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MXene‐based thermal camouflage materials have gained increasing attention due to their low emissivity, however, the poor anti‐oxidation restricts their potential applications under complex environments. Various modification methods and strategies, e.g., the addition of antioxidant molecules and fillers have been developed to overcome this, but the realization of long‐term, reliable thermal camouflage using MXene network (coating) with excellent comprehensive performance remains a great challenge. Here, a MXene‐based hybrid network comodified with hyaluronic acid (HA) and hyperbranched polysiloxane (HSi) molecules is designed and fabricated. Notably, the presence of appreciated HA molecules restricts the oxidation of MXene sheets without altering infrared stealth performance, superior to other water‐soluble polymers; while the HSi molecules can act as efficient cross‐linking agents to generate strong interactions between MXene sheets and HA molecules. The optimized MXene/HA/HSi composites exhibit excellent mechanical flexibility (folded into crane structure), good water/solvent resistance, and long‐term stable thermal camouflage capability (with low infrared emissivity of ≈0.29). The long‐term thermal camouflage reliability (≈8 months) under various outdoor weathers and the scalable coating capability of the MXene‐coated textile enable them to disguise the IR signal of various targets in complex environments, indicating the great promise of achieved material for thermal camouflage, IR stealth, and counter surveillance. A high‐performance thermal camouflage material is designed and successfully fabricated by decorating MXene network with hyaluronic acid (HA) and hyperbranched polysiloxane (HSi). Besides excellent mid‐infrared (IR) thermal camouflage, such material also integrates multiple advantages into itself, including being large‐scale, mechanically flexible, weather‐resistant, and thus showing great potential for stealth applications.

Background Frankincense volatile oil (FVO) has long been considered a side product in pharmaceutical industry since frankincense of large molecular weight is the prime target. However, the volatile oil recycled in the extract process might contain a series of functional actives, serving as promising ingredients in the cosmetic field. Methods Gas chromatography‐mass spectrometer was utilized to determine the species and amount of active ingredients in FVO. Subsequently, zebrafish models were used to evaluate pigmentation inhibition, ROS elimination and neutrophil activation. In vitro DPPH test was also conducted to consolidate the anti‐oxidation efficacy. Based on the test results, network pharmacology was incorporated, where GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed to discover the interrelations between active ingredients. Results About 40 actives molecules were identified, including incensole, acetate incensole, and acetate incensole oxide. The FVO demonstrated great depigmentation activity by suppressing melanin synthesis, as well as providing free radical scavenging and anti‐inflammation effect. In network pharmacology analysis, 192 intersected targets were identified. By enrichment analysis and network construction, a series of whitening signal pathways, and hub genes, containing STAT3，MAPK3，MAPK1 were identified. Conclusion The current study quantified the components of FVO, evaluated its efficacy in skin depigmentation, and give pioneering insights on the possible mechanism. The results confirmed that the FVO could serve as whitening agent in topical uses.

β-Glucan exhibits many biological activities and functions such as stimulation of the immune system and anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-infective, anti-viral, anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-coagulant, cholesterol-lowering, radio protective, and wound healing effects. It has a wide variety of uses in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and chemical industries as well as in food processing units. However, due to its dense triple helix structure, formed by the interaction of polyhydroxy groups in the β-d-glucan molecule, it features poor solubility, which not only constrains its applications, but also inhibits its physiological function in vivo. One aim is to expand the applications for modified β-glucan with potential to prevent disease, various therapeutic purposes and as health-improving ingredients in functional foods and cosmetics. This review introduces the major modification methods required to understand the bioactivity of β-glucan and critically provides a literature survey on the structural features of this molecule and reported biological activity. We also discuss a new method to create novel opportunities to exploit maximally various properties of β-glucan, namely ultrasound-assisted enzymatic modification.

Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes photoaging of the skin and induces a number of disorders, including sunburn, fine and coarse wrinkles, and skin cancer risk. Therefore, the application of sunscreen has gained much attention to reduce the harmful effects of UV irradiation on our skin. Recently, there has been a growing demand for the replacement of chemical sunscreens with natural UV-absorbing compounds. Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), promising alternative natural UV-absorbing compounds, are a group of widely distributed, low molecular-weight, water-soluble molecules that can absorb UV radiation and disperse the absorbed energy as heat, without generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). More than 30 MAAs have been characterized, from a variety of organisms. In addition to their UV-absorbing properties, there is substantial evidence that MAAs have the potential to protect against skin aging, including antioxidative activity, anti-inflammatory activity, inhibition of protein-glycation, and inhibition of collagenase activity. This review will provide an overview of MAAs, as potential anti-aging ingredients, beginning with their structure, before moving on to discuss the most recent experimental observations, including the molecular and cellular mechanisms through which MAAs might protect the skin. In particular, we focus on the potential anti-aging activity of mycosporine-2-glycine (M2G).

