Modification of gelatin-DNA interaction for optimised DNA extraction from gelatin and gelatin capsule

Nitric oxide-releasing thiolated starch nanoparticles embedded in gelatin sponges for wound dressing applications

This study introduces a novel wound dressing by combining nitric oxide-releasing thiolated starch nanoparticles (NO-TS NPs) with gelatin. First, starch was thiolated (TS), and then its nanoparticles were prepared (TS NPs). Subsequently, NPs were covalently bonded to sodium nitrite to obtain NO-releasing TS NPs (NO-TS-NPs) that were incorporated into gelatin sponges at various concentrations. The resulting spherical TS NPs had a mean size of 85.42 ± 5.23 nm, which rose to 100.73 ± 7.41 nm after bonding with sodium nitrite. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed S-nitrosation on the NO-TS NPs' surface, and morphology analysis showed well-interconnected pores in all sponges. With higher NO-TS NPs content, pore size, porosity, and water uptake increased, while compressive modulus and strength decreased. Composites exhibited antibacterial activity, particularly against E. coli, with enhanced efficacy at higher NPs' concentrations. In vitro release studies demonstrated Fickian diffusion, with faster NO release in sponges containing more NPs. The released NO amounts were non-toxic to fibroblasts, but samples with fewer NO-TS NPs exhibited superior cellular density, cell attachment, and collagen secretion. Considering the results, including favorable mechanical strength, release behavior, antibacterial and cellular properties, gelatin sponges loaded with 2 mg/mL of NO-TS NPs can be suitable for wound dressing applications.

Recent advances in production of sustainable and biodegradable polymers from agro-food waste: Applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicines

Agro-food waste is a rich source of biopolymers such as cellulose, chitin, and starch, which have been shown to possess excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low toxicity. These properties make biopolymers from agro-food waste for its application in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Thus, this review highlighted the properties, processing methods, and applications of biopolymers derived from various agro-food waste sources. We also highlight recent advances in the development of biopolymers from agro-food waste and their potential for future tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications, including drug delivery, wound healing, tissue engineering, biodegradable packaging, excipients, dental applications, diagnostic tools, and medical implants. Additionally, it explores the challenges, prospects, and future directions in this rapidly evolving field. The review showed the evolution of production techniques for transforming agro-food waste into valuable biopolymers. However, these biopolymers serving as the cornerstone in scaffold development and drug delivery systems. With their role in wound dressings, cell encapsulation, and regenerative therapies, biopolymers promote efficient wound healing, cell transplantation, and diverse regenerative treatments. Biopolymers support various regenerative treatments, including cartilage and bone regeneration, nerve repair, and organ transplantation. Overall, this review concluded the potential of biopolymers from agro-food waste as a sustainable and cost-effective solution in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, offering innovative solutions for medical treatments and promoting the advancement of these fields.

Duplex droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) for simultaneous quantification of bovine and porcine gelatin in capsules

Detection of bovine and porcine in gelatin-based products is important as species fraud and product mislabeling may have a detrimental impact on customers who have health, ethical, and religious concerns about animal products. The duplex droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assay using double-quenched probes has been developed for quantification and detection of porcine and bovine DNA in gelatin capsules. A DNA mixture derived from gelatin was found to have a limit of detection as low as 0.001 ng/µl for porcine samples and 0.01 ng/µl for bovine samples. DNA from 12 other distinct species was tested with the bovine and porcine probes, showing high specificity for this method. The test was validated using fifty-five commercial supplement and pharmaceutical capsules, of which 17 were positive for bovine and/or porcine DNA. This study shows that the duplex ddPCR is reliable for routine analysis in the identification of bovine and porcine origins for gelatin capsules.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-022-01204-x.

Rapid porcine detection in gelatin-based highly processed products using loop mediated isothermal amplification

Low DNA concentration recovered from highly processed products such as gelatin and gelatin-based products renders difficulty in detecting porcine contamination using conventional PCR techniques. We documented here a porcine-specific loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) to identify porcine traces in gelatin products. The porcine-specific primers were designed according to mitochondrial DNA of Cytochrome b gene sequence. Here we used two different reaction mixtures for LAMP assay (GENIE and MYRM) against the same DNA samples extracted from gelatin products and porcine-specific primers to detect the presence of porcine DNA. The porcine-specific primers were shown to be specific only to Sus scrofa against 14 DNA of other meat species. The analytical sensitivity of the LAMP assay for porcine DNA detection is 1 pg/µL using both GENIE (within 30 m) and MYRM (within 60 m) reaction mixtures. Analysis against 32 samples of gelatin products showed that five samples were found to contain porcine DNA; two samples out of six gelatin powder samples and three gelatin capsule samples out of nine. Out of these five positive samples, three were not labeled containing porcine gelatin. Overall, LAMP assay in this study showed an excellent specificity, sensitivity and rapidity in detection of porcine DNA in gelatin products.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at (10.1007/s13197-020-04932-2).

