Cellulose-based functional hydrogels derived from bamboo for product design

Lignin-cellulose complexes derived from agricultural wastes for combined antibacterial and tissue engineering scaffolds for cutaneous leishmaniasis wounds

Bacterial infections in wounds significantly impair the healing process. The use of natural antibacterial products over synthetic antibiotics has emerged as a new trend to address antimicrobial resistance. An ideal tissue engineering scaffold to treat infected wounds should possess antibacterial properties, while simultaneously promoting tissue regrowth. Synthesis of hydrogel scaffolds with antibacterial properties using hemp shive (HT1/HT2) lignin, sugarcane bagasse (SCB) lignin and cellulose was carried out. All lignin samples had low molecular weights and were constituted of G-type β-5 dimers, linked by β-O-4 bonds, as determined by MALDI-TOF-MS. Hemp lignin was more cytotoxic to mouse fibroblasts (L929) compared to SCB lignin. All lignin samples demonstrated antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, with greater efficiency against Gram-negative strains. 3D hydrogels were engineered by crosslinking SCB lignin with SCB cellulose in varying weight ratios in the presence of epichlorohydrin. The stiffness of the hydrogels could be tailored by varying the lignin concentration. All hydrogels were biocompatible; however, better fibroblast adhesion was observed on the blended hydrogels compared to the 100% cellulose hydrogel, with the cellulose : lignin 70 : 30 hydrogel showing the highest L929 proliferation and best antibacterial properties with a 24-hour bacterial growth reduction ranging from 30.8 to 57.3%.

A Polyelectrolyte Colloidal Brush Based on Cellulose: Perspectives for Future Applications

This feature article is devoted to the evaluation of different techniques for producing colloidal polyelectrolyte brushes (CPEBs) based on cellulose nanofibers modified with grafted polyacrylates. The paper also reviews the potential applications of these CPEBs in designing electrode materials and as reinforcing additives. Additionally, we discuss our own perspectives on investigating composites with CPEBs. Herein, polyacrylic acid (PAA) was grafted onto the surface of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) employing a "grafting from" approach. The effect of the PAA shell on the morphological structure of a composite with polypyrrole (PPy) was investigated. The performance of as-obtained CNF-PAA/PPy as organic electrode material for supercapacitors was examined. Furthermore, this research highlights the ability of CNF-PAA filler to act as an additional crosslinker forming a physical sub-network due to the hydrogen bond interaction inside chemically crosslinked polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogels. The enhancement of the mechanical properties of the material with a concomitant decrease in its swelling ratio compared to a pristine PAAm hydrogel was observed. The findings were compared with the recent theoretical foundation pertaining to other similar materials.

Nanomedicine-boosting icaritin-based immunotherapy of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Traditional treatments for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), such as surgical resection, transplantation, radiofrequency ablation, and chemotherapy are unsatisfactory, and therefore the exploration of powerful therapeutic strategies is urgently needed. Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising strategy for advanced HCC treatment due to its minimal side effects and long-lasting therapeutic memory effects. Recent studies have demonstrated that icaritin could serve as an immunomodulator for effective immunotherapy of advanced HCC. Encouragingly, in 2022, icaritin soft capsules were approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China for the immunotherapy of advanced HCC. However, the therapeutic efficacy of icaritin in clinical practice is impaired by its poor bioavailability and unfavorable in vivo delivery efficiency. Recently, functionalized drug delivery systems including stimuli-responsive nanocarriers, cell membrane-coated nanocarriers, and living cell-nanocarrier systems have been designed to overcome the shortcomings of drugs, including the low bioavailability and limited delivery efficiency as well as side effects. Taken together, the development of icaritin-based nanomedicines is expected to further improve the immunotherapy of advanced HCC. Herein, we compared the different preparation methods for icaritin, interpreted the HCC immune microenvironment and the mechanisms underlying icaritin for treatment of advanced HCC, and discussed both the design of icaritin-based nanomedicines with high icaritin loading and the latest progress in icaritin-based nanomedicines for advanced HCC immunotherapy. Finally, the prospects to promote further clinical translation of icaritin-based nanomedicines for the immunotherapy of advanced HCC were proposed.