A New Approach for Determining the Stability of Recombinant Human Epidermal Growth Factor by Thermal Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Microspectroscopy

Simultaneous production of biofuel, and removal of heavy metals using marine alga Turbinaria turbinata as a feedstock in NEOM Region, Tabuk

Depletion of fossil fuel and pollution by heavy metals are two major global issues. The cell wall of algae consists of polymers of polysaccharides such as cellulose, hemicellulose, alginate, starch, and many others that are readily hydrolyzed to monosaccharides and hence are amenable to fermentation into bioethanol. Moreover, algae contain lipids that may undergo trans-esterification to biodiesel, and can be absorbed by heavy metals. In this study, extraction of lipids from Turbinaria turbinata (common brown alga) from the beach of Sharma, NEOM, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia by different solvents hexane, methanol, and hexane: methanol (1:1), and trans-esterification was performed to obtain biodiesel and investigated by GC.MS. The alga residue after fats extractions by different solvents was used in bioremediation synthetic wastewater containing 50 ppm of As-3, Co+2, Cu+2, Fe+2, Mn+2, and Zn+2. The residue of defatted alga was hydrolyzed by 2% H2SO4 and then fermented to obtain bioethanol. The combination of hexane: methanol (1:1) gave the greatest amount of petroleum hydrocarbons, which contain Tetradecane, 5-methyl, Octacosane, Pentatriacontane, and a small amount of Cyclotrisiloxane, Hexamethyl. The most effective removal % was obtained with alga residue defatted by hexane: methanol (1:1), and methanol, 100% removal of As-3, 83% Co+2, 95% Cu+2, 97.25% Fe+2, Mn+2 79.69%, Zn+2 90.15% with 2 g alga /L at 3 hours. The lowest value of sugar was obtained with hexane: methanol residue but gave the highest bioethanol efficiency. Thus, it is possible to use Turbinaria turbinata, or brown alga as a feedstock to produce bio-diesel, and bioethanol, and to remove heavy metals from wastewater, which may have a great economic and environmental significance.

Occurrence and emission of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from water treatment plant sludge in Taiwan

The concentrations level and distribution of 16 US EPA polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) from the water treatment plant (WTP), sewage treatment plant (STP), and industrial water treatment plant (ITP) sludge in Taiwan were determined and then assessed the sources, and potential toxicity (carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [CPAHs] and toxic BaP equivalent [TEQ]). Results indicated that the total concentrations of PAHs ranged between 58 and 16,436 μg/kg dw. Among the 17 samples, the 2-4 ring of total PAHs were the predominant compound in three kinds of treatment plant (> 60%). Especially, ITP1 owns 95.8% of 2-4 ring of total PAHs and ITP3 owns 54% of five- and six-ring of total PAHs. The molecular indices and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to determine the source contributions, with the results showing that the contributions of combustion/grass, coal or wood combustion and combustion/ liquid (oil) fossil fuel combustion. A PAH toxicity indicated by TEQ was 2.5-506 μg TEQ/g dw. Although, the results indicated that these were not recommended for land applications, but analyses are beneficial to develop effective management strategies for controlling PAH discharge in treatment plants and establishing strategies for its reuse in managing pollutants.

Prospective use of amniotic mesenchymal stem cell metabolite products for tissue regeneration

Chronic disease can cause tissue and organ damage constituting the largest obstacle to therapy which, in turn, reduces patients' quality-adjusted life-year. Degenerative diseases such as osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and infectious conditions such as hepatitis, cause physical injury to organs. Moreover, damage resulting from chronic conditions such as diabetes can also culminate in the loss of organ function. In these cases, organ transplantation constitutes the therapy of choice, despite the associated problems of immunological rejection, potential disease transmission, and high morbidity rates. Tissue regeneration has the potential to heal or replace tissues and organs damaged by age, disease, or trauma, as well as to treat disabilities. Stem cell use represents an unprecedented strategy for these therapies. However, product availability and mass production remain challenges. A novel therapeutic alternative involving amniotic mesenchymal stem cell metabolite products (AMSC-MP) has been developed using metabolites from stem cells which contain cytokines and growth factors. Its potential role in regenerative therapy has recently been explored, enabling broad pharmacological applications including various gastrointestinal, lung, bladder and renal conditions, as well as the treatment of bone wounds, regeneration and skin aging due to its low immunogenicity and anti-inflammatory effects. The various kinds of growth factors present in AMSC-MP, namely bFGF, VEGF, TGF-β, EGF and KGF, have their respective functions and activities. Each growth factor is formed by different proteins resulting in molecules with various physicochemical properties and levels of stability. This knowledge will assist in the manufacture and application of AMSC-MP as a therapeutic agent.

