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In this work, lignocellulose nanofibrils (LCNFs) were initially prepared from 4, 8 and 16% sodium hydroxide pretreated wheat straw by mechanical grinding to evaluate the effect of lignin on the fibrillation process, and then superhydrophobic surface was prepared through coating fluoroalkyl silane modified LCNFs on glass and filter paper. The LCNFs with various amounts of lignin possess a fine structure with an average diameter of 13–17 nm and the length in microscale. The superhydrophobic surface was obtained by the LCNFs modified with the fluoroalkyl silane at an extremely low dosage (0.31 v/v%) owing to the presence of inherent hydrophobic lignin for synergetic effect. Although the high content of lignin in LCNFs has minor negative effect on the abrasion resistance of the as-prepared superhydrophobic surfaces, such a superhydrophobic surface has excellent water repellency and self-cleaning properties that offer LCNFs many promising applications.

The specific interaction between carbohydrate binding modules (CBMs) and substrates is of utmost importance due to it affects the biological activity of the parent enzymes and determines the chemo-mechanical properties of protein-cellulose composites. In this investigation, a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring was employed to study, in situ and in real-time, the adsorption behaviors, conformational changes and associated thermodynamics that define the specific interactions between type A CBMs (CBM1 and CBM3) and cellulose (crystalline, CNC and nanofibrillated, CNF). CBM1 and CBM3 specifically bind to CNC and CNF substrates, with the CBM3 forming more rigid adsorbed layers at 25 °C. Despite the wide variation in adsorption enthalpy (ΔH) and entropy (ΔS), depending on the experimental conditions, a negative Gibbs free energy (ΔG) was determined from the adsorption isotherms for both CBMs. Particularly, the ΔH and ΔS associated with CBM3 adsorbing on CNF exhibited significant greater values than others due to cellulose chain disorder when swelling. The results further our understandings on the interactions between type A CBMs and cellulose substrates.Graphic abstract

Metastasis is the primary reason of death in patients with cancer. Small nucleolar noncoding RNAs (snoRNAs) are conserved 60–300 nucleotide noncoding RNAs, involved in post‐transcriptional regulation of mRNAs and noncoding RNAs. Despite their essential roles in cancer, the roles of snoRNAs in epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT)‐induced metastasis have not been studied extensively. Here, we used small RNA sequencing to screen for snoRNAs related to EMT and breast cancer metastasis. We found a higher expression of SNORA71A in metastatic breast cancer tissues compared to nonmetastatic samples. Additionally, SNORA71A promoted the proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT of MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Mechanistically, SNORA71A elevated mRNA and protein levels of ROCK2, a negative regulator of TGF‐β signaling. Rescue assays showed ROCK2 abrogated the SNORA71A‐mediated increase in proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT. Binding of SNORA71A to mRNA stability regulatory protein G3BP1, increased ROCK2 mRNA half‐life. Furthermore, G3BP1 depletion abolished the SNORA71A‐mediated upregulation of ROCK2. In vivo, SNORA71A overexpression promoted breast tumor growth, and SNORA71A knockdown inhibited breast cancer growth and metastasis. We suggest SNORA71A enhances metastasis of breast cancer by binding to G3BP1 and stabilizing ROCK2. The role of snoRNAs in cancer metastasis has not been studied in detail. We observed that SNORA71A promoted metastasis of breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanically, SNORA71A recruited G3BP1 to the mRNA of ROCK2, thus increasing the mRNA stability of ROCK2, and further promoting EMT via TGF‐β signaling.

Lignin, as a main factor inhibiting the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulose, was investigated by comparing lignin isolated from untreated and pretreated lignocellulose to elucidate the differences in the enzyme adsorption ability. The nonproductive adsorption of cellulase on lignin was investigated by using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation. The results indicated that more cellulase adsorbed on the lignin isolated from autohydrolysis and green liquor-pretreated lignocellulose than on protolignin. Higher temperature and enzyme concentration increased the initial adsorption rate and the amount of enzyme adsorbed on lignin. A dynamic equation for enzyme adsorption on lignin was established. The adsorption of enzymes on lignin increased as the content of phenolic hydroxyl groups, and β-β and β-5 linkages in the lignin increased, attributed to enhanced hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction. Consequently, inhibition of the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose was promoted by a higher phenolic hydroxyl group, β-β, and β-5 content. The adsorption of the enzyme components on lignin followed the order: β-glucosidase > xylanase > endo-glucanase > cellobiohydrolase, as revealed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. Electrostatic interaction increased the adsorption of β-glucosidase and xylanase on lignin, while synergistic hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonding increased the adsorption of endo-glucanase and cellobiohydrolase on lignin. The results indicate that the adsorption of enzymes on lignin is affected by the structure of lignin and the composition of the enzymes. The findings of the current study provide fundamental knowledge for improving the enzymatic conversion of lignocellulose.

