functional properties of chitosan and the optimization of these properties through modification. We then focus on the existing chitosan-based biomaterials developed for clinical applications and their corresponding effects on skin regeneration, particularly in cases of diabetic and burn wounds. Finally, we explore the challenges and prospects associated with the use of chitosan in skin regeneration. Overall, this review provides a reference for related research and contributes to the further development of chitosan-based products in cutaneous skin regeneration.

Modulation of a Loop Region in the Substrate Binding Pocket Affects the Degree of Polymerization of Bacillus subtilis Chitosanase Products

The hydrolytic products of chitosanase from Streptomyces avermitilis (SaCsn46A) were found to be aminoglucose and chitobiose, whereas those of chitosanase from Bacillus subtilis (BsCsn46A) were chitobiose and chitotriose. Therefore, the sequence alignment between SaCsn46A and BsCsn46A was conducted, revealing that the structure of BsCsn46A possesses an extra loop region (194N-200T) at the substrate binding pocket. To clarify the impact of this loop on hydrolytic properties, three mutants, SC, TJN, and TJA, were constructed. Eventually, the experimental results indicated that SC changed the ratio of chitobiose to chitotriose hydrolyzed by chitosanase from 1:1 into 2:3, while TJA resulted in a ratio of 15:7. This experiment combined molecular research to unveil a crucial loop within the substrate binding pocket of chitosanase. It also provides an effective strategy for mutagenesis and a foundation for altering hydrolysate composition and further applications in engineering chitosanase.

Impacts of chitosan and its nanoformulations on the metabolic syndromes: a review

A significant public health issue worldwide is metabolic syndrome, a cluster of metabolic illnesses that comprises insulin resistance, obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertension. The creation of natural treatments and preventions for metabolic syndrome is crucial. Chitosan, along with its nanoformulations, is an oligomer of chitin, the second-most prevalent polymer in nature, which is created via deacetylation. Due to its plentiful biological actions in recent years, chitosan and its nanoformulations have drawn much interest. Recently, the chitosan nanoparticle-based delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 has been applied in treating metabolic syndromes. The benefits of chitosan and its nanoformulations on insulin resistance, obesity, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertension will be outlined in the present review, highlighting potential mechanisms for the avoidance and medication of the metabolic syndromes by chitosan and its nanoformulations.

Effects of dietary chitosan oligosaccharide on the growth, intestinal microbiota and immunity of juvenile red claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus)

This study aimed to evaluate the potential benefits of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) on red claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) and explore its underlying mechanisms. The crayfish were randomly divided into six groups, and the diets were supplemented with COS at levels of 0 (C0), 0.2 (C1), 0.4 (C2), 0.6 (C3), 0.8 (C4), and 1 (C5) g kg-1. Treatment with COS significantly improved the growth performance of the crayfish with a higher weight gain rate (WGR) and specific growth rate (SGR) in the C2 group compared to the C0 group. Additionally, the content of crude protein in the crayfish muscles in the C1 group was significantly higher than that of the C0 group. Regarding non-specific immunity, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and alkaline phosphatase (AKP), and the levels of expression of the genes related to immunity (SOD; anti-lipopolysaccharide factor [ALF]; thioredoxin1 [Trx1]; C-type lysozyme, [C-LZM]; and GSH-Px) in the hepatopancreas and hemolymph increased significantly (P < 0.05) after supplementation with 0.4 g kg-1 of COS, while the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased (P < 0.05). The survival rate of C. quadricarinatus increased (P < 0.05) in the C2, C3, C4, and C5 groups after the challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila. This study found that COS has the potential to modulate the composition of the intestinal microbiota and significantly reduce the abundance of species of the phylum Proteobacteria and the genera Aeromonas and Vibrio in the gut of C. quadricarinatus, while the abundance of bacteria in the phylum Firmicutes and the genus Candidatus_Hepatoplasma improved significantly. This study suggests that the inclusion of COS in the diet of C. quadricarinatus can enhance growth, boost immunity, and increase resistance to infection with A. hydrophila, especially when supplemented at 0.4-0.8 g kg-1.

Chitinous material bioconversion by three new chitinases from the yeast Mestchnikowia pulcherrima

BACKGROUND

Chitinases are widely distributed enzymes that perform the biotransformation of chitin, one of the most abundant polysaccharides on the biosphere, into useful value-added chitooligosaccharides (COS) with a wide variety of biotechnological applications in food, health, and agricultural fields. One of the most important group of enzymes involved in the degradation of chitin comprises the glycoside hydrolase family 18 (GH18), which harbours endo- and exo-enzymes that act synergistically to depolymerize chitin. The secretion of a chitinase activity from the ubiquitous yeast Mestchnikowia pulcherrima and their involvement in the post-harvest biological control of fungal pathogens was previously reported.

RESULTS

Three new chitinases from M. pulcherrima, MpChit35, MpChit38 and MpChit41, were molecularly characterized and extracellularly expressed in Pichia pastoris to about 91, 90 and 71 mU ml- 1, respectively. The three enzymes hydrolysed colloidal chitin with optimal activity at 45 ºC and pH 4.0-4.5, increased 2-times their activities using 1 mM of Mn2+ and hydrolysed different types of commercial chitosan. The partial separation and characterization of the complex COS mixtures produced from the hydrolysis of chitin and chitosan were achieved by a new anionic chromatography HPAEC-PAD method and mass spectrometry assays. An overview of the predicted structures of these proteins and their catalytic modes of action were also presented. Depicted their high sequence and structural homology, MpChit35 acted as an exo-chitinase producing di-acetyl-chitobiose from chitin while MpChit38 and MpChit41 both acted as endo-chitinases producing tri-acetyl-chitotriose as main final product.

CONCLUSIONS

Three new chitinases from the yeast M. pulcherrima were molecularly characterized and their enzymatic and structural characteristics analysed. These enzymes transformed chitinous materials to fully and partially acetylated COS through different modes of splitting, which make them interesting biocatalysts for deeper structural-function studies on the challenging enzymatic conversion of chitin.