EGFR-targeted bacteriophage lambda penetrates model stromal and colorectal carcinoma tissues, is taken up into carcinoma cells, and interferes with 3-dimensional tumor formation

Introduction

Colorectal cancer and other adult solid cancers pose a significant challenge for successful treatment because the tumor microenvironment both hinders the action of conventional therapeutics and suppresses the immune activities of infiltrating leukocytes. The immune suppression is largely the effect of enhanced local mediators such as purine nucleosides and eicosanoids. Genetic approaches have the promise of interfering with these mechanisms of local immunosuppression to allow both intrinsic and therapeutic immunological anticancer processes. Bacterial phages offer a novel means of enabling access into tissues for therapeutic genetic manipulations.

Methods

We generated spheroids of fibroblastic and CRC cancer cells to model the 3-dimensional stromal and parenchymal components of colorectal tumours. We used these to examine the access and effects of both wildtype (WT) and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-presenting bacteriophage λ (WT- λ and EGF-λ) as a means of delivery of targeted genetic interventions in solid cancers. We used both confocal microscopy of spheroids exposed to AF488-tagged phages, and the recovery of viable phages as measured by plaque-forming assays to evaluate access; and measures of mitochondrial enzyme activity and cellular ATP to evaluate the outcome on the constituent cells.

Results

Using flourescence-tagged derivatives of these bacteriophages (AF488-WT-λ and AF488-EGF-λ) we showed that phage entry into these tumour microenvironments was possible and that the EGF ligand enabled efficient and persistent uptake into the cancer cell mass. EGF-λ became localized in the intracellular portion of cancer cells and was subjected to subsequent cellular processing. The targeted λ phage had no independent effect upon mature tumour spheroids, but interfered with the early formation and growth of cancer tissues without the need for addition of a toxic payload, suggesting that it might have beneficial effects by itself in addition to any genetic intervention delivered to the tumour. Interference with spheroid formation persisted over the duration of culture.

Discussion

We conclude that targeted phage technology is a feasible strategy to facilitate delivery into colorectal cancer tumour tissue (and by extension other solid carcinomas) and provides an appropriate delivery vehicle for a gene therapeutic that can reduce local immunosuppression and/or deliver an additional direct anticancer activity.

Challenges and effective routes for formulating and delivery of epidermal growth factors in skin care

Epidermal growth factors are important morphogenetic proteins that instruct cell behaviour. They have many inferred applications within regenerative medicine and have shown promising results in skincare treatments. Many growth factors are known to have skin anti-ageing benefits along with further potential in resolving scarring, acne and other skin disorders. Incorporation of these biologics into skincare formulations has been greatly hindered by low transdermal delivery efficacy, intricate material interactions and protein instability - especially within common cosmetic emulsions. This review explores the cosmeceutical capability of growth factors in skin care, current understandings of constituent interactions and advantageous delivery approaches for more effective topical delivery. The first section highlights the influences growth factor product formulation has on stability and synergy. Current understandings of growth factor formulating techniques in cosmetic products is limited, and the performance of other protein structures is an adequate point of reference. The second section examines emerging drug delivery systems to overcome the challenges of topical growth factor treatment. It is important to consider the coaction and durability of all components in a formulation simultaneously: active ingredients, product format and delivery vehicle, in order to engineer an optimal cosmeceutical product.

Rheological Investigation of Thermoresponsive Alginate-Methylcellulose Gels for Epidermal Growth Factor Formulation

Epidermal growth factors (EGF) serve as promising candidates for skin regeneration and rejuvenation products, but their instability hinders them from widespread use. Protective immobilization and directed release can be achieved through implementing a hydrogel delivery system. Alginate and methylcellulose are both natural polymers offering biocompatibility and environmental sensitivity. This blended gel system was investigated rheologically to understand its performance in topical applications. Alginate and methylcellulose were found to form a synergistic gel system that resulted in superior viscosity and thermoresponsiveness compared to the individual components. Increasing methylcellulose concentration directly enhanced gel elasticity, and higher viscosities provided better thermal protection of EGF. The addition of EGF at 3.33 mg/mL resulted in a decrease of viscosity but an increase in viscoelastic modulus. EGF concentration also played a large role in shear viscosity and thermoresponsiveness of the ternary system. An alginate-methylcellulose system presents promising rheological tunability, which may provide EGF thermal protection in a topical delivery format.

