Molecular Weight-Dependent Immunostimulative Activity of Low Molecular Weight Chitosan via Regulating NF-κB and AP-1 Signaling Pathways in RAW264.7 Macrophages.

Chitosan and its derivatives such as low molecular weight chitosans (LMWCs) have been found to possess many important biological properties, such as antioxidant and antitumor effects. In our previous study, LMWCs were found to elicit a strong immunomodulatory response in macrophages dependent on molecular weight. Herein we further investigated the molecular weight-dependent immunostimulative activity of LMWCs and elucidated its mechanism of action on RAW264.

Bio-filler from waste shellfish shell: preparation, characterization, and its effect on the mechanical properties on polypropylene composites.

Waste shellfish shell stacking with a significant odor and toxicity which are hazardous to human constitutes a serious environmental hazard. For utilization of waste shellfish shell resource, granule of shellfish shell (SS) was prepared from waste shellfish shell by removing cuticle, crushing, grinding and shearing emulsification and was introduced as a filler to reinforce polypropylene (PP). The mechanical behavior of PP/SS composite shows a higher yield strain, yield strength, tensile strength and elongation at break than traditional commercial calcium carbonate (CC) filled PP.

[Study on the antibacterial mechanisms of copper-bearing montmorillonite].

Vibrio parahaemolyticus ATCC 27519 was chosen as indicator of aquacultural pathogenic bacteria to determine the antibacterial activity and mechanism of copper-bearing montmorillonite (Cu-MMT) in vitro. The results indicated that montmorillonite (MMT) had no antibacterial activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and bactericidal concentration (MBC) of Cu-MMT on Vibrio parahaemolyticus were 75 and 300 mg/L, respectively.