Chitosan nanocomposite for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine: A review

Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering have emerged as a multidisciplinary promising field in the quest to address the limitations of traditional medical approaches. One of the key aspects of these fields is the development of such types of biomaterials that can mimic the extracellular matrix and provide a conducive environment for tissue regeneration. In this regard, chitosan has played a vital role which is a naturally derived linear bi-poly-aminosaccharide, and has gained significant attention due to its biocompatibility and unique properties. Chitosan possesses many unique physicochemical properties, making it a significant polysaccharide for different applications such as agriculture, nutraceutical, biomedical, food, nutraceutical, packaging, etc. as well as significant material for developing next-generation hydrogel and bio-scaffolds for regenerative medicinal applications. Moreover, chitosan can be easily modified to incorporate desirable properties, such as improved mechanical strength, enhanced biodegradability, and controlled release of bioactive molecules. Blending chitosan with other polymers or incorporating nanoparticles into its matrix further expands its potential in tissue engineering applications. This review summarizes the most recent studies of the last 10 years based on chitosan, blends, and nanocomposites and their application in bone tissue engineering, hard tissue engineering, dental implants, dental tissue engineering, dental fillers, and cartilage tissue engineering.

Formulation and antibacterial properties of lollipops containing of chitosan- zinc oxide nano particles on planktonic and biofilm forms of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus

This study aimed to formulate and characterize the experimental lollipops containing chitosan- zinc oxide nanoparticles (CH-ZnO NPs) and investigate their antimicrobial effects against some cariogenic bacteria. The CH-ZnO NPs were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, and Transmission electron microscope (TEM). Then, four groups were made, including lollipops coated with 2 and 4 ml of CH-ZnO NPs, 0.7 ml CH-ZnO NPs incorporated lollipops, and those with no CH-ZnO NPs. Their antibacterial effectiveness against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus was evaluated by direct contact test and tissue culture plate method in planktonic and biofilm phases, respectively. Chlorhexidine mouthrinse (CHX) was used as a positive control group. In the planktonic phase, the antibacterial properties of both groups coated with CH-ZnO NPs were comparable and significantly higher than incorporated ones. There was no significant difference between CHX and the lollipops coated with 4 ml of NPs against S. mutans and CHX and two coated groups against L. acidophilus. None of the experimental lollipops in the biofilm phase could reduce both bacteria counts. The experimental lollipops coated with 2 and 4 ml of CH-ZnO NPs could reveal favorable antimicrobial properties against two cariogenic bacteria in the planktonic phase.

Protective Effects of Alginate and Chitosan Oligosaccharides against Clostridioides difficile Bacteria and Toxin

Clostridioides difficile infection is expected to become the most common healthcare-associated infection worldwide. C. difficile-induced pathogenicity is significantly attributed to its enterotoxin, TcdA, which primarily targets Rho-GTPases involved in regulating cytoskeletal and tight junction (TJ) dynamics, thus leading to cytoskeleton breakdown and ultimately increased intestinal permeability. This study investigated whether two non-digestible oligosaccharides (NDOs), alginate (AOS) and chitosan (COS) oligosaccharides, possess antipathogenic and barrier-protective properties against C. difficile bacteria and TcdA toxin, respectively. Both NDOs significantly reduced C. difficile growth, while cell cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that neither COS nor AOS significantly attenuated the TcdA-induced cell death 24 h post-exposure. The challenge of Caco-2 monolayers with increasing TcdA concentrations increased paracellular permeability, as measured by TEER and LY flux assays. In this experimental setup, COS completely abolished, and AOS mitigated, the deleterious effects of TcdA on the monolayer's integrity. These events were not accompanied by alterations in ZO-1 and occludin protein levels; however, immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that both AOS and COS prevented the TcdA-induced occludin mislocalization. Finally, both NDOs accelerated TJ reassembly upon a calcium-switch assay. Overall, this study established the antipathogenic and barrier-protective capacity of AOS and COS against C. difficile and its toxin, TcdA, while revealing their ability to promote TJ reassembly in Caco-2 cells.

Nanoparticle Synthesis and Their Integration into Polymer-Based Fibers for Biomedical Applications

The potential of nanoparticles as effective drug delivery systems combined with the versatility of fibers has led to the development of new and improved strategies to help in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Nanoparticles have extraordinary characteristics that are helpful in several applications, including wound dressings, microbial balance approaches, tissue regeneration, and cancer treatment. Owing to their large surface area, tailor-ability, and persistent diameter, fibers are also used for wound dressings, tissue engineering, controlled drug delivery, and protective clothing. The combination of nanoparticles with fibers has the power to generate delivery systems that have enhanced performance over the individual architectures. This review aims at illustrating the main possibilities and trends of fibers functionalized with nanoparticles, focusing on inorganic and organic nanoparticles and polymer-based fibers. Emphasis on the recent progress in the fabrication procedures of several types of nanoparticles and in the description of the most used polymers to produce fibers has been undertaken, along with the bioactivity of such alliances in several biomedical applications. To finish, future perspectives of nanoparticles incorporated within polymer-based fibers for clinical use are presented and discussed, thus showcasing relevant paths to follow for enhanced success in the field.

Proteome Analysis of the Antiproliferative Activity of the Novel Chitooligosaccharide-Gallic Acid Conjugate against the SW620 Colon Cancer Cell Line

Chitooligosaccharide (COS) and gallic acid (GA) are natural compounds with anti-cancer properties, and their conjugate (COS-GA) has several biological activities. Herein, the anti-cancer activity of COS-GA in SW620 colon cancer cells was investigated. MTT assay was used to evaluate cell viability after treatment with 62.5, 122, and 250 µg/mL of COS, GA, and COS-GA for 24 and 48 h. The number of apoptotic cells was determined using flow cytometry. Proteomic analysis was used to explore the mechanisms of action of different compounds. COS-GA and GA showed a stronger anti-cancer effect than COS by reducing SW620 cell proliferation at 125 and 250 µg/mL within 24 h. Flow cytometry revealed 20% apoptosis after COS-GA treatment for 24 h. Thus, GA majorly contributed to the enhanced anti-cancer activity of COS via conjugation. Proteomic analysis revealed alterations in protein translation and DNA duplication in the COS group and the structural constituents of the cytoskeleton, intermediate filament organization, the mitochondrial nucleoid, and glycolytic processes in the COS-GA group. Anti-cancer-activity-related proteins were altered, including CLTA, HSPA9, HIST2H2BF, KRT18, HINT1, DSP, and VIM. Overall, the COS-GA conjugate can serve as a potential anti-cancer agent for the safe and effective treatment of colon cancer.

