Glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicides in modern agriculture. Toxicological studies have demonstrated that chronic glyphosate exposure is associated with the development of systemic disorders, particularly renal injury. Therefore, the search for effective therapeutic approaches to mitigate glyphosate-induced kidney dysfunction remains an important challenge in contemporary biomedicine. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of C60 fullerenes, as potent antioxidants, on the recovery of renal function following chronic glyphosate intoxication. The experiment was conducted on male Wistar rats that received glyphosate orally at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight daily for 16 weeks. Following the cessation of glyphosate exposure, animals in the experimental group were treated with a C60 fullerene aqueous solution (C60FAS) at a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight daily for two weeks. The animals exhibited elevated blood creatinine and urea concentrations, a reduced glomerular filtration rate, increased fractional excretion of sodium, an electrolyte imbalance, and enhanced activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase after chronic glyphosate exposure. Therapeutic administration of C60FAS contributed to an average improvement of 20 ± 2% in the investigated biochemical parameters at the end of the experiment, which is consistent with the findings of the histological analysis of kidney tissue. These results demonstrate the pronounced therapeutic effect of C60 fullerenes, attributable to their ability to attenuate oxidative stress and promote the recovery of the filtration, tubular, and metabolic functions of the kidneys following chronic glyphosate intoxication.

Efficient adsorbents and nanozyme-like materials are of growing importance in environmental technologies. Here, we report a simple and potentially scalable approach for the immobilization of biochars onto nonwoven acrylic textiles, yielding composite materials with good retention of immobilized biochar during aqueous treatment and combined adsorption and peroxidase-like activities. The structure of native and biochar-modified textiles was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering, confirming the presence of biochar particles on fiber surfaces and within the inter-fiber space, as well as nanoscale structural changes induced by biochar incorporation. Textile-bound biochars exhibited peroxidase-like activity toward N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and enabled effective decolorization of methylene blue. Adsorption alone resulted in 61% dye removal after 240 min, while the combined adsorption-catalytic process achieved 74% decolorization. Modification of the textile-bound biochar with copper ions further enhanced the peroxidase-like activity, increasing dye removal to 85% under identical conditions. The optional incorporation of a magnetic iron wire allows facile magnetic handling of the composite. Owing to its low cost, simplicity of preparation, and dual functionality, the textile-bound biochar composite represents a promising proof-of-concept platform that may warrant further development for dye removal and related environmental applications.

A new approach to the controlled synthesis of polymer/inorganic nanocomposite of poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) coated MoS2 nanoscrolls containing electrostatically bound Li (+) cations within the polymeric shell is considered. The method is based on the adsorption of Cu2+ coordinated metal complex molecules onto MoS2 nanoparticle surfaces, followed by surface-initiated radical graft polymerization of PDMAEMA, yielding scrolled core-shell nanostructures. The PDMAEMA shell effectively immobilizes Li+ ions via coordination with nitrogen atoms in tertiary amino groups. Structural and physicochemical characterization by TEM, DLS, XRD, SAXS, elemental analysis, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) confirms the formation and effectiveness of the nanocomposites. Systematic variation of MoS2 core morphology and PDMAEMA-Li (+) shell thickness enables tuning of electrochemical performance. Monodisperse and stable MoS2 cores with an average diameter of similar to 75 nm were obtained at pH 7.8. The dependence of Gibbs' energy changes of the intercalation reaction on the coating thickness was studied. The nanocomposites exhibit Li+ diffusion coefficients (similar to 10(-12) cm(2) s(-1)), which are nearly one order of magnitude higher than those of pristine MoS2. The specific capacity of the optimized nanocomposite with shell thickness of 45.4 & Aring; reaches 5339 mA h g(-1), significantly exceeding that of pristine MoS2 (2769 mA h g(-1)). This enhancement is attributed to the encapsulating polymeric shell, which increases the interfacial potential barrier and thus eliminates surface states under the Fermi level. Fermi-Dirac based theoretical approximation supports this mechanism, indicating that the elimination of these surface states can nearly double the discharge capacity, in agreement with experimental data. These findings offer a promising strategy for the rational design of next-generation high-performance materials for lithium-ion batteries.

