Characterization of heparin interactions with Clostridioides difficile toxins and its potential as anti-CDI therapeutics.

Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection (CDI) is a life-threatening healthcare-associated infection occurring worldwide. C.

Inhibition of sulfated glycans on the binding of dengue virus envelope protein to heparin.

Dengue viruses (DENV) are transmitted to humans through mosquito bites and infect millions globally. DENV uses heparan sulfate (HS) for attachment and cell entry by binding the envelope protein to highly sulfated HS on target cells. Therefore, inhibiting the binding between DENV and HS could be a promising strategy for preventing DENV infection.

Production, Characterization, and Application of Hydrophobin-Based IR780 Nanoparticles for Targeted Photothermal Cancer Therapy and Advanced Near-Infrared Imaging.

As a promising approach for breast cancer treatment, photothermal therapy (PTT) features high spatial selectivity, noninvasiveness, and minimal drug resistance. IR780 (a near-infrared fluorescent dye) serves as an effective photosensitizer in PTT cancer therapy. However, the clinical application of IR780 in PTT has been hindered by its poor water solubility and unstable photostability.

Artificial Zymogen Based on Protein-Polymer Hybrids.

This study explores the synthesis and application of artificial zymogens using protein-polymer hybrids to mimic the controlled enzyme activation observed in natural zymogens. Pro-trypsin (pro-TR) and pro-chymotrypsin (pro-CT) hybrids were engineered by modifying the surfaces of trypsin (TR) and chymotrypsin (CT) with cleavable peptide inhibitors utilizing surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. These hybrids exhibited 70 and 90% reductions in catalytic efficiency for pro-TR and pro-CT, respectively, due to the inhibitory effect of the grafted peptide inhibitors.