Potential authentication of various meat-based products using simple and efficient DNA extraction method

BACKGROUND

The growth of halal food consumption worldwide has resulted in an increase in the request for halal authentication. DNA-based detection using powerful real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique has been shown to be highly specific and sensitive authentication tool. The efficient DNA extraction method in terms of quality and quantity is a backbone step to obtain successful real-time PCR assays. In this study, different DNA extraction methods using three lysis buffers were evaluated and developed to recommend a much more efficient method as well as achieve a successful detection using real-time PCR.

RESULTS

The lysis buffer 2 (LB2) has been shown to be the best lysis buffer for DNA extraction from both raw and processed meat samples comparing to other lysis buffers tested. Hence, the LB2 has been found to be ideal to detect meat and porcine DNAs by real-time PCR using pairs of porcine specific primers and universal primers which amplified at 119 bp fragment and 93 bp fragment, respectively. This assay allows detection as low as 0.0001 ng of DNA. Higher efficiency and sensitivity of real-time PCR via a simplified DNA extraction method using LB2 have been observed, as well as a reproducible and high correlation coefficient (R²  = 0.9979) based on the regression analysis of the standard curve have been obtained.

CONCLUSION

This study has established a fast, simple, inexpensive and efficient DNA extraction method that is feasible for raw and processed meat products. This extraction technique allows an accurate DNA detection by real-time PCR and can also be implemented to assist the halal authentication of various meat-based products available in the market. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Allogenic Tendon-Autologous Cartilage Cells Transplantation Enhances Adhesive/Growth Ability and Promotes Chondrogenesis in a Rabbit Model of Glenoid Labrum Damage

Background

Glenoid labrum injury of the shoulder commonly occurs in athletes, especially those who perform throwing motions. This study investigated the effects of the established allogenic tendon-autologous cartilage cells reconstruction approach in a rabbit model of glenoid labrum damage.

Material/Methods

The allogenic tendons were isolated and extracted using the chemical extraction method. Cartilage cells were isolated from New Zealand rabbits and identified by detecting type II collagenase. The allogenic tendon-autologous cartilage cells were transplanted to the damaged glenoid labrum. HE staining was used to observe inflammatory cells, Masson staining was used to observe muscle fibers, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to assess antigenicity of tendon tissues. PSA and AB staining were used to examine neutral protein mucopolysaccharide and acidic protein mucopolysaccharide, respectively. We assessed cartilage cell growth in autologous cartilage cells combined with allogenic tendon transplanted tissues.

Results

Allogenic tendons were well prepared using chemical extraction method due to use of HE staining, Masson staining, and SEM. TGF-β1 treatment induced cartilage cell formation and triggered expression of acidic and neutral protein mucopolysaccharides. HE staining, Masson staining, PAS staining, and AB staining methods showed that autologous cartilage cells combined with allogenic tendon transplanted tissues had better growth of cartilage cells.

Conclusions

This study establishes the allogenic tendon-autologous cartilage cells reconstruction and transplantation approach and illustrated higher adhesive ability and growth ability, and better chondrogenesis in a rabbit model of glenoid labrum damage.

Molecular beacon-based real-time PCR method for detection of porcine DNA in gelatin and gelatin capsules

BACKGROUND

The pharmaceutical industry has boosted gelatin consumption worldwide. This is supported by the availability of cost-effective gelatin production from porcine by-products. However, cross-contamination of gelatin materials, where porcine gelatin was unintentionally included in the other animal sources of gelatin, has caused significant concerns about halal authenticity. The real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has enabled a highly specific and sensitive animal species detection method in various food products. Hence, such a technique was employed in the present study to detect and quantify porcine DNA in gelatin using a molecular beacon probe, with differences in performance between mitochondrial (cytochrome b gene) and chromosomal DNA-(MPRE42 repetitive element) based porcine-specific PCR assays being compared.

RESULTS

A higher sensitivity was observed in chromosomal DNA (MPRE-PCR assay), where this assay allows the detection of gelatin DNA at amounts as as low as 1 pg, whereas mitochondrial DNA (CBH-PCR assay) can only detect at levels down to 10 pg of gelatin DNA. When an analysis with commercial gelatin and gelatin capsule samples was conducted, the same result was observed, with a significantly more sensitive detection being provided by the repetitive element of chromosomal DNA.

