Producing Cellulose Microfibrils at a High Solid Content with and without Mechanical or Enzymatic Pretreatment
This study conducted a detailed evaluation of the feasibility of producing cellulose microfibrils (CMF) from a kraft-bleached hardwood pulp at high solid contents with and without pretreatments. CMFs produced by planetary ball milling at solid contents 17 and 28% were compared with those from 1 to 5% under the same milling conditions. Fiber pretreatments using a commercial endoglucanase and mechanical refining using a laboratory PFI mill were also applied before ball milling at a solid content of 28%. Two mechanisms of fiber fibrillation were identified from the results obtained: (i) ball and fiber/fibril interactions─th...
Source: Biomacromolecules - March 21, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Xiaoxue Zhang Daniel J Yelle Peter Kitin Guolin Tong J Y Zhu Source Type: research
Tumor Microenvironment-Triggered Self-Adaptive Polymeric Photosensitizers for Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy
Biomacromolecules. 2024 Mar 20. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01150. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTPhotodynamic therapy (PDT) employs photosensitizers to convert nearby oxygen into toxic singlet oxygen (1O2) upon laser light irradiation, showing great potential as a noninvasive approach for tumor ablation. However, the therapeutic efficacy of PDT is essentially impeded by π-π stacking and the aggregation of photosensitizers. Herein, we propose a tumor microenvironment-triggered self-adaptive nanoplatform to weaken the aggregation of photosensitizers by selenium-based oxidation at the tumor site. The selenide units in a selen...
Source: Biomacromolecules - March 20, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Zepeng Cui Ruqian Ji Jun Xie Chao Wang Jia Tian Weian Zhang Source Type: research
Controlling the Nematic Liquid Crystallinity of Cellulose Nanocrystals with an Alcohol Ethoxy Sulfonate Surfactant
Biomacromolecules. 2024 Mar 20. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01375. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTCellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are biobased colloidal nanorods that have unlocked new opportunities in the area of sustainable functional nanomaterials including structural films and coatings, biomedical devices, energy, sensing, and composite materials. While selective light reflection and sensing develop from the typical chiral nematic (cholesteric, Nem*) liquid crystallinity exhibited by CNCs, a wealth of technologies would benefit from a nematic liquid crystal (LC) with CNC uniaxial alignment. Therefore, this study answers the...
Source: Biomacromolecules - March 20, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Johanna Majoinen Lotta Gustavsson Owies Wani Samira Kiefer Ville Liljestr öm Orlando J Rojas Patrice Rannou Olli Ikkala Source Type: research
Gelatin Methacryloyl (GelMA)-Based Biomaterial Inks: Process Science for 3D/4D Printing and Current Status
Biomacromolecules. 2024 Mar 20. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01271. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTTissue engineering for injured tissue replacement and regeneration has been a subject of investigation over the last 30 years, and there has been considerable interest in using additive manufacturing to achieve these goals. Despite such efforts, many key questions remain unanswered, particularly in the area of biomaterial selection for these applications as well as quantitative understanding of the process science. The strategic utilization of biological macromolecules provides a versatile approach to meet diverse requirements in...
Source: Biomacromolecules - March 20, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Soumitra Das Jeyapriya Thimukonda Jegadeesan Bikramjit Basu Source Type: research
Tuning Molecular Motion Enhances Intrinsic Fluorescence in Peptide Amphiphile Nanofibers
Biomacromolecules. 2024 Mar 20. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00050. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTPeptide amphiphiles (PAs) are highly tunable molecules that were recently found to exhibit aggregation-induced emission (AIE) when they self-assemble into nanofibers. Here, we leverage decades of molecular design and self-assembly study of PAs to strategically tune their molecular motion within nanofibers to enhance AIE, making them a highly useful platform for applications such as sensing, bioimaging, or materials property characterization. Since AIE increases when aggregated molecules are rigidly and closely packed, we altered ...
