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Curr Pharm Des 2021 Apr 12. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Cellular and Molecular Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute of Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran. Iran.

Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is one of the natural biopolymers with unique features, the most important of which are nontoxicity, biocompatibility, high tensile profile, nanofiber structure, and purity. The current review aimed to summarize the latest development in BNC-based biomaterials in cancer drug delivery. The original articles were found by searching key databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Scientific and using key terms such as "bacterial nanocellulose OR bacterial cellulose OR BNC" AND "cancer OR carcinoma OR tumor". Read More

ACS Omega 2021 Apr 24;6(13):8884-8893. Epub 2021 Mar 24.

CNR-STIIMA, Italian National Research Council-Institute of Intelligent Industrial Technologies and Systems for Advanced Manufacturing, C.so G. Pella 16, 13900 Biella, Italy.

Interest in insects as waste biomass bioconverters and their use as valuable resources for fat, proteins, and chitin has increased considerably in the last few years. In this study, proteins were extracted from defatted black soldier fly (BSF) () exuviae by green hydrolysis using superheated water at 150 °C for 20 h, and the remaining chitin was deacetylated into chitosan and used as a finishing agent for polyester fabrics. A total amount of 7% fat, 40% proteins, and 20% chitin was obtained from BSF exuviae. Read More

Cell Biol Int 2021 Apr 5. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

Department of Biophysics, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.

Metallic materials are commonly used for load-bearing implants and as internal fixation devices. It is customary to use austenitic stainless steel, especially surgical grade type 316L SS as temporary and Ti alloys as permanent implants. However, long-term, poor bonding with bone, corrosion and release of metal ions such as chromium, and nickel occur. Read More

ACS Appl Nano Mater 2020 Aug 16;3(8):8167-8175. Epub 2020 Jul 16.

Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy.

Lead-halide perovskite nanocrystals are a promising material in optical devices due to their high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield, excellent color purity, and low stimulated emission threshold. However, one problem is the stability of the nanocrystal films under different environmental conditions and under high temperatures. The latter is particularly relevant for device fabrication if further processes that require elevated temperatures are needed after the deposition of the nanocrystal film. Read More

Clin Chim Acta 2021 Mar 31;518:142-150. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Department of Blood Transfusion, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China. Electronic address:

Exosomes, a subtype of extracellular vesicle secreted by cells, have been a subject of intense research interest. Unfortunately, a simple and reliable method to separate exosomes has yet to be developed. As can be expected, the lack of a standardized method for extraction and purification has contributed to suboptimal inter-laboratory correlation and difficulty in comparison studies. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 Mar 16;18(6). Epub 2021 Mar 16.

Environmental Engineering Program, National Graduate School of Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines.

The ubiquitous occurrence of heavy metals in the aquatic environment remains a serious environmental and health issue. The recovery of metals from wastes and their use for the abatement of toxic heavy metals from contaminated waters appear to be practical approaches. In this study, manganese was recovered from groundwater treatment sludge via reductive acid leaching and converted into spherical aggregates of high-purity MnO. Read More

Nanomaterials (Basel) 2021 Mar 19;11(3). Epub 2021 Mar 19.

Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 21, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.

Every day, new information is presented with respect to how to best combat the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This manuscript sheds light on such recent findings, including new co-factors (i.e. Read More

Molecules 2021 Mar 30;26(7). Epub 2021 Mar 30.

Department of Food Science and Engineering, Agricultural College, Yanbian University, Yanji 133000, China.

nut-coated film is a kind of by-product of nut processing, which has been shown to contain flavonoids, polyphenols, and other substances that can be used to produce natural antioxidant extracts. In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the extraction process of flavonoids of nut-coated film (PNF), and macroporous resin HPD600 was used to purify PNF (P-PNF). Its antioxidant activity was examined by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging capacity, oxygen free radical absorption capacity (ORAC), total oxygen radical capture (TRAP), and iron ion reduction capacity. Read More

Polymers (Basel) 2021 Mar 30;13(7). Epub 2021 Mar 30.

MED-Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas Ed. 8, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.

Lignocellulosic biomass fractionation is typically performed using methods that are somehow harsh to the environment, such as in the case of kraft pulping. In recent years, the development of new sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives has grown significantly. Among the developed systems, bio-based solvents emerge as promising alternatives for biomass processing. Read More

Materials (Basel) 2021 Mar 25;14(7). Epub 2021 Mar 25.

Dental Materials and Biomaterial Research, Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Aßmannshauser Str. 4-6, 14197 Berlin, Germany.

An innovative, miniature video-optical-electrochemical cell was developed and tested that allows for the conducting of electrochemical corrosion measurements and simultaneous microscopic observations over a small, well-defined surface area of corroding or degrading samples. The setup consisted of a miniature electrochemical cell that was clamped onto the metal sample and fixed under a video microscope before being filled with electrolyte. The miniature cell was comprised of afferent/efferent electrolyte ducts as well as a connection to the Mini Cell System (MCS) for electrochemical measurements. Read More

Materials (Basel) 2021 Mar 24;14(7). Epub 2021 Mar 24.