Utilization of Tenebrio molitor Larvae Reared with Different Substrates as Feed Ingredients in Growing Pigs

The procurement of adequate feed resources is one of the most important challenges for the animal industry worldwide. While the need for feeds rich in protein is constantly increasing, their production cannot readily keep up. Consequently, to overcome this challenge in a sustainable way, it is necessary to identify and develop new feeding strategies and feed ingredients, such as insect meals. In the present study, Tenebrio molitor larvae that were reared on two different substrates (standard and enriched with medicinal aromatic plant material) were used as feed ingredients for growing pigs. A total of 36 weaned pigs (34 days old) were randomly allocated to three treatment groups and fed either the control diet (A) or diets supplemented at 10% with one of the two insect meals (B and C). At the end of the trial (42 days), blood, feces, and meat samples were collected for analysis. The insect meal supplementation did not affect (p > 0.05) overall performance but significantly modified (p < 0.001) the fecal microflora balance and the blood cholesterol (p < 0.001), while the rest of the blood parameters tested were not affected. Moreover, this dietary supplementation significantly affected some microbial populations (p < 0.001), improved the total phenolic content (p < 0.05), and the fatty acid profile (p < 0.001) of the meat cuts, but did not affect (p > 0.05) meat color or proximate composition. Further research is needed to evaluate the different types and levels of inclusion of insect meals in pig nutrition.

A comprehensive review of chitosan applications in paper science and technologies

Using environmentally friendly biomaterials in different aspects of human life has been considered extensively. In this respect, different biomaterials have been identified and different applications have been found for them. Currently, chitosan, the well-known derivative of the second most abundant polysaccharide in the nature (i.e., chitin), has been receiving a lot of attention. This unique biomaterial can be defined as a renewable, high cationic charge density, antibacterial, biodegradable, biocompatible, non-toxic biomaterial with high compatibility with cellulose structure, where it can be used in different applications. This review takes a deep and comprehensive look at chitosan and its derivative applications in different aspects of papermaking.

Chitosan oligomers (COS) trigger a coordinated biochemical response of lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) plants to palliate salinity-induced oxidative stress

Plant susceptibility to salt depends on several factors from its genetic makeup to modifiable physiological and biochemical status. We used lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) plants as a relevant medicinal and aromatic cash crop to assess the potential benefits of chitosan oligomers (COS) on plant growth and essential oil productivity during salinity stress (160 and 240 mM NaCl). Five foliar sprays of 120 mg L^-1 of COS were applied weekly. Several aspects of photosynthesis, gas exchange, cellular defence, and essential oil productivity of lemongrass were traced. The obtained data indicated that 120 mg L^-1 COS alleviated photosynthetic constraints and raised the enzymatic antioxidant defence including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) activities that minimised salt-induced oxidative damage. Further, stomatal conductance (g_s) and photosynthetic CO₂ assimilation (A) were improved to support overall plant development. The same treatment increased geraniol dehydrogenase (GeDH) activity and lemongrass essential oil production. COS-induced salt resilience suggests that COS could become a useful biotechnological tool in reclaiming saline soil for improved crop productivity, especially when such soil is unfit for leading food crops. Considering its additional economic value in the essential oil industry, we propose COS-treated lemongrass as an excellent alternative crop for saline lands.

Chitosan and chito-oligosaccharide: a versatile biopolymer with endless grafting possibilities for multifarious applications

Chito-oligosaccharides (COS), derived from chitosan (CH), are attracting increasing attention as drug delivery carriers due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and mucoadhesive properties. Grafting, the process of chemically modifying CH/COS by adding side chains, has been used to improve their drug delivery performance by enhancing their stability, targeted delivery, and controlled release. In this review, we aim to provide an in-depth study on the recent advances in the grafting of CH/COS for multifarious applications. Moreover, the various strategies and techniques used for grafting, including chemical modification, enzymatic modification, and physical modification, are elaborated. The properties of grafted CH/COS, such as stability, solubility, and biocompatibility, were reported. Additionally, the review detailed the various applications of grafted CH/COS in drug delivery, including the delivery of small drug molecule, proteins, and RNA interference therapeutics. Furthermore, the effectiveness of grafted CH/COS in improving the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs was included. Finally, the challenges and limitations associated with the use of grafted CH/COS for drug delivery and outline directions for future research are addressed. The insights provided in this review will be valuable for researchers and drug development professionals interested in the application of grafted CH/COS for multifarious applications.

Screening of marine sediment-derived microorganisms and their bioactive metabolites: a review

Marine sediments are one of the largest habitats on Earth, and their unique ecology, such as high salinity, high pressure, and hypoxia, may activate certain silent genes in marine microbes, resulting in microbes, enzymes, active products, and specific metabolic pathways that can adapt to these specific ecological environments. Marine sediment-derived microorganisms and their bioactive metabolites are of great significance and have potential commercial development prospects for food, pharmaceutical, chemical industries, agriculture, environmental protection and human nutrition and health. In recent years, although there have been numerous scientific reports surrounding marine sediment-derived microorganisms and their bioactive metabolites, a comprehensive review of their research progress is lacking. This paper presents the development and renewal of traditional culture-dependent and omics analysis techniques and their application to the screening of marine sediment-derived microorganisms producing bioactive substances. It also highlights recent research advances in the last five years surrounding the types, functional properties and potential applications of bioactive metabolites produced by marine sediment-derived microorganisms. These bioactive metabolites mainly include antibiotics, enzymes, enzyme inhibitors, sugars, proteins, peptides, and some other small molecule metabolites. In addition, the review ends with concluding remarks on the challenges and future directions for marine sediment-derived microorganisms and their bioactive metabolites. The review report not only helps to deepen the understanding of marine sediment-derived microorganisms and their bioactive metabolites, but also provides some useful information for the exploitation and utilization of marine microbial resources and the mining of new compounds with potential functional properties.