CONCLUSION

The present study has established highly sensitive DNA-based porcine detection systems derived from chromosomal DNA that are feasible for highly processed products such as gelatin and gelatin capsules containing a minute amount of DNA. This sensitive detection method can also be implemented to assist the halal authentication process of various food products available on the market. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Optimal number of chemical extraction treatments for maintaining the biological properties of an allogeneic tendon

The aim of this study was to explore the biological effects of the amount of chemical extraction treatments performed on an allogeneic tendon through histomorphology, biological mechanics testing, and an immunogenicity assay. Sixteen New Zealand rabbits (body weight 2.5-3.0 kg) were randomly divided into four groups: group A (chemical extraction once), group B (chemical extraction twice), group C (chemical extraction three times), and group D (blank control group), with four rabbits in each group. The Achilles tendons of each rabbit were separated and subjected to a chemical extraction process with Triton X-100 and sodium deoxycholate, followed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, electron microscopy observation, biomechanical testing, and mixed lymphocyte culture. There were no significant differences in the surface color and fiber bundles between groups A and B and the blank control group, whereas group C showed clear differences from the blank control group with a rough surface, loose fibers, and poor tension. There were no significant differences in the biomechanics among the four groups. The four groups showed significant differences in the lymphocyte conversion ratio, with reduced rates of lymphocyte conversion along with increasing treatment numbers. Two chemical extractions of the tendon allowed for retaining most of the integrity of the original tendon fiber while removing immunogenicity with good biological properties. These findings lay a foundation for application of this method to human tendons so as to provide a good tissue source for tendon transplantation.

Rapid detection of collagens using a closed-tube LAMP method

Identification methods of collagens and gelatins have been studied many years due to religious and food safety issues. Some researchers detected the collagen while others took up their study based on DNA at the first time. In this work, we used a closed-tube loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique to differentiate collagen and gelatin samples. DNA was extracted by DNeasy mericon Food Kit and was dissolved in 30 µl elution buffer, optimum concentration of Mg²⁺, deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates(dNTPs), betaine in LAMP reaction is 6.0 mmol/L, 2.0 mmol/L, and 0.8 mmol/L, respectively. After LAMP reaction, samples being detected changed their initial color to green, others' were colorless or brown slightly. The research offered a simple, fast detection technique to differentiate collagen and gelatin samples derived from porcine, bovine and channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) , the collagens' species can be determined by color variation in reaction tubes within two hour.

Gelatin controversies in food, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products: Authentication methods, current status, and future challenges

Gelatin is a highly purified animal protein of pig, cow, and fish origins and is extensively used in food, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products. However, the acceptability of gelatin products greatly depends on the animal sources of the gelatin. Porcine and bovine gelatins have attractive features but limited acceptance because of religious prohibitions and potential zoonotic threats, whereas fish gelatin is welcomed in all religions and cultures. Thus, source authentication is a must for gelatin products but it is greatly challenging due to the breakdown of both protein and DNA biomarkers in processed gelatins. Therefore, several methods have been proposed for gelatin identification, but a comprehensive and systematic document that includes all of the techniques does not exist. This up-to-date review addresses this research gap and presents, in an accessible format, the major gelatin source authentication techniques, which are primarily nucleic acid and protein based. Instead of presenting these methods in paragraph form which needs much attention in reading, the major methods are schematically depicted, and their comparative features are tabulated. Future technologies are forecasted, and challenges are outlined. Overall, this review paper has the merit to serve as a reference guide for the production and application of gelatin in academia and industry and will act as a platform for the development of improved methods for gelatin authentication.

Simultaneous detection of bovine and porcine DNA in pharmaceutical gelatin capsules by duplex PCR assay for Halal authentication

Background

In the pharmaceutical industry, hard- and soft-shelled capsules are typically made from gelatin, commonly derived from bovine and porcine sources. To ensure that pharmaceutical products comply with halal regulations in Muslim countries (no porcine products allowed), development of a valid, reliable, quick, and most importantly, cost-effective tests are of utmost importance.

Methods

We developed a species-specific duplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting 149 bp porcine and 271 bp bovine mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to simultaneously detect both porcine and bovine DNA (in one reaction at the same time) in gelatin. Some additional simplex PCR tests (targeting 126 bp bovine and 212 bp porcine mtDNA) and real-time PCR using a commercially available kit (for identification of porcine DNA) were used to verify the selectivity and sensitivity of our duplex PCR. After optimization of DNA extraction and PCR methods, hard/soft pharmaceutical gelatin capsules (containing drug) were tested for the presence of porcine and/or bovine DNA.

Results

Duplex PCR detected the presence of as little as 0.1% porcine DNA, which was more accurate than the commercially available kit. Of all gelatin capsules tested (n = 24), 50% contained porcine DNA (pure porcine gelatin alone or in combination with bovine gelatin).

Conclusions

Duplex PCR presents an easy-to-follow, quick, low-cost and reliable method to simultaneously detect porcine and bovine DNAs (>100 bp) in minute amounts in highly processed gelatin-containing pharmaceutical products (with a 0.1% sensitivity for porcine DNA) which may be used for halal authentication.

Graphical abstract

Simultaneous detection of porcine and bovine DNA in gelatin capsules by duplex PCR