Reconstruction of biorefinery lignin into nanoparticles with controlled morphology and structure.

Lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) exhibit application potential in fields such as ultraviolet (UV) shielding, antioxidant materials, and water purification owing to their versatile chemical structure. However effective, nontoxic solvent-based strategies to synthesize LNPs with diverse morphologies have not been reported. This study presents a continuous biorefinery method to produce monodisperse LNPs with diverse morphologies from isopropanol-solubilized lignin (IPA-lignin).

One-pot synthesis of monodisperse silver-lignin particles: Enhanced antibacterial agents against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Lignin-based supports for metal nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted significant attention due to their abundant functional groups that facilitate NPs loading. However, many studies involve a two-step process: fabricating lignin particles and then reducing metal ions to NPs using physical energy consumption or chemical reduction. A one-step in-situ reduction method for NP synthesis on carrier surfaces, eliminating energy consumption, is needed for environmentally friendly and sustainable approach.

Identification of novel aminopiperidine derivatives for antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria.

We have previously reported amidopiperidine derivatives as a novel peptide deformylase (PDF) inhibitor and evaluated its antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, but poor pharmacokinetic profiles have resulted in low efficacy in in vivo mouse models. In order to overcome these weaknesses, we newly synthesized aminopiperidine derivatives with remarkable antimicrobial properties and oral bioavailability, and also identified their in vivo efficacy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP).

Effects of Polygonatum sibiricum rhizome ethanol extract in high-fat diet-fed mice.

Context: The rhizome of Polygonatum sibiricum Redoute (Liliaceae) has long been used to treat diabetes-associated complications. However, the pharmacological mechanism of P. sibiricum on metabolic disorders is not clear.

Signaling mechanisms of sphingosine 1-phosphate-induced ERK1/2 activation in cultured feline esophageal smooth muscle cells.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive lipid, stored and released from activated platelets, macrophages, and other mammalian cells. We previously reported that S1P induces esophageal smooth muscle contraction in freshly isolated intact cells. Here, we measured S1P-induced ERK1/2 activation and upstream signaling in cultured feline esophageal smooth muscle cells.