Chitooligosaccharide accelerated wound healing in potato tubers by promoting the deposition of suberin polyphenols and lignin at wounds

Chitooligosaccharide (COS) is a low molecular weight product of chitosan degradation. Although COS induces plant resistance by activating phenylpropanoid metabolism, there are few reports on whether COS accelerates wound healing in potato tubers by promoting the deposition of phenolic acids and lignin monomers at wounds. The results showed that COS activated phenylalanine ammonialyase and cinnamate 4-hydroxylase and promoted the synthesis of cinnamic, caffeic, p-coumaric, ferulic acids, total phenolics and flavonoids. COS activated 4-coumaric acid coenzyme A ligase and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase and promoted the synthesis of sinapyl, coniferyl and cinnamyl alcohols. COS also increased H₂O₂ levels and peroxidase activity and accelerated the deposition of suberin polyphenols and lignin on wounds. In addition, COS reduced weight loss and inhibited lesion expansion in tubers inoculated with Fusarium sulfureum. Taken together, COS accelerated wound healing in potato tubers by inducing phenylpropanoid metabolism and accelerating the deposition of suberin polyphenols and lignin at wounds.

Chitosan and chitooligosaccharide regulated reactive oxygen species homeostasis at wounds of pear fruit during healing

Both chitosan (CTS) and chitooligosaccharide (COS) can promote fruit healing. However, whether the two chemicals regulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis during wound healing of pear fruit remains unknown. In this study, the wounded pear fruit (Pyrus bretschneideri cv. Dongguo) was treated with a 1 g L^-1 CTS and COS. We found CTS and COS treatments increased NADPH oxidase and superoxide dismutase activities, and promoted O₂^.- and H₂O₂ production at wounds. CTS and COS also enhanced the activities of catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and glutathione reductase, and elevated the levels of ascorbic acid and glutathione. In addition, the two chemicals improved antioxidant capacity in vitro and maintained cell membrane integrity at fruit wounds during healing. Taken together, CTS and COS can regulate ROS homeostasis at wounds of pear fruit during healing by scavenging excessive H₂O₂ and improving antioxidant capacity. Overall, the COS demonstrated superior performance over the CTS.

Effective Endotoxin Removal from Chitosan That Preserves Chemical Structure and Improves Compatibility with Immune Cells

Chitosan is one of the most researched biopolymers for healthcare applications, however, being a naturally derived polymer, it is susceptible to endotoxin contamination, which elicits pro-inflammatory responses, skewing chitosan's performance and leading to inaccurate conclusions. It is therefore critical that endotoxins are quantified and removed for in vivo use. Here, heat and mild NaOH treatment are investigated as facile endotoxin removal methods from chitosan. Both treatments effectively removed endotoxin to below the FDA limit for medical devices (<0.5 EU/mL). However, in co-culture with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), only NaOH-treated chitosan prevented TNF-α production. While endotoxin removal is the principal task, the preservation of chitosan's structure is vital for the synthesis and lysozyme degradation of chitosan-based hydrogels. The chemical properties of NaOH-treated chitosan (by FTIR-ATR) were significantly similar to its native composition, whereas the heat-treated chitosan evidenced macroscopic chemical and physical changes associated with the Maillard reaction, deeming this treatment unsuitable for further applications. Degradation studies conducted with lysozyme demonstrated that the degradation rates of native and NaOH-treated chitosan-genipin hydrogels were similar. In vitro co-culture studies showed that NaOH hydrogels did not negatively affect the cell viability of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs), nor induce phenotypical maturation or pro-inflammatory cytokine release.

Deglycosylation Differentially Regulates Weaned Porcine Gut Alkaline Phosphatase Isoform Functionality along the Longitudinal Axis

Gut alkaline phosphatases (AP) dephosphorylate the lipid moiety of endotoxin and other pathogen-associated-molecular patterns members, thus maintaining gut eubiosis and preventing metabolic endotoxemia. Early weaned pigs experience gut dysbiosis, enteric diseases and growth retardation in association with decreased intestinal AP functionality. However, the role of glycosylation in modulation of the weaned porcine gut AP functionality is unclear. Herein three different research approaches were taken to investigate how deglycosylation affected weaned porcine gut AP activity kinetics. In the first approach, weaned porcine jejunal AP isoform (IAP) was fractionated by the fast protein-liquid chromatography and purified IAP fractions were kinetically characterized to be the higher-affinity and lower-capacity glycosylated mature IAP (p < 0.05) in comparison with the lower-affinity and higher-capacity non-glycosylated pre-mature IAP. The second approach enzyme activity kinetic analyses showed that N-deglycosylation of AP by the peptide N-glycosidase-F enzyme reduced (p < 0.05) the IAP maximal activity in the jejunum and ileum and decreased AP affinity (p < 0.05) in the large intestine. In the third approach, the porcine IAP isoform-X1 (IAPX1) gene was overexpressed in the prokaryotic ClearColiBL21 (DE3) cell and the recombinant porcine IAPX1 was associated with reduced (p < 0.05) enzyme affinity and maximal enzyme activity. Therefore, levels of glycosylation can modulate plasticity of weaned porcine gut AP functionality towards maintaining gut microbiome and the whole-body physiological status.

Effect of dietary chitosan supplementation on productive and physiological performance parameters of growing New Zealand white rabbits

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary chitosan supplementation on the growth performance, carcass traits, and some physiological parameters of weaned New Zealand White rabbits (NZW). Sixty-four NZWs were randomly distributed into four dietary experimental groups (n = 16) and fed a basal diet ad libitum for eight weeks: under Egyptian conditions. The basal diet without chitosan served as the control group, while the other three groups were fed diets containing 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 g chitosan/kg diet. We observed significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences among chitosan treatments. Specifically, groups supplemented with chitosan in their diets had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher final body weight and weight gain, as well as an improved feed conversion ratio compared to the control group. Rabbits fed chitosan at 0.2 g/kg diet performed the best in growth traits compared to other treatment groups. Rabbits fed chitosan at 0.4 g/kg diet had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher levels of total protein in their blood than in the control group. However, levels did not differ significantly from that in the 0.2 group. Likewise, the highest (P ≤ 0.05) levels of glucose and HDL concentrations were detected in rabbits fed chitosan at a 0.2 g/kg diet. All chitosan-supplemented groups (especially at 0.2 g/kg diet) had higher economic efficiency and relative profit levels than the control group. Moreover, morphometric evaluations of the small intestine revealed higher villi number and crypt depth values in chitosan-treated animals compared to the control group. We conclude that using chitosan at levels of 0.2 or 0.4 g/kg diet can effectively improve the body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and economic efficiency, as well as the overall health status of NZW under Egyptian conditions.