The stabilizing role of carboxymethyl groups on the conformal deposition of Ag NPs over cellulosic fibers was elucidated while developing a method for the deposition of silver nanoparticles (NPs) on cellulose acetate (CA), cellulose and partially carboxymethylated cellulose (CMC) electrospun fibers. CMC fibers were prepared through judicious anionization of deacetylated cellulose acetate fibers. Ag NPs were chemically reduced from silver nitrate using sodium borohydride and further stabilized using citrate. Ag NPs were directly deposited onto CA, cellulose and CMC electrospun fibers at pH conditions ranging from 2.5 to 9.0. The resulting composites of Ag/fiber were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The results revealed that the amount of Ag agglomerates and NPs deposited on CMC fibers was higher than that deposited on cellulose fibers at similar pH conditions, and that barely any Ag agglomerates or NPs were deposited on the CA fibers. These results implied that functional groups on the cellulose backbone played two important roles in the deposition of NPs as follows: (1) Hydrogen bonding was the main driving force for agglomeration of NPs when the medium pH was below 4.4, which corresponds to the pKa of carboxylic acid groups; (2) Carboxymethyl groups could replace citrate groups as stabilizers allowing the fabrication of a uniform and evenly distributed Ag NPs layer over CMC fibers at higher pH values. This report also highlights the importance of the substrate’s surface charge and that of the pH of the medium used, on the deposition of NPs. The composite of Ag NPs on CMC electrospun fibers appears to be a promising candidate for wound dressing applications due to its superior antibacterial properties originated by the uniform and even distribution of Ag NPs on the surface of the fibers and the wound healing aptness of the CMC fibers.

Micro‐ and nanoscale cytomimetic models are widely studied in catalysis, adhesion, compartmentalization, communication systems, and membrane regeneration considering the proximity effect. However, there are few reports of proximity effect on the chemical information communication behavior of large‐sized cytomimetic models at ultra‐long distances. Herein, cytomimetic models are prepared by encapsulating enzymes glucose oxidase (Gox), catalase (Cat), and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in millimeter‐sized spherical cavity hydrogels via a facile and efficient one‐step method. Considering the proximity effect, the biocatalytic efficiency of the cascade reactions between two separated cavity hydrogels as cytomimetic models with corresponding enzymes is less than that carried out inside one cytomimetic model by 30.6%. Using them as two individual closed systems, Closed System I with cascade reactions by Gox and Cat can stabilize 66.7% of dissolved oxygen within 160 min at room temperature. In comparison, 14.5% less of the dissolved oxygen remains in Closed System II with cascade reactions by Gox and HRP within 150 min due to the low ability of cascade reaction to circulate dissolved oxygen. This study highlights a promising new route to design millimeter scale dynamic hydrogel‐based cytomimetic models for various events, such as biosensing and controlled delivery. The enzymes of glucose oxidase, catalase, and horseradish peroxidase are encapsulated into cavitary hydrogels as cytomimetic models to investigate the cascade reaction efficiency inside two closed systems while considering the circulating performance of dissolved oxygen and thermal stimulation. The closed system I, with the ability to circulate dissolved oxygen, performs better than the closed system II.