Department of Technological Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zilina, Univerzitná 8215/1, 010 26 Žilina, Slovakia.

The main reason for the use of returnable material, or recycled alloys, is a cost reduction while maintaining the final properties of the casting. The casting resulting quality is directly related to the correct ratio of commercial grade alloy and alloy made by remelting the returnable material in the batch. The casting quality is also affected by the purity of the secondary raw materials used, the shape complexity and the use of the casting itself. Read More

Pharmaceutics 2021 Mar 20;13(3). Epub 2021 Mar 20.

Faculty of Engineering and Science, University of Greenwich, Medway Campus, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK.

The aim of the study was the manufacturing and scale-up of theophylline-nicotinamide (THL-NIC) pharmaceutical cocrystals processed by hot-melt extrusion (HME). The barrel temperature profile, feed rate and screw speed were found to be the critical processing parameters with a residence time of approximately 47 s for the scaled-up batches. Physicochemical characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction of bulk and extruded materials revealed the formation of high purity cocrystals (98. Read More

Nanomaterials (Basel) 2021 Mar 20;11(3). Epub 2021 Mar 20.

Department of Industrial and Information Engineering and Economics, University of L'Aquila, Piazzale E. Pontieri 1, Monteluco di Roio, I-67100 L'Aquila, Italy.

This work introduces an innovative, sustainable, and scalable synthesis of iron oxides nanoparticles (NPs) in aqueous suspension. The method, based on ion exchange process, consists of a one-step procedure, time and energy saving, operating in water and at room temperature, by cheap and renewable reagents. The influence of both oxidation state of the initial reagent and reaction atmosphere is considered. Read More

Materials (Basel) 2021 Mar 15;14(6). Epub 2021 Mar 15.

Institute of Construction and Building Materials, Technical University of Darmstadt, Franziska-Braun-Str 7, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany.

This paper investigates alkali leaching from geopolymers under various concentrations of acetic acid solutions. The effects of the raw metakaolin purity as well as fly ash-based geopolymer mortars and pastes are considered. A new methodology for (acetic) acid attack is proposed, adapting standard approaches, where the concentration of the leached alkali in the exposure solution is measured over time. Read More

Cells 2021 Mar 15;10(3). Epub 2021 Mar 15.

Department of Neurology, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany.

In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis, the role of each central nervous system (CNS)-resident cell type during inflammation, neurodegeneration, and remission has been frequently addressed. Although protocols for the isolation of different individual CNS-resident cell types exist, none can harvest all of them within a single experiment. In addition, isolation of individual cells is more demanding in adult mice and even more so from the inflamed CNS. Read More

Foods 2021 Mar 27;10(4). Epub 2021 Mar 27.

Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, D-70593 Stuttgart, Germany.

Whey protein pectin complexes can be applied to replace fat in food products, e.g., pudding and yogurt, contributing to creaminess while adding a source of protein and fiber. Read More

Materials (Basel) 2021 Mar 27;14(7). Epub 2021 Mar 27.

Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Polish Naval Academy, ul. Śmidowicza 69, 81-127 Gdynia, Poland.

The article presents the results of the analysis of the interactions between the single point incremental forming (SPIF) process parameters and the main roughness parameters of stiffened ribs fabricated in Alclad aluminium alloy panels. EN AW-7075-T6 and EN AW-2024-T3 Alclad aluminium alloy sheets were used as the research material. Panels with longitudinal ribs were produced with different values of incremental vertical step size and tool rotational speed. Read More

Biopolymers 2021 Apr 1:e23425. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Department of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.

Replacing synthetic polymers with renewable alternatives is a critical challenge for the packaging industry. This research investigated the use of leaf-based proteins as a sustainable co-binder in the coating formulations for paper-based packaging and other applications. Protein isolates from tobacco leaf and alfalfa concentrates were characterized using the Pierce protein assay, Kjeldahl nitrogen, and gel electrophoresis. Read More

Waste Manag 2021 Mar 28;126:266-273. Epub 2021 Mar 28.

Hubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology of Automobile Components, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, PR China; Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Automotive Components Technology, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, PR China. Electronic address:

Consumption of copper and aluminum has increased significantly in recent years; therefore, recycling these elements from the end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) will be of great economic value and social benefit. However, the separation of non-ferrous materials is difficult because of their different sources, various shapes and sizes, and complex surface conditions. In experimental study on the separation of these materials, few non-ferrous metal scraps can be used. Read More

Langmuir 2021 Apr 31;37(14):4227-4235. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jining University, Qufu, Shandong 273115, P. R. China.