Background Chronic nonextreme sun exposure induces two mechanisms of skin pigmentation, causing immediate darkening and delayed tanning. A new molecule, 2‐mercaptonicotinoyl glycine (2‐MNG), has been shown in vitro to inhibit both immediate darkening and new melanin synthesis via covalent conjugation of the thiol group of 2‐MNG to melanin precursors. Objective To evaluate 2‐MNG in preventing both mechanisms in vivo. Methods In a randomized, intra‐individual and controlled study, 33 subjects with melanin‐rich skin were exposed to UV daylight on designated areas on the back and treated with a cosmetic formula containing 0.5% or 1% 2‐MNG alone or 0.5% 2‐MNG in association with lipohydroxy acid (LHA, 0.3%) plus Mexoryl‐SX (MSX, 1.5%). The respective vehicles were used as controls and 4‐n‐butyl‐resorcinol (4‐n‐BR, 2.5%) as a positive reference. Results 2‐MNG alone significantly reduced immediate darkening and inhibited new melanin production when compared with vehicle, with higher performance at 1% than at 0.5%. 2‐MNG at 0.5% in association with LHA and MSX showed significantly higher performance than 2‐MNG 0.5% alone. 2‐MNG at 0.5% and 1% showed significantly better performance than 4‐n‐BR. Conclusions 2‐MNG inhibited both UV‐induced skin pigmentation mechanisms in vivo. The association of 2‐MNG with LHA plus MSX showed the highest efficacy on melanin‐rich skin with pigmentation induced by UV exposure.

Current SiC coating technologies for anti‐oxidation Cf/C composites, such as pack cementation, often rely on high‐temperature in situ reaction with severe mechanical property decay. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) presents a promising alternative for fabricating anti‐oxidation SiC coatings with long service life and high mechanical property. However, existing CVD approaches suffer from poor crack sealing and rapid oxidation loss, leading to insufficient anti‐oxidation time. Therefore, achieving long‐term anti‐oxidation SiC coatings using CVD remains a crucial challenge. This work presents a straightforward multi‐step deposition strategy for fabricating anti‐oxidation Cf/C composites with long service life and high mechanical properties. The anti‐oxidation time of β‐SiC coated Cf/C composites reached 659 h at 1500 °C for the first time (within <1% mass loss), far superior to the previously reported index by CVD (1500 °C, < 30 h), and acquired over 30% increase in bending strength compared to uncoated Cf/C composites. The inhibition on through‐crack sources by multi‐deposition strategy can utilize the oxidation barrier of self‐derived SiO2 and keep the stability of coating/substrate interface, thus achieving superior oxidation resistance. This new breakthrough for anti‐oxidation Cf/C composites opens doors to a broad range of applications, including thermal fields, engine nozzles, brake discs, chemical combustion chambers, and nuclear first wall materials. A new multi‐step β‐SiC deposition strategy for anti‐oxidation Cf/C composites successfully achieves dual‐performance breakthrough of anti‐oxidation property (≈700 h at 1500 °C)and mechanical property (bending strength of 215 MPa and adhesion strength of 9.4 MPa). Reasons for this lie in the inhibition on shadow effect during CVD process, ultrahigh coating density (≈99.6%), effective coating thickness (≈120 µm) and continuous β‐SiC sublayers.

Pulsed electric field (PEF) processing has emerged as a promising non‐thermal technology capable of modifying biomolecular structures and enhancing functional properties in food systems. In this study, PEF was applied to fabricate cross‐linked alginate–fish gelatin materials, and their structural characteristics, antioxidative activity, and nutrient entrapment capacity were compared with those produced using conventional homogenization. Structural analysis revealed that PEF processing generated smaller particle sizes ( 80 nm) compared with homogenization (250–550 nm) and produced more compact microstructures with lower surface area (4678.3 vs. 8230.2 m2/g) and porosity (0.0973 vs. 0.2366 cm3/g). These structural differences significantly improved the functional performance of the material. Nutrient entrapment capacity increased from 21% to 33% for minerals and from 15% to 24% for vitamins in PEF‐treated samples compared with homogenized samples. In addition, antioxidative activity measured by FRAP and ABTS assays showed a notable enhancement in PEF‐processed materials. The results demonstrate that PEF can effectively promote protein–polysaccharide interactions and improve the structural and functional properties of alginate–fish gelatin complexes. This study provides a novel non‐thermal strategy for developing protein–polysaccharide materials with enhanced nutrient delivery and antioxidative functionality for food applications. This study demonstrates a novel PEF‐based method to fabricate cross‐linked alginate‐fish gelatin materials with compact microstructure. Compared to homogenization, PEF processing significantly improved antioxidant activity and enhanced nutrient entrapment capacity for minerals (33% vs. 21%) and vitamins (24% vs. 15%).