Multiple studies have shown that extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a key role in the process of information transfer and material transport between cells. EVs are classified into different types according to their sizes, which includes the class of exosomes. In comparison to normal EVs, tumor-derived EVs (TDEs) have both altered components and quantities of contents. TDEs have been shown to help facilitate an environment conducive to the occurrence and development of tumor by regulation of glucose, lipids and amino acids. Furthermore, TDEs can also affect the host metabolism and immune system. EVs have been shown to have multiple clinically useful properties, including the use of TDEs as biomarkers for the early diagnosis of diseases and using the transport properties of exosomes for drug delivery. Targeting the key bioactive cargoes of exosomes could be applied to provide new strategies for the treatment of tumors. In this review, we summarize the finding of studies focused on measuring the effects of TDE on tumor-related microenvironment and systemic metabolism. 2Do1aYjSqodaCb-ACWXeSn Video Abstract

Nanocellulose has been highlighted as one of the most promising biomaterials for biomedical applications with the potential to outperform conventional polymeric materials. However, the design of nanocellulose-based biomaterials for wound healing still requires precise control over biophysical and biochemical cues to direct a series of cellular activities in healing processes. The bioactive cellulose nanofibrils scaffolds with controlled release of basic fibroblast growth factors (bFGFs) were constructed for potential wound healing applications. The Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) analysis revealed the polyion complex interaction between the positively charged bFGFs with the negatively charged cellulose nanofibrils, which mimics the interaction between bFGFs and heparin sulfate in extracellular matrix in the body. Such association enables not only the storage of bFGFs in a readily available form and from where it is slowly released, but also potential protection of it from denaturation. The release profile of bFGFs from the CNF scaffolds was tailored by tuning the CNF surface chemistry and in situ deconstruction of the scaffolds. The in situ enzymatic deconstruction of the scaffolds provides a possibility to tune the bioavailability of bFGFs for cell growth and proliferation, and more importantly, to balance the scaffolds degradation and new tissue formation in wound healing. The MTT assay of cells proliferation and fluorescence imaging of cells cultured in the 3D scaffolds showed that the CNF scaffolds loaded with bFGF can significantly facilitate the proliferation of the cells, even if only a small amount of bFGF was loaded. Enzymatic deconstruction of the CNFs network further increases the bFGFs bioavailability, and promotes cell proliferation. This work may serve as an important step toward the development of nanocellulose-based biomaterials with tailored biophysical and biochemical cues for wound healing and other biomedical applications.

Lignin deposits formed on the surface of pretreated lignocellulosic substrates during acidic pretreatments can non-productively adsorb costly enzymes and thereby influence the enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency of cellulose. In this article, peanut protein (PP), a biocompatible non-catalytic protein, was separated from defatted peanut flour (DPF) as a lignin blocking additive to overcome this adverse effect. With the addition of 2.5 g/L PP in enzymatic hydrolysis medium, the glucose yield of the bamboo substrate pretreated by phenylsulfonic acid (PSA) significantly increased from 38 to 94% at a low cellulase loading of 5 FPU/g glucan while achieving a similar glucose yield required a cellulase loading of 17.5 FPU/g glucan without PP addition. Similar promotion effects were also observed on the n-pentanol-pretreated bamboo and PSA-pretreated eucalyptus substrates. The promoting effect of PP on enzymatic hydrolysis was ascribed to blocking lignin deposits via hydrophobic and/or hydrogen-bonding interactions, which significantly reduced the non-productive adsorption of cellulase onto PSA lignin. Meanwhile, PP extraction also facilitated the utilization of residual DPF as the adhesive for producing plywood as compared to that without protein pre-extraction. This scheme provides a sustainable and viable way to improve the value of woody and agriculture biomass.Peanut protein, a biocompatible non-catalytic protein, can block lignin, improve enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency and thereby facilitate the economics of biorefinery.

Objective To describe a minimally invasive comprehensive treatment for granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM) and compare its effect with the existing methods, particularly in terms of its recurrence rate and esthetic outcomes. Methods This retrospective study reviewed 69 GLM patients receiving the minimally invasive comprehensive treatment. Patients’ information, including age, clinical features, image characteristics, histopathological findings, mastitis history, treatment process, operative technique, recurrence, and esthetic effect, was evaluated. Results All patients were female with a median age of 32 (range 17–55) years. Hospital stays ranged from 2 to 34 days, with a median of 6 days. The shortest time for complete rehabilitation was 2 days and the longest time was 365 days, with a median of 30 days. After a median follow-up of 391 days (range 162–690), 7 patients (10.14%) relapsed. The average cosmetic score was 2.62 ± 0.57 points and was mainly related to the past treatment, especially the surgical history. Conclusion Minimally invasive comprehensive treatment is a new method for the treatment of GLM, ensuring a therapeutic effect while maintaining breast beauty.