SUMMARY
The ability of nanoparticle surface functionalities to regulate immune responses during an immunological challenge (i. e. inflammation) would open new doors for their use in non-prophylactic therapeutics. We report here the use of functionalized 2 nm core gold nanoparticles to control the immunological responses of in vitro and in vivo systems presented with an inflammatory challenge. The results showed that NPs bearing a hydrophobic zwitterionic functionality boost inflammatory outcomes while hydrophilic zwitterionic NPs generate minimal immunological responses. Surprisingly, tetra(ethylene glycol) headgroups generate a significant anti-inflammatory response both in vitro and in vivo. These results demonstrate the ability of simple surface ligands to provide immunomodulatory properties, making them promising leads for the therapeutic usage of nanomaterials in diseases involving inflammation.
Abstract:A simple optical chemosensor from phycocyanin (L1), a protein-pigment complex extracted from cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis, has been developed. The L1 shows high selectivity toward Cu 2+ by exhibiting spectral shift and quenching of fluorescence intensity. This L1-Cu 2+ complex, so called ensemble probe, can be used to detect mercapto biomolecules, and has superior affinity toward homocysteine (Hcy). Upon binding to mercapto biomolecules, the color change from colorless to blue and the fluorescence emission change from colorless to pink were observed. This chemosensor could detect Hcy at concentration as low as 4.71 µM (S/N = 3) with a linear range of 10-100 µM (R 2 = 0.9903). This sensing approach may have found applications in clinical diagnostics.
Understanding the nutritive values of fruit peel residues could expand our feed atlas in sustaining livestock production systems. This study aimed to investigate the effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), cellulase enzyme, molasses, and their combinations on the fermentation quality and in vitro digestibility of coconut peel (CCP), sugar palm peel (SPP), and durian peel (DRP) silage. The CCP, SPP, and DRP were ensiled in a small-scale silo without additive (control), and with LAB strain TH14 (TH14), molasses, or Acremonium cellulase (AC) using a small-scale silage preparation technique according to a completely randomized design. All fresh peels had sufficient factors for ensiling such as moisture content (78–83%), water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC, 4.20–4.61% dry matter (DM)), and epiphytic LAB population (104–105 colony-forming units (cfu)/g fresh matter (FM)). However, aerobic bacteria counts were high (107–109 cfu/g FM). The fiber content of these fruit peels was high, with lignin abundances ranging from 9.1–21.8% DM and crude protein was low (2.7–5.4% DM). After ensiling, the pH values of the silage were optimal (≤4.25) and lower (p < 0.01) for SPP silage. The addition of molasses+TH14, molasses+AC, and molasses+TH14+AC has the potential to enhance fermentation characteristics and improve chemical composition. Silages treated with molasses alone improved the in vitro digestibility of tropical fruit peels. The residue of tropical fruits has the potential to be used as an alternative feed source for ruminants. Adding molasses, TH14, and AC during silage preparation could improve its nutritive value and digestibility.
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