Natural antimicrobial oligosaccharides in the food industry

An increase in the number of antibiotic resistance genes burdens the environment and affects human health. Additionally, people have developed a cautious attitude toward chemical preservatives. This attitude has promoted the search for new natural antimicrobial substances. Oligosaccharides from various sources have been studied for their antimicrobial and prebiotic effects. Antimicrobial oligosaccharides have several advantages such as being produced from renewable resources and showing antimicrobial properties similar to those of chemical preservatives. Their excellent broad-spectrum antibacterial properties are primarily because of various synergistic effects, including destruction of pathogen cell wall. Additionally, the adhesion of harmful microorganisms and the role of harmful factors may be reduced by oligosaccharides. Some natural oligosaccharides were also shown to stimulate the growth probiotic organisms. Therefore, antimicrobial oligosaccharides have the potential to meet food processing industry requirements in the future. The latest progress in research on the antimicrobial activity of different oligosaccharides is demonstrated in this review. The possible mechanism of action of these antimicrobial oligosaccharides is summarized with respect to their direct and indirect effects. Finally, the extended applications of oligosaccharides from the food source industry to food processing are discussed.

Feeding of Hermetia illucens Larvae Meal Attenuates Hepatic Lipid Synthesis and Fatty Liver Development in Obese Zucker Rats

The present study tested the hypothesis that dietary insect meal from Hermetia illucens (HI) larvae attenuates the development of liver steatosis and hyperlipidemia in the obese Zucker rat. To test the hypothesis, a 4-week trial with male, obese Zucker rats (n = 30) and male, lean Zucker rats (n = 10) was performed. The obese rats were assigned to three obese groups (group O-C, group O-HI25, group O-HI50) of 10 rats each. The lean rats served as a lean control group (L-C). Group L-C and group O-C were fed a control diet with 20% casein as protein source, whereas 25% and 50% of the protein from casein was replaced with protein from HI larvae meal in the diets of group O-HI25 and O-HI50, respectively. The staining of liver sections with Oil red O revealed an excessive lipid accumulation in the liver of group O-C compared to group L-C, whereas liver lipid accumulation in group O-HI25 and O-HI50 was markedly reduced compared to group O-C. Hepatic concentrations of triglycerides, cholesterol, C14:0, C16:0, C16:1, C18:0, C18:1, the sum of total fatty acids and hepatic mRNA levels of several genes associated with lipid synthesis and plasma concentration of cholesterol were markedly higher in group O-C than in group L-C, but lower in group O-HI50 than in group O-C (p < 0.05). In conclusion, partial replacement of casein by HI larvae meal attenuates liver steatosis and dyslipidemia in obese Zucker rats. This suggests that HI larvae meal serves as a functional food protecting from obesity-induced metabolic disorders.

Customized chitooligosaccharide production-controlling their length via engineering of rhizobial chitin synthases and the choice of expression system

Chitooligosaccharides (COS) have attracted attention from industry and academia in various fields due to their diverse bioactivities. However, their conventional chemical production is environmentally unfriendly and in addition, defined and pure molecules are both scarce and expensive. A promising alternative is the in vivo synthesis of desired COS in microbial platforms with specific chitin synthases enabling a more sustainable production. Hence, we examined the whole cell factory approach with two well-established microorganisms-Escherichia coli and Corynebacterium glutamicum-to produce defined COS with the chitin synthase NodC from Rhizobium sp. GRH2. Moreover, based on an in silico model of the synthase, two amino acids potentially relevant for COS length were identified and mutated to direct the production. Experimental validation showed the influence of the expression system, the mutations, and their combination on COS length, steering the production from originally pentamers towards tetramers or hexamers, the latter virtually pure. Possible explanations are given by molecular dynamics simulations. These findings pave the way for a better understanding of chitin synthases, thus allowing a more targeted production of defined COS. This will, in turn, at first allow better research of COS' bioactivities, and subsequently enable sustainable large-scale production of oligomers.

Direct Action of Non-Digestible Oligosaccharides against a Leaky Gut

The epithelial monolayer is the primary determinant of mucosal barrier function, and tight junction (TJ) complexes seal the paracellular space between the adjacent epithelial cells and represent the main "gate-keepers" of the paracellular route. Impaired TJ functionality results in increased permeation of the "pro-inflammatory" luminal contents to the circulation that induces local and systemic inflammatory and immune responses, ultimately triggering and/or perpetuating (chronic) systemic inflammatory disorders. Increased gut leakiness is associated with intestinal and systemic disease states such as inflammatory bowel disease and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease. Modulation of TJ dynamics is an appealing strategy aiming at inflammatory conditions associated with compromised intestinal epithelial function. Recently there has been a growing interest in nutraceuticals, particularly in non-digestible oligosaccharides (NDOs). NDOs confer innumerable health benefits via microbiome-shaping and gut microbiota-related immune responses, including enhancement of epithelial barrier integrity. Emerging evidence supports that NDOs also exert health-beneficial effects on microbiota independently via direct interactions with intestinal epithelial and immune cells. Among these valuable features, NDOs promote barrier function by directly regulating TJs via AMPK-, PKC-, MAPK-, and TLR-associated pathways. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the epithelial barrier-protective effects of different NDOs with a special focus on their microbiota-independent modulation of TJs.

Multifunctional role of chitosan in farm animals: a comprehensive review

The deacetylation of chitin results in chitosan, a fibrous-like material. It may be produced in large quantities since the raw material (chitin) is plentiful in nature as a component of crustacean (shrimps and crabs) and insect hard outer skeletons, as well as the cell walls of some fungi. Chitosan is a nontoxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible polygluchitosanamine that contains two essential reactive functional groups, including amino and hydroxyl groups. This unique chemical structure confers chitosan with many biological functions and activities such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antitumor, immunostimulatory and hypocholesterolemic, when used as a feed additive for farm animals. Studies have indicated the beneficial effects of chitosan on animal health and performance, aside from its safer use as an antibiotic alternative. This review aimed to highlight the effects of chitosan on animal health and performance when used as a promising feed additive.