Novel anionic cross-linked hydrogel-based microparticles with controlled size, functionality, porosity, and morphology were synthesized via tailored precipitation polymerization of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers in the presence of dimethacrylate as a cross-linking agent. The resulting hydrogel microparticles (HG5), with a size of 250 ± 50 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.079, were readily dispersible in water and formed stable suspensions at physiological pH (7.2–7.4). Their physicochemical properties were comprehensively characterized using FT-IR, NMR, DLS, SAXS, TEM, and turbidimetry. HG5 efficiently incorporated albumin as a model antigen with a loading efficiency of 95%, forming stable hydrogel–protein complexes that maintained their hydrodynamic size and colloidal stability over one month of storage. Biological evaluation demonstrated low toxicity toward pseudonormal cell lines, with cell viability remaining above 50% at concentrations up to 5 mg/mL and no detectable apoptotic effects in HEK293 cells. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were sensitive to HG5 exposure, exhibiting an IC50 of 0.52 mg/mL, while showing good hemocompatibility with hemolysis below 5%. HG5 significantly enhanced immunogenicity, increasing BSA-specific antibody levels by 1.9-fold compared to the immunization without adjuvant (p < 0.05). These findings demonstrate the potential of HG5 as a versatile platform for protein delivery and vaccine adjuvant development.

Titanium (Ti)-magnesium (Mg)-based composites have emerged as promising candidates for partially degradable implant materials in biomedical applications. The controlled degradation of bioactive Mg promotes bone ingrowth, while the porous Ti matrix provides mechanical support and helps mitigate stress shielding. Although the galvanic corrosion between Ti and Mg presents challenges for controlled degradation, the composite’s favorable mechanical properties and biocompatibility are driving significant research interest. Furthermore, the immiscibility of Ti and Mg, along with their large difference in melting points, limits the applicability of conventional melting and casting techniques for developing Ti-Mg alloys. As a result, research has focused on the development of composites using alternative processing techniques. This review highlights recent advancements in Ti-Mg composite development, aiming to provide both fundamental understanding and practical guidance for designing partially degradable implants with controlled local biodegradation. Firstly, we summarize various Ti-Mg composite fabrication techniques, which are broadly categorized into powder metallurgy and infiltration casting methods. Secondly, the mechanical properties, degradation behaviors, and in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility of the Ti-Mg composite are comprehensively analyzed. Finally, we address current limitations and possible future directions of Ti-Mg composite development to support further innovations in this field.

Nowadays, interest in metal organic frameworks (MOFs) as potential materials for corrosion protection of aluminium alloys is increasing. However, application of MOFs in the form of conversion coatings remains limited due to challenging process of MOFs growth directly on Al based surfaces. This obstacle can be overcome by surface pretreatment that promotes further MOF formation. In the current investigation, Zn-Al LDH (layered double hydroxide) grown on the surface of AA2024 aluminium alloy was recrystallised into ZIF-8@Zn-Al LDH coating. In situ synchrotron and ex situ XRD analyses showed that recrystallisation of Zn-Al LDH into ZIF-8 was accompanied by intercalation of 2-methylimidazolate into the LDH gallery under the applied treatment conditions. Such a complex structure of the coating was beneficial for the corrosion protection of AA2024 alloy as the obtained coating contained an increased amount of 2-methylimidazole inhibitive species. Moreover, it was found that the variation of the treatment condition (95-140 degrees C, 3-24 h) affected the final performance of the ZIF-8@ZnAl-LDH coating and the coating obtained at 95 degrees C for 12 h demonstrated the best performance.

Identifying optimal conditions for the efficient future production of artificial casein micelles (ACM) with precision fermentation-derived caseins is essential for their application in future foods. However, casein micelles naturally form under physiological conditions with little variation, rendering it difficult to study how temperature and other factors affect their assembly. This study evaluated whether the temperature during the artificial assembly of caseins into casein micelles has a lasting impact on ACM properties and functionality. ACM were prepared at temperatures between 5 and 65°C and stored and analysed at a fixed temperature. Micelle formation was most efficient at 37°C, yielding the highest level of micellar casein. Casein aggregation occurred at both lower and higher temperatures, with the fraction of serum casein increasing at higher temperatures, leading to reduced micellar casein levels. Additionally, the fraction of micellar calcium phosphate and magnesium, as well as the size of calcium phosphate nanoclusters, increased with higher preparation temperatures, while micellar size and hydration decreased, resulting in denser structures. These structural and compositional changes impacted functionality, with ACM prepared at intermediate temperatures (25 and 37°C) producing the firmest curds upon rennet coagulation, while foam stability improved for ACM prepared at lower and especially higher (65°C) temperatures. The preparation temperature thus had irreversible effects on the ACM properties, offering a means to tailor ACM to specific applications in future foods.