Source: Biomacromolecules - March 20, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Natchayaporn Sindhurattavej Shreya Jampana Mai Phuong Pham Leonardo C Romero Anna Grace Rogers Griffin A Stevens Whitney C Fowler Source Type: research
Tumor Microenvironment-Triggered Self-Adaptive Polymeric Photosensitizers for Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy
Biomacromolecules. 2024 Mar 20. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01150. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTPhotodynamic therapy (PDT) employs photosensitizers to convert nearby oxygen into toxic singlet oxygen (1O2) upon laser light irradiation, showing great potential as a noninvasive approach for tumor ablation. However, the therapeutic efficacy of PDT is essentially impeded by π-π stacking and the aggregation of photosensitizers. Herein, we propose a tumor microenvironment-triggered self-adaptive nanoplatform to weaken the aggregation of photosensitizers by selenium-based oxidation at the tumor site. The selenide units in a selen...
Source: Biomacromolecules - March 20, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Zepeng Cui Ruqian Ji Jun Xie Chao Wang Jia Tian Weian Zhang Source Type: research
Controlling the Nematic Liquid Crystallinity of Cellulose Nanocrystals with an Alcohol Ethoxy Sulfonate Surfactant
Biomacromolecules. 2024 Mar 20. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01375. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTCellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are biobased colloidal nanorods that have unlocked new opportunities in the area of sustainable functional nanomaterials including structural films and coatings, biomedical devices, energy, sensing, and composite materials. While selective light reflection and sensing develop from the typical chiral nematic (cholesteric, Nem*) liquid crystallinity exhibited by CNCs, a wealth of technologies would benefit from a nematic liquid crystal (LC) with CNC uniaxial alignment. Therefore, this study answers the...
Source: Biomacromolecules - March 20, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Johanna Majoinen Lotta Gustavsson Owies Wani Samira Kiefer Ville Liljestr öm Orlando J Rojas Patrice Rannou Olli Ikkala Source Type: research
Gelatin Methacryloyl (GelMA)-Based Biomaterial Inks: Process Science for 3D/4D Printing and Current Status
Biomacromolecules. 2024 Mar 20. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01271. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTTissue engineering for injured tissue replacement and regeneration has been a subject of investigation over the last 30 years, and there has been considerable interest in using additive manufacturing to achieve these goals. Despite such efforts, many key questions remain unanswered, particularly in the area of biomaterial selection for these applications as well as quantitative understanding of the process science. The strategic utilization of biological macromolecules provides a versatile approach to meet diverse requirements in...
Source: Biomacromolecules - March 20, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Soumitra Das Jeyapriya Thimukonda Jegadeesan Bikramjit Basu Source Type: research
Tuning Molecular Motion Enhances Intrinsic Fluorescence in Peptide Amphiphile Nanofibers
Biomacromolecules. 2024 Mar 20. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00050. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTPeptide amphiphiles (PAs) are highly tunable molecules that were recently found to exhibit aggregation-induced emission (AIE) when they self-assemble into nanofibers. Here, we leverage decades of molecular design and self-assembly study of PAs to strategically tune their molecular motion within nanofibers to enhance AIE, making them a highly useful platform for applications such as sensing, bioimaging, or materials property characterization. Since AIE increases when aggregated molecules are rigidly and closely packed, we altered ...
Source: Biomacromolecules - March 20, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Natchayaporn Sindhurattavej Shreya Jampana Mai Phuong Pham Leonardo C Romero Anna Grace Rogers Griffin A Stevens Whitney C Fowler Source Type: research
Bone Endosteal Mimics Regulates Breast Cancer Development and Phenotype
Biomacromolecules. 2024 Mar 18. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01217. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBone is a frequent site for metastatic development in various cancer types, including breast cancer, with a grim prognosis due to the distinct bone environment. Despite considerable advances, our understanding of the underlying processes leading to bone metastasis progression remains elusive. Here, we applied a bioactive three-dimensional (3D) model capable of mimicking the endosteal bone microenvironment. MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 breast cancer cells were cultured on the scaffolds, and their behaviors and the effects of the biomateria...