Chitooligosaccharide Maintained Cell Membrane Integrity by Regulating Reactive Oxygen Species Homeostasis at Wounds of Potato Tubers during Healing

Chitooligosaccharide (COS) is a degradation product of chitosan. Although COS increased fruit resistance by regulating the metabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS), few reports are available on whether COS regulates ROS homeostasis at wounds of potato tubers during healing. In this study, COS increased gene expression and activities of NADPH oxidase and superoxide dismutase, and promoted the generation of O₂^●- and H₂O₂. Moreover, COS increased gene expression and activities of catalase, peroxidase, and AsA-GSH cycle-related enzymes, as well as the levels of ascorbic acid and glutathione levels. In addition, COS elevated the scavenging ability of DPPH, ABTS⁺, and FRAP, and reduced cell membrane permeability and malondialdehyde content. Taken together, COS could maintain cell membrane integrity by eliminating excessive H₂O₂ and improving the antioxidant capacity in vitro, which contributes to the maintainance of cell membrane integrity at wounds of potato tubers during healing.

Chitosan reduces inflammation and protects against oxidative stress in a hyperlipidemic rat model: relevance to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND

An altered lipid profile may lead to the development of inflammation and NAFLD (Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease). Although statins have a positive effect on blood lipid levels their long-term use is known to cause adverse effects, in this backdrop there is an interest in natural compounds which may affect lipid metabolism and prevent NAFLD. We have examined the effect of Chitosan on rats subjected to a high-fat diet.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Male Wistar middle aged rats (12-16 months) were treated with high-fat diet orally for two months for creating a NAFLD model. Rats were also supplemented with Chitosan (2% chitosan daily) for 2 months. We assessed the activity of antioxidant enzymes, the histopathological profile of the liver. Inflammatory cytokines and adiponectin levels were also measured in serum. HFD induced significant changes in liver tissue and inflammatory markers (Il-6, TNF- alpha, NF-KB). Chitosan treatment protected rats from HFD induced alterations.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that Chitosan can effectively improve liver lipid metabolism by normalizing cholesterol, triglyceride, lowering NF-KB expression, and protecting the liver from oxidative stress by improving hepatic function. Chitosan also regulates genes related to lipidemic stress i,e leptin and adiponectin.

Selenide Chitosan Sulfate Improved the Hepatocyte Activity, Growth Performance, and Anti-oxidation Capacity by Activating the Thioredoxin Reductase of Chickens In Vitro and In Vivo

Chicken hepatocytes were cultured in vitro and 240 specific pathogen-free (SPF) white leghorns chickens (7 days old) were obtained. The hepatocytes and chickens were randomly allocated to one of six treatment groups: control group; chitosan (COS) group; sodium selenite (Na₂SeO₃) group; selenide chitosan (COS-Se) group; chitosan sulfate (LS-COS) group; and selenide chitosan sulfate (LS-COS-Se) group. Our results showed that LS-COS-Se increased (P < 0.05) the activities of thioredoxin reductase (TXNRD), anti-superoxide anion radical (antiO₂^-), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), the mRNA levels of thioredoxin reductase 1 (TXNRD1) and thioredoxin reductase 3 (TXNRD3), and the chicken body weight, but reduced (P < 0.05) the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Compared with COS and LS-COS, the LS-COS-Se treatment increased (P < 0.05) the activities of TXNRD, SOD, catalase (CAT), and the mRNA levels of TXNRD1 and TXNRD3, but reduced (P < 0.05) the MDA content in vitro, whereas, in vivo, it increased (P < 0.05) body weight on day 28; the activities of TXNRD, antiO₂^-, and SOD; and the mRNA levels of TXNRD1 and TXNRD3. Compared with Na₂SeO₃ and COS-Se, the LS-COS-Se treatment increased (P < 0.05) the TXNRD and SOD activities, the mRNA levels of TXNRD1 and TXNRD3 in vitro, increased (P < 0.05) the chicken body weight on day 28, and the TXNRD, antiO₂^-, and SOD activities, but reduced (P < 0.05) the MDA content. These results indicated that LS-COS-Se was a useful antioxidant that improved hepatocyte activity, growth performance, and anti-oxidation capacity in hepatocytes (in vitro) and SPF chicken (in vivo) by activating the TXNRD system.

Nutrients and Bioactive Compounds in Seafood: Quantitative Literature Research Analysis

This perspective presents current and updated advances in research on nutrients and bioactive compounds in seafood. It is based on a literature quantitative research analysis approach. The main features of seafood components are introduced. This perspective aims at providing a current framework that relates nutrients, bioactive compounds, and seafood in a novel integrated and multidisciplinary manner, highlighting the current knowledge, the main research lines, and emerging strategies. The literature search was carried out by means of the Scopus database, and 22,542 documents were retrieved in the period from 1932 to 2024. Particularly, from the perspective of nutrition and health outputs, the main terms correlated with research on the relationship between seafood and nutritional and bioactive components, and the main existing research lines focused on this topic, were identified. The top recurring keywords were human/s, female, diet, nutrition, fish, male, adult, food intake.

Nanoencapsulation of Gla-Rich Protein (GRP) as a Novel Approach to Target Inflammation

Chronic inflammation is a major driver of chronic inflammatory diseases (CIDs), with a tremendous impact worldwide. Besides its function as a pathological calcification inhibitor, vitamin K-dependent protein Gla-rich protein (GRP) was shown to act as an anti-inflammatory agent independently of its gamma-carboxylation status. Although GRP’s therapeutic potential has been highlighted, its low solubility at physiological pH still constitutes a major challenge for its biomedical application. In this work, we produced fluorescein-labeled chitosan-tripolyphosphate nanoparticles containing non-carboxylated GRP (ucGRP) (FCNG) via ionotropic gelation, increasing its bioavailability, stability, and anti-inflammatory potential. The results indicate the nanosized nature of FCNG with PDI and a zeta potential suitable for biomedical applications. FCNG’s anti-inflammatory activity was studied in macrophage-differentiated THP1 cells, and in primary vascular smooth muscle cells and chondrocytes, inflamed with LPS, TNFα and IL-1β, respectively. In all these in vitro human cell systems, FCNG treatments resulted in increased intra and extracellular GRP levels, and decreased pro-inflammatory responses of target cells, by decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammation mediators. These results suggest the retained anti-inflammatory bioactivity of ucGRP in FCNG, strengthening the potential use of ucGRP as an anti-inflammatory agent with a wide spectrum of application, and opening up perspectives for its therapeutic application in CIDs.