Hybrid implants consisting of a permanent Ti-based part combined with a degradable Mg part, are promising solutions to design superior implants by combining the advantages of both materials.

The recent global spread of the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen, which causes COVID-19, and its rapid mutation, requires the fast development of effective preventive and treatment measures. According to WHO reports, over 778 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported, including approximately 7 million deaths. The androgen-regulated cell-surface serine protease TMPRSS2 interacts with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Therefore, directly inhibiting TMPRSS2 will negatively impact the activation of coronaviruses and, consequently, disease progression. That is why TMPRSS2 is a very important target in current drug discovery. On the other hand, it is known that C60 fullerene (a nearly spherical molecule consisting of 60 carbon atoms) exhibits activity against various protein targets. Here, for the first time, the potential binding of C60 fullerene with TMPRSS2 was investigated using different computer simulation methods, including p2Rank, PCA, gmx_MMPBSA analysis, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations. As a result, four potential binding pockets on the TMPRSS2 surface that could interact with C60 fullerene were identified. Among all “C60 fullerene-TMPRSS2” complexes, one was selected as the most promising binding site based on the results of computational modeling evaluations. This opens up the prospect of creating new anticoronavirus drugs based on these carbon nanoparticles.

A new direction toward the future of orthopedic implants is to combine biodegradable Mg alloys with permanent Ti to produce selectively biodegradable hybrid joints for advanced tissue engineering. However, the strong galvanic corrosion between Mg and Ti is a major issue to be considered. This work aims to explore plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) as a single-step coating treatment to allow for an acceptable degradation behavior of MgTi hybrid systems. To this end, MgTi hybrid joints were produced through the heat treatment of Mg-0.6Ca and commercially pure Ti specimens at 640 °C for 8 h. A single-step PEO treatment was then employed to create a protective layer on the surface of hybrid couples. Even though the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed only a porosity of 6 % and 12 % within the PEO layers on single Mg and MgTi couples, 3D investigation of the synchrotron-based microtomography data demonstrated a porosity of 18 % and 30 % with a considerable number of interconnected pores. According to the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements, the impedance modulus at all frequencies on coated MgTi coupled specimens was lower than that on the coated single Mg-0.6Ca and pure Ti. However, the application of PEO treatment significantly decreased the strong galvanic degradation of Mg-0.6Ca in contact with Ti. The results of hydrogen evolution tests revealed that PEO-treated MgTi couples showed a similar degradation behavior as the single alloy during the first day of immersion.

Artificial casein micelles (ACM) could play a key role in producing animal-free dairy products from recombinant casein, although their coagulation and curd functionality are currently unexplored. Moreover, efficient processes are required to cost-effectively engineer ACM for food applications. In this study, ACM were prepared from bovine casein at various preparation rates and their structure and functionality were compared to natural bovine casein micelles. Overall, the micelles were comparable, although ACM were larger, more polydisperse, and more mineralised. ACM showed similar coagulation behaviour as bovine micelles and their curd grains could be plasticised. ACM prepared at increased preparation rates showed an increased size, polydispersity, and mineralisation. These micelles required longer coagulation times and showed no plasticisation behaviour. Therefore, casein micelle self-assembly is a time-sensitive process, for which we found a characteristic time of about 18 min. Our findings highlight that ACM prove a feasible route to produce future cheese alternatives.

With the growing demand for weight reduction, the application of joint lightweight structural materials is increasing. Magnesium alloys feature low density, high specific strength and good formability, offering significant advantages for fuel efficiency and load capacity. Combined with Ti, a dissimilar Ti/Mg composite material provides great flexibility combining the properties of each material. However, because of the great differences in chemical and electrochemical properties between Mg and Ti, it is imperative to address the galvanic corrosion problem of such dissimilar Ti/Mg components. This work presents an investigation of the PEO processing of sintered Ti/Mg0.6Ca couples, aiming to improve the corrosion resistance of such dissimilar alloy combinations using a phosphate-aluminate electrolyte. The results show that uniform and continuous coatings can be formed on the dissimilar Ti/Mg0.6Ca couple. The coating mainly contains MgO and MgAl2O4 on the Mg0.6Ca side, and Al2TiO5 is the dominant phase on the Ti side. The work also took advantage of synchrotron X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning to achieve 3D reconstruction of the coating morphology, which can be a fast method to assess the porosity and compactness of the coating and further predict the coating corrosion resistance. The coating effectively improved the corrosion resistance of the dissimilar Ti/Mg0.6Ca couple.