Source: Biomacromolecules - March 19, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Noa Ben Ghedalia Peled Dane K Hoffman Livnat Barsky Noy S Zer Katya Amar Hanna Rapaport Levi A Gheber Xiang H-F Zhang Razi Vago Source Type: research
Investigating the Role of Amino Acids in Short Peptides for Hydroxyapatite Binding and Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Aid Bone Regeneration
Biomacromolecules. 2024 Mar 19. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01148. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBone defects show a slow rate of osteoconduction and imperfect reconstruction, and the current treatment strategies to treat bone defects suffer from limitations like immunogenicity, lack of cell adhesion, and the absence of osteogenic activity. In this context, bioactive supramolecular peptides and peptide gels offer unique opportunities to develop biomaterials that can play a dominant role in the biomineralization of bone tissues and promote bone formation. In this article, we have demonstrated the potential of six tetrapeptide...
Source: Biomacromolecules - March 19, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Moumita Halder Ananya Singh Deepa Negi Yashveer Singh Source Type: research
Antibacterial, Fatigue-Resistant, and Self-Healing Dressing from Natural-Based Composite Hydrogels for Infected Wound Healing
Biomacromolecules. 2024 Mar 19. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01385. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe treatment of infected wounds faces substantial challenges due to the high incidence and serious infection-related complications. Natural-based hydrogel dressings with favorable antibacterial properties and strong applicability are urgently needed. Herein, we developed a composite hydrogel by constructing multiple networks and loading ciprofloxacin for infected wound healing. The hydrogel was synthesized via a Schiff base reaction between carboxymethyl chitosan and oxidized sodium alginate, followed by the polymerization of th...
Source: Biomacromolecules - March 19, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Ming Yan Shi-Yu Hu Zhi-Guo Wang Rui Hong Xu Peng Maja Kuzmanovi ć Min Yang Rui Dai Yanqiong Wang Juxiang Gou Ka Li Jia-Zhuang Xu Zhong-Ming Li Source Type: research
Bone Endosteal Mimics Regulates Breast Cancer Development and Phenotype
Biomacromolecules. 2024 Mar 18. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01217. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBone is a frequent site for metastatic development in various cancer types, including breast cancer, with a grim prognosis due to the distinct bone environment. Despite considerable advances, our understanding of the underlying processes leading to bone metastasis progression remains elusive. Here, we applied a bioactive three-dimensional (3D) model capable of mimicking the endosteal bone microenvironment. MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 breast cancer cells were cultured on the scaffolds, and their behaviors and the effects of the biomateria...
Source: Biomacromolecules - March 19, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Noa Ben Ghedalia Peled Dane K Hoffman Livnat Barsky Noy S Zer Katya Amar Hanna Rapaport Levi A Gheber Xiang H-F Zhang Razi Vago Source Type: research
Investigating the Role of Amino Acids in Short Peptides for Hydroxyapatite Binding and Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Aid Bone Regeneration
Biomacromolecules. 2024 Mar 19. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01148. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBone defects show a slow rate of osteoconduction and imperfect reconstruction, and the current treatment strategies to treat bone defects suffer from limitations like immunogenicity, lack of cell adhesion, and the absence of osteogenic activity. In this context, bioactive supramolecular peptides and peptide gels offer unique opportunities to develop biomaterials that can play a dominant role in the biomineralization of bone tissues and promote bone formation. In this article, we have demonstrated the potential of six tetrapeptide...
Source: Biomacromolecules - March 19, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Moumita Halder Ananya Singh Deepa Negi Yashveer Singh Source Type: research
Antibacterial, Fatigue-Resistant, and Self-Healing Dressing from Natural-Based Composite Hydrogels for Infected Wound Healing
Biomacromolecules. 2024 Mar 19. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01385. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe treatment of infected wounds faces substantial challenges due to the high incidence and serious infection-related complications. Natural-based hydrogel dressings with favorable antibacterial properties and strong applicability are urgently needed. Herein, we developed a composite hydrogel by constructing multiple networks and loading ciprofloxacin for infected wound healing. The hydrogel was synthesized via a Schiff base reaction between carboxymethyl chitosan and oxidized sodium alginate, followed by the polymerization of th...
Source: Biomacromolecules - March 19, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Ming Yan Shi-Yu Hu Zhi-Guo Wang Rui Hong Xu Peng Maja Kuzmanovi ć Min Yang Rui Dai Yanqiong Wang Juxiang Gou Ka Li Jia-Zhuang Xu Zhong-Ming Li Source Type: research