Chitosan Oligosaccharides Alleviate H2O2-stimulated Granulosa Cell Damage via HIF-1α Signaling Pathway

Oocyte maturation disorder and decreased quality are the main causes of infertility in women, and granulosa cells (GCs) provide the only microenvironment for oocyte maturation through autocrine and paracrine signaling by steroid hormones and growth factors. However, chronic inflammation and oxidative stress caused by ovarian hypoxia are the largest contributors to ovarian aging and GC dysfunction. Therefore, the amelioration of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress is expected to be a pivotal method to improve GC function and oocyte quality. In this study, we detected the protective effect of chitosan oligosaccharides (COS), on hydrogen peroxide- (H₂O₂-) stimulated oxidative damage in a human ovarian granulosa cell line (KGN). COS significantly increased cell viability, mitochondrial function, and the cellular glutathione (GSH) content and reduced apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, and the levels of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), and vascular endothelial-derived growth factor (VEGF) in H₂O₂-stimulated KGN cells. COS treatment significantly increased levels of the TGF-β1 and IL-10 proteins and decreased levels of the IL-6 protein. Compared with H₂O₂-stimulated KGN cells, COS significantly increased the levels of E₂ and P₄ and decreased SA-β-gal protein expression. Furthermore, COS caused significant inactivation of the HIF-1α-VEGF pathway in H₂O₂-stimulated KGN cells. Moreover, inhibition of this pathway enhanced the inhibitory effects of COS on H₂O₂-stimulated oxidative injury and apoptosis in GCs. Thus, COS protected GCs from H₂O₂-stimulated oxidative damage and apoptosis by inactivating the HIF-1α-VEGF signaling pathway. In the future, COS might represent a therapeutic approach for ameliorating disrupted follicle development.

Full-fat field cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) as a substitute for fish meal and soybean meal for weaning piglets: effects on growth performance, intestinal health, and redox status

Full-fat field cricket meal (FCP) is an alternative protein ingredient in livestock production; however, the effects of replacing conventional protein sources with FCP in nursery diets have not been determined. In this study, the effects of the partial replacement of either fish meal or soybean meal with FCP on weaning pigs were evaluated, including the analyses of growth performance, nutrient utilization, intestinal morphology, 
immunity, oxidative stress, and fecal microbial counts. A total of 100 crossbred weaning pigs [(Landrace × Large White) × Duroc] were allotted to one of the following five treatments with five replicates (four pigs/pen) and fed for 28 d postweaning. Treatments were 1) a corn-soybean meal (SBM)-based diet with 5% fish meal (Positive control; PC), 2) a corn-SBM-based diet without fish meal (Negative control; NC), 3) field crickets replacing fishmeal on a total Lys basis (FCP1), 4) field crickets replacing fishmeal on a kg/kg basis (FCP2), and 5) field crickets replacing fish meal and soybean meal (FCP3). The piglets on FCP1 had a higher body weight on days 14 and 28, and an increased average daily gain over the experimental period than NC (P < 0.05); FCP2 and FCP3 were similar to the FCP1 treatment. The incidence of diarrhea was lower under an FCP-supplemented diet than under the NC diet throughout the study (P < 0.05). Pigs fed FCP1 and FCP2 had a higher digestibility of crude 
protein (P = 0.041), and all FCP groups increased crude fat digestibility (P = 0.024). FCP1 and FCP2 also increased jejunal villus height 
(P = 0.009), whereas the increase in jejunal villus-to-crypt ratios (P = 0.019) was greater in pigs fed the FCP2 diet than those fed the NC diet. Furthermore, FCP2 supplementation increased serum immunoglobulin A levels on days 14 and 28, including reduced serum interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels (P < 0.05). Pigs fed an FCP2 diet had reduced malondialdehyde levels than those fed a PC diet, while pigs fed an FCP2 diet had higher superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase levels, and more fecal Lactobacillus spp. than those fed an NC diet (P < 0.05). These results support the use of FCP as an alternative protein ingredient with beneficial effects on growth performance, intestinal morphology, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal microbiota. In particular, FCP can be used as a partial substitute for fish meal and soybean meal without detrimental effects on weaning pigs.

Formulation of selenium nanoparticles encapsulated by alginate-chitosan for controlled delivery of Vibrio Cholerae LPS: A novel delivery system candidate for nanovaccine

The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Vibrio cholerae plays a significant role in stimulating primary protection and immune responses. LPS delivery has been limited by the stimulation of inflammatory cytokines. This work aimed to report the synthesis and performance of this formulation in modulating immune responses and protecting LPS against acidic gastric medium. Alg-Cs-LPS-SeNPs composite was fabricated by an ionic cross-linking/in situ reduction method. Cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and TGF-β were assessed after cells were incubated with different compounds of the system. The main outcomes revealed that encapsulation of LPS-loaded SeNPs in the alginate-chitosan complex was associated with a high entrapment efficiency and could effectively protect LPS against acidic GIT medium. Kinetic profiling revealed that LPS was more slowly released from LPS-loaded Alg-Cs-LPS-SeNPs at pH 1.2, 7.4, and 6.8. These results indicated that Alg-Cs-LPS-SeNPs composite was able to significantly increase anti-inflammatory cytokines and reduce the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Thus, these findings show that this system for LPS delivery could be easily biosynthesized and encapsulated for use in the pharmaceutical industry. This study provides proof of the potential for future use of oral LPS vaccines, concomitantly inducing immunomodulatory effects.

Both chitosan and chitooligosaccharide treatments accelerate wound healing of pear fruit by activating phenylpropanoid metabolism

This study aimed to compare the effects of chitosan (CTS) and chitooligosaccharide (COS) treatments on wound healing of pear fruits and to investigate the related mechanisms during postharvest storage under ambient conditions. The results revealed that CTS and COS treatments reduced the weight loss and disease index of the wounded pears (Pyrus bretschneideri cv. Dongguo), and accelerated suberin polyphenolic and lignin deposition at wounds during 7 d of investigation. Furthermore, CTS and COS elevated the level of the genes expression and activities of key enzymes and increased product contents of phenylpropanoid metabolism. Collectively, these treatments at a concentration of 1 g/L could promote wound healing in pears by activating phenylpropanoid metabolism. Comparatively, COS treatment presented better effects to CTS and could be useful as a preservative method to enhance storability of fresh produce.

