Identification of Novel Dipeptidyl Peptidase-IV Inhibitory Peptides in Chickpea Protein Hydrolysates

Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) is one of the main targets for blood sugar control. Some food protein-derived peptides are thought to have DPP-IV inhibitory (DPP-IVi) activity. In this study, chickpea protein hydrolysates (CPHs) obtained through Neutrase hydrolysis for 60 min (CPHs-Pro-60) exhibited the highest DPP-IVi activity. DPP-IVi activity after simulated in vitro gastrointestinal digestion was maintained at >60%. Peptide libraries are established after the identification of peptide sequences. Molecular docking verified that the four screened peptides (AAWPGHPEF, LAFP, IAIPPGIPYW, and PPGIPYW) could bind to the active center of DPP-IV. Notably, IAIPPGIPYW exhibited the most potent DPP-IVi activity (half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀): 12.43 μM). Both IAIPPGIPYW and PPGIPYW exhibited excellent DPP-IVi activity in Caco-2 cells. These results indicated that chickpea could be used as a source of natural hypoglycemic peptides for food and nutritional applications.

Identification of Novel Peptides with Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH) Activating Ability in Chickpea Protein Hydrolysates

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) is one of the main rate-limiting enzymes in alcohol metabolism. Food protein-derived peptides are thought to have ADH activating ability. We verified for the first time that chickpea protein hydrolysates (CPHs) had the ability to activate ADH and identified novel peptides from them. CPHs obtained by hydrolysis with Alcalase for 30 min (CPHs-Pro-30) showed the highest ADH activating ability, and the ADH activation rate could still maintain more than 80% after in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion. We have verified four peptides with activation ability to ADH: ILPHF, MFPHLPSF, LMLPHF and FDLPALRF (concentration for 50% of maximal effect (EC₅₀): 1.56 ± 0.07 µM, 1.62 ± 0.23 µM, 1.76 ± 0.03 µM and 9.11 ± 0.11 µM, respectively). Molecular docking showed that the mechanism for activating ADH was due to the formation of a stable complex between the peptide and the active center of ADH through hydrogen bonding. The findings suggest that CPHs and peptides with ADH activating ability may be developed as natural anti-alcoholic ingredients to prevent alcoholic liver disease (ALD).

Evaluating efficacy of different post materials and lengths on bonding strength between root canal dentin and post restorations: An experimental study

Background

During post restoration, different root structures require several types of posts to increase duration of their clinical use. Several materials have been investigated to enhance their quality and optimize their length according to the available root canal.

Aims

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of zirconia, fiber, and ceromer posts with 3- and 6-mm post sizes on the bonding strength of them to root canal dentinal wall with the means of pull-out bond strength test.

Methods

Forty-eight single-rooted mandibular human premolar teeth were collected and prepared for this in vitro study. With resin cement, 3- and 6-mm study posts including zirconia, fiber, and ceromer were luted to prepare teeth. For the retention testing, the pull-out force was applied to each specimen parallel to longitudinal axis of both the post and tooth.

Results

Both type of materials and size of posts changed the value of bonding strength. In all the post types, 6-mm ones performed better. Overall, the best bonding strength was obtained with fiber posts and the better bonding strength was obtained with zirconia; however, ceromer provided the least bonding strength.

Conclusion

Current experiments supported that 6-mm post size can increase the bonding between root canal dentin and studied posts. When considering post materials, fiber provided the best bonding strength in current laboratory setup. Second, zirconia had meaningfully acceptable bonding strength; however, the bonding strength of ceromer posts was not favorable. Further studies optimizing post fabrication techniques of root materials may increase the bonding strength of posts to human dentin to an acceptable clinical degree.

Three-dimensional printing of metals for biomedical applications

Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has received great attention in the past decades in both academia and industry because of its advantages such as customized fabrication, low manufacturing cost, unprecedented capability for complex geometry, and short fabrication period. 3D printing of metals with controllable structures represents a state-of-the-art technology that enables the development of metallic implants for biomedical applications. This review discusses currently existing 3D printing techniques and their applications in developing metallic medical implants and devices. Perspective about the current challenges and future directions for development of this technology is also presented.

Ion implantation of graphene-toward IC compatible technologies

Doping of graphene via low energy ion implantation could open possibilities for fabrication of nanometer-scale patterned graphene-based devices as well as for graphene functionalization compatible with large-scale integrated semiconductor technology. Using advanced electron microscopy/spectroscopy methods, we show for the first time directly that graphene can be doped with B and N via ion implantation and that the retention is in good agreement with predictions from calculation-based literature values. Atomic resolution high-angle dark field imaging (HAADF) combined with single-atom electron energy loss (EEL) spectroscopy reveals that for sufficiently low implantation energies ions are predominantly substitutionally incorporated into the graphene lattice with a very small fraction residing in defect-related sites.