Formulation and In Vitro Penetration Study of Recombinant Human Epidermal Growth Factor-Loaded Transfersomal Emulgel

Purpose: Recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) is a 6045-Da peptide that promotes the cell growth process, and it is also used for cosmetic purposes as an anti-aging compound. However, its penetration into skin is limited by its large molecular size. This study aimed to prepare rhEGF-loaded transfersomal emulgel with enhanced skin penetration compared with that of non-transfersomal rhEGF emulgel. Methods: Three transfersome formulations were prepared with different ratios between the lipid vesicle (phospholipid and surfactant) and rhEGF (200:1, 133:1, and 100:1) using a thin-film hydration-extrusion method. The physicochemical properties of these transfersomes and the percutaneous delivery of the transfersomal emulgel were evaluated. Long-term and accelerated stability studies were also conducted. Results: The 200:1 ratio of lipid to drug was optimal for rhEGF-loaded transfersomes, which had a particle size of 128.1 ± 0.66 nm, polydispersity index of 0.109 ± 0.004, zeta potential of -43.1 ± 1.07 mV, deformability index of 1.254 ± 0.02, and entrapment efficiency of 97.77% ± 0.09%. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the transfersomes had spherical and unilamellar vesicles. The skin penetration of rhEGF was enhanced by as much as 5.56 fold by transfersomal emulgel compared with that of non-transfersomal emulgel. The stability study illustrated that the rhEGF levels after 3 months were 84.96-105.73 and 54.45%-66.13% at storage conditions of 2°C-8°C and 25°C ± 2°C/RH 60% ± 5%, respectively. Conclusion: The emulgel preparation containing transfersomes enhanced rhEGF penetration into the skin, and skin penetration was improved by increasing the lipid content.

EGF Functionalized Polymer-Coated Gold Nanoparticles Promote EGF Photostability and EGFR Internalization for Photothermal Therapy

The application of functionalized nanocarriers on photothermal therapy for cancer ablation has wide interest. The success of this application depends on the therapeutic efficiency and biocompatibility of the system, but also on the stability and biorecognition of the conjugated protein. This study aims at investigating the hypothesis that EGF functionalized polymer-coated gold nanoparticles promote EGF photostability and EGFR internalization, making these conjugated particles suitable for photothermal therapy. The conjugated gold nanoparticles (100–200 nm) showed a plasmon absorption band located within the near-infrared range (650–900 nm), optimal for photothermal therapy applications. The effects of temperature, of polymer-coated gold nanoparticles and of UVB light (295nm) on the fluorescence properties of EGF have been investigated with steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The fluorescence properties of EGF, including the formation of Trp and Tyr photoproducts, is modulated by temperature and by the intensity of the excitation light. The presence of polymeric-coated gold nanoparticles reduced or even avoided the formation of Trp and Tyr photoproducts when EGF is exposed to UVB light, protecting this way the structure and function of EGF. Cytotoxicity studies of conjugated nanoparticles carried out in normal-like human keratinocytes showed small, concentration dependent decreases in cell viability (0–25%). Moreover, conjugated nanoparticles could activate and induce the internalization of overexpressed Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in human lung carcinoma cells. In conclusion, the gold nanoparticles conjugated with Epidermal Growth Factor and coated with biopolymers developed in this work, show a potential application for near infrared photothermal therapy, which may efficiently destroy solid tumours, reducing the damage of the healthy tissue.

Glycoengineering of interferon-β 1a improves its biophysical and pharmacokinetic properties

The purpose of this study was to develop a biobetter version of recombinant human interferon-β 1a (rhIFN-β 1a) to improve its biophysical properties, such as aggregation, production and stability, and pharmacokinetic properties without jeopardizing its activity. To achieve this, we introduced additional glycosylation into rhIFN-β 1a via site-directed mutagenesis. Glycoengineering of rhIFN-β 1a resulted in a new molecular entity, termed R27T, which was defined as a rhIFN-β mutein with two N-glycosylation sites at 80^th (original site) and at an additional 25^th amino acid due to a mutation of Thr for Arg at position 27^th of rhIFN-β 1a. Glycoengineering had no effect on rhIFN-β ligand-receptor binding, as no loss of specific activity was observed. R27T showed improved stability and had a reduced propensity for aggregation and an increased half-life. Therefore, hyperglycosylated rhIFN-β could be a biobetter version of rhIFN-β 1a with a potential for use as a drug against multiple sclerosis.