Impact of antioxidant potential of rohu (Labeo rohita) swim bladder gelatin hydrolysate on oxidative stability, textural and sensory properties of fish sausage enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids

The impact of rohu swim bladder gelatin hydrolysate (SBGH) at different levels on textural, sensory, oxidative, and microbial properties of polyunsaturated fatty acids enriched rohu fish cooked sausages (PUFA-RFS) were investigated in the current study. SBGH addition enhanced the lightness values of PUFA-RFS compared to both control sausages (without SBGH and with butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) (P > 0.05). PUFA-RFS added with 3% SBGH exhibited higher hardness, cohesiveness, and gumminess throughout the storage duration at both 4 °C and -20 °C temperatures when compared to other sausages counterparts. PUFA-RFS added with SBGH displayed lower PV, TBARS, and total microbial counts than the control sausages. Furthermore, PV, TBARS, and total microbial count values of sausage decreased with an increase in SBGH level, indicating retardation in lipid oxidation and microbial growth by SBGH in a dose-depended manner. Nevertheless, sausage added with 3% SBGH had higher overall acceptability than other sausage counterparts. Therefore, SBGH could retard lipid oxidation and improves textural properties of PUFA-enriched fish sausage.

Ultrasonic-Assisted Nitrate Anion Incorporation in Triaminoguanidium Chloride Based Covalent Organic Polymer for Methylene Blue Dye Adsorption

Terephthalaldehyde-triaminoguanidium chloride covalent organic polymer, Te-TGCl COP can facilely be incorporated with NaNO3 by sonication. Te-TGCl COP incorporated with NaNO3 via ultrasonication adsorbs Methylene Blue (MB) dye. Te-TGCl COP alone shows negligible adsorption capacity for MB, however, when treated with NaNO3, its adsorption capacity emerges slightly. Moreover, ultrasonication of the NaNO3 treated COP, Te-TG-NaNO3 COP shows dramatic increase in its adsorption capacity for MB (qe for Te-TGCl COP ≈0 mg g-1; for Te-TG-NaNO3=17.65 mg g-1). Emergence of MB dye adsorption property in Te-TG-NaNO3 COP composite may be attributed primarily to the electrostatic interaction of MB dye molecules with nitrate anions and the sonochemical effect caused fibrous morphological structure of the adsorbent material. The kinetics of MB dye adsorption onto Te-TG-NaNO3 COP composite exhibits an excellent fit for the pseudo-second order model, suggesting the rate-determining step to be chemisorption. Homogeneous monolayer adsorption of MB dye onto Te-TG-NaNO3 COP composite can be suggested as the Langmuir isotherm model seemed to be fitted well.

Hypoxia-Activated Theragnostic Prodrugs (HATPs): Current State and Future Perspectives

Hypoxia is a significant feature of solid tumors and frequently poses a challenge to the effectiveness of tumor-targeted chemotherapeutics, thereby limiting their anticancer activity. Hypoxia-activated prodrugs represent a class of bio-reductive agents that can be selectively activated in hypoxic compartments to unleash the toxic warhead and thus, eliminate malignant tumor cells. However, their applicability can be further elevated by installing fluorescent modalities to yield hypoxia-activated theragnostic prodrugs (HATPs), which can be utilized for the simultaneous visualization and treatment of hypoxic tumor cells. The scope of this review is to summarize noteworthy advances in recent HATPs, highlight the challenges and opportunities for their further development, and discuss their potency to serve as personalized medicines in the future.

Anti-rheumatoid arthritis potential of Halodule pinifolia: development, characterization and in vivo evaluation of H. pinifolia-based oral suspension and lipid nano-emulsion

For treating chronic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, herbal medicines are preferred due to their evident therapeutic effects and lesser side effects as compared to the long-term used conventional drugs. In this study, the anti-rheumatoid arthritis effect of an unexplored marine grass Halodule pinifolia (HP), and a combination of it with Glycyrrhiza glabra (liquorice; LQ), prepared as a conventional suspension (C1) and a lipid nano-emulsion (C1-N) was evaluated in Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA)- and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) models. Formulations C1 and C1-N contained standardized extract HP (100 mg/kg) as major active ingredient and liquorice LQ (50 mg/kg) as both active ingredient (anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer) and sweetening agent. Oral administration of HP and C1 to FCA-induced Sprague-Dawley rats significantly reduced the paw oedema, spleen index, controlled the haematological parameters, cytokine levels (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α estimated by ELISA), mRNA expression of cytokines and osteoclast markers (RANK, TRAP and cathepsin K measured by RTPCR). Histopathology and radiological scanning demonstrated lesser joint deterioration in sample-treated rats, as evident phenotypically. The downregulation of CD51 and MMP-3 (western blot) corroborated the anti-arthritic effect of HP and C1. HP showed better results among all. Further, under the CIA model, both C1 and C1-N were found to be potentially active as evidenced by their effect on rat paw oedema, spleen index, haematological parameters, rheumatoid factor, cytokines, osteoclast markers, histology and X-rays. The results proved the anti-arthritic effect of HP and the formulations, particularly the lipid nano-emulsion that showed improved stability as well as activity.