Background Skin aging is one of the most abundant aging‐related disorders that can be accelerated by excessive exposure to ultraviolet irradiation. Topically applied fermented skincare ingredients have gained mounting attentions due to their high concentration of various skin nourishing nutrients and bioactive components and low skin irritation potency. Aims In the present study, we aim to fully demonstrate the skin‐related benefits of a novel extract of Thermus thermophilus and Bacillus subtilis mixed‐culture ferment (TBFE). Methods TBFE was prepared through an innovative mixed‐culture fermentation process. The contents of nutrients and bioactive ingredients were quantified by different methods accordingly. Both in vitro tests and randomized controlled human trial were utilized to further demonstrate multifaceted beneficial effects on human skin, as well as the potential mechanisms. Results Our results showed that TBFE upregulated the expression of type IV collagen, elastin, aquaporin‐3, and dermal‐epidermal junction markers, while inhibited production of melanin, in different skin cell models. Moreover, TBFE inhibited the generation of reactive oxygen species and pro‐inflammatory mediators induced by ultraviolet irradiation in normal human keratinocytes, while stimulated autophagy in senescent keratinocytes. Results from clinical studies confirmed those in vitro findings, demonstrating that TBFE at 5% and 20% concentration provides anti‐aging properties in subjects with sensitive skin, in terms of improving wrinkles, moisturization, and skin lightening. Conclusions In summary, we demonstrate that a novel mixed‐culture ferment extract has promising anti‐aging effects, which may be attributed to anti‐oxidation, anti‐inflammation, and promotion of autophagy in skin cells.

Glabridin is a prenylated isoflavan from the roots of Linne and has posed great impact on the areas of drug development and medicine, due to various biological properties such as anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, anti-tumor, anti-microorganism, bone protection, cardiovascular protection, neuroprotection, hepatoprotection, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetes. Many signaling pathways, including NF-κB, MAPK, Wnt/β-catenin, ERα/SRC-1, PI3K/AKT, and AMPK, have been implicated in the regulatory activities of glabridin. Interestingly, glabridin has been considered as an inhibitor of tyrosinase, P-glycoprotein (P-gp), and CYP2E1 and an activator of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), although their molecular regulating mechanisms still need further investigation. However, poor water solubility and low bioavailability have greatly limited the clinical applications of glabridin. Hopefully, several effective strategies, such as nanoemulsions, microneedles, and smartPearls formulation, have been developed for improvement.

Abstract Natural remedies are gaining attention as promising approaches to alleviating inflammation, yet their full potential is often limited by challenges such as poor bioavailability and suboptimal therapeutic effects. To overcome these limitations, we have developed a novel nano-antioxidant (EK) based on epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) aimed at enhancing the oral and systemic bioavailability, as well as the anti-inflammatory efficacy, of curcumin (Cur) in conditions such as acute colon and kidney inflammation. EK is synthesized using a straightforward Mannich reaction between EGCG and L-lysine (K), resulting in the formation of EGCG oligomers. These oligomers spontaneously self-assemble into nanoparticles with a spherical morphology and an average diameter of approximately 160 nm. In vitro studies reveal that EK nanoparticles exhibit remarkable radical-scavenging capabilities and effectively regulate redox processes within macrophages, a key component in the body’s inflammatory response. By efficiently encapsulating curcumin within these EK nanoparticles, we create Cur@EK, a formulation that demonstrates a synergistic anti-inflammatory effect. Specifically, Cur@EK significantly reduces the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 while increasing the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages, highlighting its potent anti-inflammatory properties. When administered either orally or intravenously, Cur@EK shows superior bioavailability compared to free curcumin and exhibits pronounced anti-inflammatory effects in mouse models of ulcerative colitis and acute kidney injury. These findings suggest that the EK nano-antioxidant platform not only enhances the bioavailability of curcumin but also amplifies its therapeutic impact, offering a promising new avenue for the treatment and management of inflammation in both oral and systemic contexts. Graphical abstract