Preparation of chitosan/lignin nanoparticles-based nanocomposite films with high-performance and improved physicochemical properties for food packaging applications.

Chitosan (CH)-based composite films have attracted increasing attention as promising green food packaging materials due to their biodegradability and ease of fabrication. Additionally, lignin (LN) has been widely used as additive for chitosan-based films to improve their physicochemical properties. In this study, a series of composite films made of chitosan nanoparticles (NCH) as a matrix and alkali lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) as functional filler were prepared.

Comparison of hydroxyapatite and honeycomb micro-structure in bone tissue engineering using electrospun beads-on-string fibers.

Thick honeycomb-like electrospun scaffold with nanoparticles of hydroxyapatite (nHA) recently demonstrated its potential to promote proliferation and differentiation of a murine embryonic cell line (C3H10T1/2) to osteoblasts. In order to distinguish the respective effects of the structure and the composition on cell differentiation, beads-on-string fibers were used to manufacture thick honeycomb-like scaffolds without nHA. Mechanical and biological impacts of those beads-on string fibers were evaluated.

Sugar-Based Surfactants: Effects of Structural Features on the Physicochemical Properties of Sugar Esters and Their Comparison to Commercial Octyl Glycosides.

Two series of sugar esters with alkyl chain lengths varying from 5 to 12 carbon atoms, and with a head group consisting of glucose or galactose moieties, were synthesized. Equilibrium surface tension isotherms were measured, yielding critical micellar concentration (CMC) surface tensions at CMC (γcmc) and minimum areas at the air-water interface (Amin). In addition, Krafft temperatures (Tks) were measured to characterize the ability of molecules to dissolve in water, which is essential in numerous applications.

Comparative Study of Single-stranded Oligonucleotides Secondary Structure Prediction Tools.

Background: Single-stranded nucleic acids (ssNAs) have important biological roles and a high biotechnological potential linked to their ability to bind to numerous molecular targets. This depends on the different spatial conformations they can assume. The first level of ssNAs spatial organisation corresponds to their base pairs pattern, i.

as a Good Model to Study Pathogenesis.

The invertebrate model, , has been widely used to study host-pathogen interactions due to its cheapness, ease of handling, and similar mammalian innate immune system. larvae have been proven to be useful and a reliable model for analyzing pathogenesis mechanisms of multidrug resistant an opportunistic pathogen difficult to kill. This review describes the detailed experimental design of / models, and provides a comprehensive comparison of various virulence factors and therapy strategies using the host.

Fibroblasts Influence Metastatic Melanoma Cell Sensitivity to Combined BRAF and MEK Inhibition.

The sensitivity of melanoma cells to targeted therapy compounds depends on the tumor microenvironment. Three-dimensional (3D) in vitro coculture systems better reflect the native structural architecture of tissues and are ideal for investigating cellular interactions modulating cell sensitivity to drugs. Metastatic melanoma (MM) cells (SK-MEL-28 BRAF V600E mutant and SK-MEL-2 wt) were cultured as a monolayer (2D) or cocultured on 3D dermal equivalents (with fibroblasts) and treated with a BRAFi (vemurafenib) combined with a MEK inhibitor (MEKi, cobimetinib).

A compartmentalized microsystem helps understanding the uptake of benzo[a]pyrene by fungi during soil bioremediation processes.

Hydrophobic organic soil contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are poorly mobile in the aqueous phase and tend to sorb to the soil matrix, resulting in low bioavailability. Some filamentous fungi are efficient in degrading this kind of pollutants. However, the mechanism of mobilization of hydrophobic compounds by non-motile microorganisms such as filamentous fungi needs investigations to improve pollutant bioavailability and bioremediation efficiency.

Fiber degradation and carbohydrate production by combined biological and chemical/physicochemical pretreatment methods of lignocellulosic biomass - A review.

Sustainable biorefinery concepts based on lignocellulosic biomass are gaining worldwide research interest because of their inexpensiveness and abundance. The recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass poses a major hindrance to enhance biofuel production. Therefore, a pretreatment step is critical to prepare the substrates for the downstream process.

Microfluidic monitoring of the growth of individual hyphae in confined environments.

Soil fungi have the ability to form large mycelial networks. They rely on the resources available in the soil to produce biomass and are able to degrade complex biomolecules. Some of them can even degrade recalcitrant organic pollutants and are considered as promising candidates for soil bioremediation strategies.

In Silico Drug Repurposing for SARS-CoV-2 Main Proteinase and Spike Proteins.

The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 is currently representing a major health and economic threat to humanity. So far, no specific treatment to this viral infection has been developed and the emergency still requires an efficient intervention. In this work, we used virtual screening to facilitate drug repurposing against SARS-CoV-2, targeting viral main proteinase and spike protein with 3000 existing drugs.