Industrial-scale production of artificial casein micelles (ACM) is required to produce dairy alternatives from recombinant casein. However, the currently common micelle preparation method of dropwise mixing casein and salt solutions is inefficient and may prove difficult to scale up. Here, we view casein micelle formation as a process driven by calcium phosphate phase separation in the presence of casein. On this basis, we developed novel routes to prepare ACM through vacuum evaporation, forward osmosis, or reverse osmosis. ACM prepared through these methods have similar properties and improved coagulation behaviour compared to those prepared through the currently common method and natural bovine casein micelles. The properties and functionality of the micelles depend on the preparation time and surface area available for micelle formation, with longer times and larger surfaces (i.e. lower fluxes) yielding smaller ACM that form firmer curds. These novel processes enable fast, efficient, and continuous production of ACM for application in future dairy alternatives. Industrial relevance: Artificial casein micelles can be used as a building block in the production of animal-free milk and cheese based on precision fermentation. The herein described novel processes to prepare artificial casein micelles are based on vacuum evaporation, forward osmosis, and reverse osmosis, which are mild, resourceefficient, and easily scalable processes. The processes require a dilute feed stream (e.g. caseins after precision fermentation), provide an elegant way to minimise local differences in the concentration of caseins and ions during micelle production, and offer the opportunity to design continuous micelle formation processes. These are all advantages over the existing methods to prepare artificial casein micelles with regard to industrial application.

The opportunistic yeast Candida albicans is the most common cause of candidiasis. With only four classes of antifungal drugs on the market, resistance is becoming a problem in the treatment of fungal infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. The development of novel antifungal drugs with different modes of action is urgent. In 2016, we developed a groundbreaking new medium-throughput method to distinguish the effects of antibacterial agents. Using small-angle X-ray scattering for biological samples (BioSAXS), it is now possible to screen hundreds of new antibacterial compounds and select those with the highest probability for a novel mode of action. However, yeast (eukaryotic) cells are highly structured compared to bacteria. The fundamental question to answer was if the ultrastructural changes induced by the action of an antifungal drug can be detected even when most structures in the cell stay unchanged. In this exploratory work, BioSAXS was used to measure the ultrastructural changes of C. albicans that were directly or indirectly induced by antifungal compounds. For this, the well-characterized antifungal drug Flucytosine was used. BioSAXS measurements were performed on the synchrotron P12 BioSAXS beamline, EMBL (DESY, Hamburg) on treated and untreated yeast C. albicans. BioSAXS curves were analysed using principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA showed that Flucytosine-treated and untreated yeast were separated. Based on that success further measurements were performed on five antifungal peptides {1. Cecropin A-melittin hybrid [CA (1-7) M (2-9)], KWKLFKKIGAVLKVL; 2. Lasioglossin LL-III, VNWKKILGKIIKVVK; 3. Mastoparan M, INLKAIAALAKKLL; 4. Bmkn2, FIGAIARLLSKIFGKR; and 5. optP7, KRRVRWIIW}. The ultrastructural changes of C. albicans indicate that the peptides may have different modes of action compared to Flucytosine as well as to each other, except for the Cecropin A-melittin hybrid [CA (1-7) M (2-9)] and optP7, showing very similar effects on C. albicans. This very first study demonstrates that BioSAXS shows promise to be used for antifungal drug development. However, this first study has limitations and further experiments are necessary to establish this application.

Iron-based materials, especially magnetite nanocrystals, have found extensive applications in many fields. Novel challenges focus on a deeper understanding of interactions between magnetite and biological macromolecules for developing further applications in diagnostic and treatment methods in medicine. Inspired by ferritin, the iron storage protein occurring in bacteria, plant, animal, and human cells, we developed an artificial ferritin-like material known as magnetoferritin. We present structural studies of magnetoferritin samples prepared using a controlled in vitro physicochemical synthesis. Considerable structural and size changes were observed by increasing the iron content and post-synthesis treatment. We propose the modulation of colloidal stability by using suitable solvents. Ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, colloidal stability measurements, infrared spectroscopy, and small-angle X-ray scattering methods were employed. The presented results aid in increasing the effectiveness of the various applications of magnetoferritin according to specific industrial requirements.