Combinatorial pathway engineering of Bacillus subtilis for production of structurally defined and homogeneous chitooligosaccharides

Chitooligosaccharides (COSs) have a widespread range of biological functions and an incredible potential for various pharmaceutical and agricultural applications. Although several physical, chemical, and biological techniques have been reported for COSs production, it is still a challenge to obtain structurally defined COSs with defined polymerization (DP) and acetylation patterns, which hampers the specific characterization and application of COSs. Herein, we achieved the de novo production of structurally defined COSs using combinatorial pathway engineering in Bacillus subtilis. Specifically, the COSs synthase NodC from Azorhizobium caulinodans was overexpressed in B. subtilis, leading to 30 ± 0.86 mg/L of chitin oligosaccharides (CTOSs), the homo-oligomers of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) with a well-defined DP lower than 6. Then introduction of a GlcNAc synthesis module to promote the supply of the sugar acceptor GlcNAc, reduced CTOSs production, which suggested that the activity of COSs synthase NodC and the supply of sugar donor UDP-GlcNAc may be the limiting steps for CTOSs synthesis. Therefore, 6 exogenous COSs synthase candidates were examined, and the nodCM from Mesorhizobium loti yielded the highest CTOSs titer of 560 ± 16 mg/L. Finally, both the de novo pathway and the salvage pathway of UDP-GlcNAc were engineered to further promote the biosynthesis of CTOSs. The titer of CTOSs in 3-L fed-batch bioreactor reached 4.82 ± 0.11 g/L (85.6% CTOS5, 7.5% CTOS4, 5.3% CTOS3 and 1.6% CTOS2), which was the highest ever reported. This is the first report proving the feasibility of the de novo production of structurally defined CTOSs by synthetic biology, and provides a good starting point for further engineering to achieve the commercial production.

Chitosan Nanoparticle-Based System: A New Insight into the Promising Controlled Release System for Lung Cancer Treatment

Lung cancer has been recognized as one of the most often diagnosed and perhaps most lethal cancer diseases worldwide. Conventional chemotherapy for lung cancer-related diseases has bumped into various limitations and challenges, including non-targeted drug delivery, short drug retention period, low therapeutic efficacy, and multidrug resistance (MDR). Chitosan (CS), a natural polymer derived from deacetylation of chitin, and comprised of arbitrarily distributed β-(1-4)-linked d-glucosamine (deacetylated unit) and N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (acetylated unit) that exhibits magnificent characteristics, including being mucoadhesive, biodegradable, and biocompatible, has emerged as an essential element for the development of a nano-particulate delivery vehicle. Additionally, the flexibility of CS structure due to the free protonable amino groups in the CS backbone has made it easy for the modification and functionalization of CS to be developed into a nanoparticle system with high adaptability in lung cancer treatment. In this review, the current state of chitosan nanoparticle (CNP) systems, including the advantages, challenges, and opportunities, will be discussed, followed by drug release mechanisms and mathematical kinetic models. Subsequently, various modification routes of CNP for improved and enhanced therapeutic efficacy, as well as other restrictions of conventional drug administration for lung cancer treatment, are covered.

Dietary chitooligosaccharide supplementation alleviates intestinal barrier damage, and oxidative and immunological stress in lipopolysaccharide-challenged laying hens

This study aimed to investigate the effects of chitooligosaccharide (COS) on intestinal barrier, antioxidant capacity, and immunity of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged laying hens. A total of 360 Hy-line Brown laying hens (80-wk-old) were randomly divided into 5 groups with 6 replicates of 12 birds. Hens were fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet supplemented with different COS levels (0; 5; 10; 15; 20 mg/kg) for 8 wk. The results showed that 15 mg/kg COS administration elevated albumen height and Haugh unit (P < 0.05), and numerically optimized productive performance (P > 0.05), therefore, the dosage of 15 mg/kg was chosen for the subsequent experiment. Thereafter, 12 birds from non-supplemented group were randomly selected and assigned into 2 groups, and birds in each group were administered (1.5 mg/kg BW, i.p.) with saline (control group) or LPS (challenge group). Another 6 hens from 15 mg/kg COS-supplemented group were selected and injected with LPS in the same way. Compared with the control group, LPS-challenged birds exhibited elevated circulating diamine oxidase activity, and reduced jejunal villus height and ratio of villus height to crypt depth, and these indices were reversed to control levels by COS (P < 0.05). Also, LPS increased malondialdehyde accumulation and reduced several antioxidant enzyme activities in the intestinal mucosa (P < 0.05). Additionally, LPS increased jejunal secretory IgA and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and ileal secretory IgA, IgM, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) concentrations, whereas COS reduced jejunal IFN-γ and IL-1β, and ileal IgM levels (P < 0.05). Moreover, LPS down-regulated mRNA abundance of jejunal occludin and claudin 2, and upregulated expression of jejunal nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2, superoxide dismutase 1, and IFN-γ as well as ileal IL-1β (P < 0.05). Besides, COS increased jejunal occludin and ileal claudin 2, nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2, and heme oxygenase-1 expression, and decreased jejunal IFN-γ and IL-1β abundance (P < 0.05). These results suggested that COS could alleviate LPS-induced intestinal barrier impairment, and oxidative and immunological stress in laying hens.

Intestinal microbiota and its interaction to intestinal health in nursery pigs

The intestinal microbiota has gained increased attention from researchers within the swine industry due to its role in promoting intestinal maturation, immune system modulation, and consequently the enhancement of the health and growth performance of the host. This review aimed to provide updated scientific information on the interaction among intestinal microbiota, dietary components, and intestinal health of pigs. The small intestine is a key site to evaluate the interaction of the microbiota, diet, and host because it is the main site for digestion and absorption of nutrients and plays an important role within the immune system. The diet and its associated components such as feed additives are the main factors affecting the microbial composition and is central in stimulating a beneficial population of microbiota. The microbiota–host interaction modulates the immune system, and, concurrently, the immune system helps to modulate the microbiota composition. The direct interaction between the microbiota and the host is an indication that the mucosa-associated microbiota can be more effective in evaluating its effect on health parameters. It was demonstrated that the mucosa-associated microbiota should be evaluated when analyzing the interaction among diets, microbiota, and health. In addition, supplementation of feed additives aimed to promote the intestinal health of pigs should consider their roles in the modulation of mucosa-associated microbiota as biomarkers to predict the response of growth performance to dietary interventions.