We report a high-yield synthesis of gold (Au) nanosheets with tunable size and surface morphology in the aqueous phase. In particular, crumpled and flat Au nanosheets with a thickness of ∼10 nm could be selectively produced in high purity when the reaction was conducted at room temperature and in an ice-water bath, respectively. Unlike Au nanoplates/nanoprisms in the form of well-defined triangles or hexagons documented in previous studies, the current products exhibit random in-plane branches or holes, together with wavy edges. Read More

Anal Biochem 2021 Mar 26:114182. Epub 2021 Mar 26.

MagGenome Technologies Pvt. Ltd., First Floor, Plot No. 153, First Main Road, Industrial Estate, Perungudi, Chennai, 600096, India.

Introduction of magnetisable solid phase extraction procedures have provided various advantages over spin-column based extraction techniques. Although certain methods for magnetic bead based extraction of DNA from human saliva already exist, there is still a need to address the inadequate purity profile and low yield which occur due to the inefficiency of extraction methods. Hence, an improved method for DNA extraction from human saliva using uncoated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) intended to resolve the issues mentioned above is described here. Read More

Environ Pollut 2021 Mar 21;280:116998. Epub 2021 Mar 21.

State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, People's Republic of China. Electronic address:

Naturally present aquatic microorganisms play an important role in water purification systems, such as the self-purification of surface waters. In this study, two water sources representing polluted surface water (Olympic Green; OG) and unpolluted surface water (Jingmi river; JM), were used to explore the self-purification of surface water by bacteria under different environmental conditions. The dominant bacterial community of OG and JM waters (both are Firmicutes and Proteobacteria) were isolated, cultured, and then used to carry out flocculation tests. Read More

Ann Agric Environ Med 2021 Mar 27;28(1):61-71. Epub 2021 Jan 27.

Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute (CIOP-PIB), Warsaw, Poland.

Introduction: Money is the most common item with which we have daily contact. Circulated banknotes and coins can become microbiologically contaminated and act as both a source and a means of spreading such pollutants.

Material And Methods: The study was carried out in three money sorting facilities in Poland. Read More

Appl Radiat Isot 2021 Mar 18;172:109692. Epub 2021 Mar 18.

Department of Radiopharmaceuticals, Nuclear Physic Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, Řež, Czech Republic. Electronic address:

Background: Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a type II membrane protein widely expressed on the surface of prostate cancer cells. One of its functions is to act as a receptor mediating the ligand internalization. This PSMA property is employed in the diagnostics and therapy of prostate cancer. Read More

Phytomedicine 2021 Mar 3;85:153536. Epub 2021 Mar 3.

State University of Londrina (UEL/PR), Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil. Electronic address:

Background: Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by protozoan parasites of the Leishmania genus. Currently, the treatment has limited effectiveness and high toxicity, is expensive, requires long-term treatment, induces significant side effects, and promotes drug resistance. Thus, new therapeutic strategies must be developed to find alternative compounds with high efficiency and low cost. Read More

J Transl Autoimmun 2021 1;4:100093. Epub 2021 Mar 1.

Center for Therapeutic Innovation, Immuno-inflammatory Disease, Institut de Recherches Servier, 125 Chemin de Ronde, 78290, Croissy sur Seine, France.

Increased interferon-α (IFN-α) production is a critical component in the pathophysiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other rheumatic autoimmune diseases. Herein, we report the characterization of S95021, a fully human IgG1 anti-IFN-α monoclonal antibody (mAb) as a novel therapeutic candidate for targeted patient populations. S95021 was expressed in CHOZN GS-/- cells, purified by chromatography and characterized by using electrophoresis, size exclusion chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Read More

Carbohydr Res 2021 Apr 10;502:108277. Epub 2021 Mar 10.

Medicinal and Process Chemistry Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, BS-10/1, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, P.O. Box 173, Lucknow, 226 031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India. Electronic address:

The polysaccharide capsule of Streptococcus pneumoniae constitutes the outermost surface structure of the organism and plays a critical role in virulence. The capsule is the target of current pneumococcal vaccines and glycoconjugates and has important medical and industrial applications. Widespread use of these vaccines is driving changes in serotype prevalence in disease. Read More

J Nanosci Nanotechnol 2021 Jul;21(7):4125-4128

Department of Advanced Materials Engineering, Mokpo National University, Muan, Jeonnam 58554, Republic of Korea.

Nanocrystalline HfN thin films were deposited onto silicon substrates with direct current magnetron sputtering (dcMS) and mid-frequency magnetron sputtering (mfMS) by using hafnium metallic target with 3-inch diameter and 99.9% purity in argon/nitrogen atmosphere, under 4 different pulse frequencies and duty cycles. In order to evaluate the structural, morphological and mechanical properties, we used X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), nanoindentation tests. Read More

IUCrJ 2021 Mar 21;8(Pt 2):195-207. Epub 2021 Jan 21.

School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, People's Republic of China.

Recently, cocrystallization has been widely employed to tailor physicochemical properties of drugs in the pharmaceutical field. In this study, cocrystallization was applied to separate natural compounds with similar structures. Three flavonoids [baicalein (BAI), quercetin (QUE) and myricetin (MYR)] were used as model compounds. Read More