This study focuses on the development of new biocompatible and biodegradable particle gel scaffolds based on PCL-HBPG/1SiHBPG triblock copolymers composed of a polycaprolactone (PCL) core and two outer blocks of trimethoxysilyl end-capped hyperbranched polyglycidol (HBPG/1SiHBPG) that have the potential to be used in soft tissue regeneration. The relationship between the gel’s composition, structure, mechanical properties, and performance has been investigated for the first time and the copolymer design parameters have been optimized. The particle gel scaffolds were formed from the concentrated dispersions of the most hydrophobic PCL-45HBPG/1SiHBPG at low temperatures, and were the result of the numerous hydrogen bonds formed from the HBPG/1SiHBPG moieties as well as the formation of siloxane crosslinks (i.e., Si–O–Si bonds). These gels were formed in the physiological temperature range. Gels with a mechanical strength that gradually increases were formed from the physically crosslinked PCL-45HBPG/1SiHBPG particles effectively and safely, in the absence of UV radiation. They feature high elasticity and undergo enzyme-triggered disassembly. The gels are biocompatible and have the potential to invoke cell attachment and differentiation in the absence of exogenous biological stimuli. A successful outcome of this study will be the prospect of a new approach for tissue regeneration that is currently not available.

Non-covalent interactions of phenolics with proteins cannot always be readily identified, often leading to contradictory results described in the literature. This leads to uncertainties to what extend they can be added to protein-rich foods without affecting the protein. Here, we clarify which tea phenolics (EGCG, epicatechin and gallic acid) interact with β-lactoglobulin by combining various state of the art methods.STD-NMR revealed that all rings of EGCG can interact with native β-lactoglobulin, indicating multidentate binding, as confirmed by the small angle X-ray scattering experiments. For epicatechin, unspecific interactions were found only at higher protein:epicatechin molar ratios and only with 1H-NMR shift perturbation and FTIR. For gallic acid, none of the methods found evidence for an interaction with β-lactoglobulin, with the exception of a slight alteration of the secondary structure. Thus, gallic acid and epicatechin can be added to native BLG, for example as antioxidants, within certain concentrations, without provoking modifications.

Non-covalent interactions of phenolics with proteins cannot always be readily identified, often leading to contradictory results described in the literature. This results in uncertainties as to what extent phenolics can be added to protein solutions (for example for bioactivity studies) without affecting the protein structure. Here, we clarify which tea phenolics (epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epicatechin and gallic acid) interact with the whey protein β-lactoglobulin by combining various state-of-the-art-methods. STD-NMR revealed that all rings of EGCG can interact with native β-lactoglobulin, indicating multidentate binding, as confirmed by the small angle X-ray scattering experiments. For epicatechin, unspecific interactions were found only at higher protein:epicatechin molar ratios and only with 1H NMR shift perturbation and FTIR. For gallic acid, none of the methods found evidence for an interaction with β-lactoglobulin. Thus, gallic acid and epicatechin can be added to native BLG, for example as antioxidants without causing modification within wide concentration ranges.

The interaction between organic molecules and biomaterial surfaces determines the fate of biomaterials during their service life, which is also the research hotspots in the field of biomaterials. To understand the mechanism of protein interaction with magnesium（Mg） degradation,alloying elements, immersion time, protein concentration and surface conditions have been previously considered for the effect of proteins on Mg degradation. However, fluid flow, as one of the critical factors, drew little attention in this case. In the present study, the effect of bovine serum albumin（BSA） and fetal bovine serum（FBS） on Mg degradation was compared under static and dynamic conditions. The results revealed that both BSA and FBS slightly decreased the degradation rate of Mg in Hanks’ balanced salt solution（HBSS） under static immersion due to the protein adsorption and the formation of a Ca/P-rich top layer on Mg surface, whereas under dynamic flow condition the degradation of Mg was significantly accelerated in the presence of BSA or FBS. The reasons seemed to stem from the weakened protein adsorption on Mg surface in this case and the dynamically enhanced interaction between proteins and ions/products in solutions, which largely weaken the combination of the top Ca/P-rich layer with the inner corrosion product layer. These results highlight the importance of testing conditions for Mg characterization in vitro and the synergistic effect between different parameters on Mg degradation.