Microbial siderophores as molecular shuttles for metal cations: sources, sinks and application perspectives

Iron is one of the highly abundant elements on the earth's crust, an essential micronutrient for a majority of life forms, and exists in two frequent oxidation states such as ferrous (Fe2+) and ferric (Fe3+). These two oxidation states are interconvertible by redox reactions and form complexes with a wide range of siderophores. At neutral pH in soil, Fe2+ is highly soluble upto 100 mM but have less biological value, whereas Fe3+ is less soluble upto 10-9 M. This reduced bioavailability of Fe3+ induces competition among microorganisms. As many microorganisms need at least 10-6 M of Fe3+ form of iron for their growth, siderophores from these microbes readily withdraw Fe3+ iron from a variety of habitats for their survival. In this review, we bring into light the several recent investigations related to diverse chemistry of microbial siderophores, mechanisms of siderophore uptake, biosynthetic gene clusters in microbial genomes, various sources of heavy metal cations in soil, siderophore-binding protein receptors and commercialisation perspectives of siderophores. Besides, this review unearths the recent advancements in the characterisation of novel siderophores and its heavy metal complexes alongside the interaction kinetics with receptors.

Utilization of lactobacillus fermented proteins from meat processing wastewaters as a dietary protein source in poultry feed

The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of fermented meat processing wastewater protein hydrolysate (FWMPH) prepared by Pediococcus lolii fermentation as an alternative protein source on growth performance, serum biochemistry, and hematological parameters of broiler chicks. FWMPH exhibited antioxidant, anti-angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), and antimicrobial properties. A total of 60 one-day-old Vencobb broiler chicks were divided into five dietary groups on day 8 and a feeding trial was performed for 48 days. Diets were prepared by replacing soya protein concentrate (SPC) at different levels of FWMPH as the protein source. These diets were denoted as SPSD (100% SPC), FMP-25 (25% FWMPH + 75% SPC), FMP-50 (50% FWMPH + 50% SPC), FMP-75 (75% FWMPH + 25% SPC), and FMP-100 (100% FWMPH). FMP-25 and FMP-100 diet group broiler chicks showed the highest and lowest feed consumption (P < 0.05), respectively. However, the highest body weight gain (1506.08 ± 52.52 g) was observed in FMP-75 diet-fed chicks (P < 0.05). Furthermore, FMP-75 chicks displayed better feed conversion ratio (1.96), feed efficiency ratio (0.51), and protein efficiency ratio (2.32) values than other diet group chicks (P < 0.05), implying that the FMP-75 diet had better effect on the broiler growth. Also, the FMP-75 diet chicks showed better hematological values, serum biochemical parameters revealed no negative effect upon FWMPH consumption, and no pathological signs were observed in the histopathological examination as compared to the SPSD diet group (P < 0.05). Hence, the results could be helpful in the application of FWMPH at 75% level in the poultry feed as a potential protein ingredient in the countries looking for local feed protein products as soya bean meal replacement.

Graphene oxide-based rechargeable respiratory masks

Respiratory masks having similar standards of 'N95', defined by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, will be highly sought after, post the current COVID-19 pandemic. Here, such a low-cost (∼$1/mask) mask design having electrostatic rechargeability and filtration efficiency of >95% with a quality factor of ∼20 kPa-1 is demonstrated. This filtration efficacy is for particles of size 300 nm. The tri-layer mask, named PPDFGO tri, contains nylon, modified polypropylene (PPY), and cotton nonwoven fabrics as three layers. The melt-spun PPY, available in a conventional N95 mask, modified with graphene oxide and polyvinylidene fluoride mixture containing paste using a simple solution casting method acts as active filtration layer. The efficacy of this tri-layer system toward triboelectric rechargeability using small mechanical agitations is demonstrated here. These triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG)-assisted membranes have high electrostatic charge retention capacity (∼1 nC/cm2 after 5 days in ambient condition) and high rechargeability even in very humid conditions (>80% RH). A simple but robust permeability measurement set up is also constructed to test these TENG-based membranes, where a flow rate of 30-35 L/min is maintained during the testing. Such a simple modification to the existing mask designs enabling their rechargeability via external mechanical disturbances, with enhanced usability for single use as well as for reuse with decontantamination, will be highly beneficial in the realm of indispensable personal protective equipment.