The role of the gut microbiota in colorectal cancer (CRC) development has garnered attention, highlighting probiotics as potential adjuncts in CRC prevention and treatment. In recent years, probiotics and their derivatives have demonstrated mechanisms that may contribute to anticancer properties. This study investigates the cytotoxic effects of Bifidobacterium bifidum KCTC 3357, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus KCTC 5033, Limosilactobacillus reuteri VA 103, Bacillus galactosidilyticus VA 107, and Lactococcus taiwanensis VE101 on CT-26 mouse colon carcinoma cells using live cells, heat-killed cells (paraprobiotics), and cell-free supernatants (CFS, postbiotics) through an MTT assay. The results indicate that live bacterial strains, such as KCTC 3357, VA 103, and VA 107, promoted CT-26 cell viability, while heat-killed cells and CFS exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity. Inactivated forms of KCTC 3357 and VE 101, as well as CFS at 10 mg/mL concentration of KCTC 5033, VA 103, and VE 101, showed the strongest antiproliferative effects. These findings suggest that non-viable probiotic derivatives, such as paraprobiotics and postbiotics, offer promising therapeutic potential for CRC, providing a safer and more stable alternative to live probiotics. However, further research is required to explore their mechanisms of action, in vivo efficacy, and potential clinical applications.

Probiotics have been evaluated as therapeutic agents for cancer treatment in an increasing number of studies. This study investigated the inhibitory and cytotoxic effects of specific Lactobacillus strains on a human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line (HT-29). The strains assessed were Limosilactobacillus (L.) reuteri VA 102, Ligilactobacillus (L.) animalis VA 105, and Limosilactobacillus (L.) reuteri KCTC 3594 (ATCC 23272). The viability of HT-29 cells was evaluated using the MTT assay. The findings revealed that cell-free supernatants (CFS) exhibited significant anticancer effects. Heat-inactivated L. reuteri VA 105 and L. reuteri KCTC 3594 induced a pronounced reduction in cell viability. Furthermore, live cultures of L. reuteri VA 105 and L. reuteri VA 102 also showed reduced cell viability compared to the control group. These results suggest that CFS and heat-inactivated cells may be more suitable for therapeutic applications than live bacteria owing to their improved safety profiles and reduced potential for adverse effects. Our findings also emphasize the potential anticancer benefits of these LAB strains.

Probiotic lactic acid bacteria are live microorganisms that provide health benefits when administered in adequate amounts and may exhibit antiproliferative effects on various cancer cell lines, including colon cancer. This study investigates the cytotoxic effects of three Lactobacillus strains - Limosilactobacillus (L.) reuteri VA 102, Ligilactobacillus (L.) animalis VA 105, and Limosilactobacillus (L.) reuteri KCTC 3594 (ATCC 23272) - on mouse colon carcinoma cells (CT-26). Live cells, heat-killed cells, and cell-free supernatant (CFS) of Lactobacillus sp. were prepared and used to treat CT-26 cells at different concentrations. The cytotoxic effect was assessed using the MTT assay. The results indicated that the CFS of all strains significantly reduced the viability of CT-26 cells in a dose-dependent manner, with the VA 102 strain showing the most pronounced effect. Heat-killed cells of L. reuteri VA 102 and L. reuteri KCTC 3594 (ATCC 23272) also reduced cell viability. These findings suggest the potential anticancer properties of these Lactobacillus strains and indicate that CFS and heat-killed cells may offer a safer and more effective alternative to live bacteria for therapeutic applications. Our study contributes to the understanding of the potential of Lactobacillus strains, particularly L. reuteri VA 102, L. reuteri KCTC 3594 (ATCC 23272), and L. animalis VA 105, as possible candidates for cancer treatment and control.

To fabricate intermetallic nanoparticles with high oxygen reduction reaction activity, a high-temperature heat treatment of 700 to 1,000 °C is required. This heat treatment provides energy sufficient to induce an atomic rearrangement inside the alloy nanoparticles, increasing the mobility of particles, making them structurally unstable and causing a sintering phenomenon where they agglomerate together naturally. These problems cannot be avoided using a typical heat treatment process that only controls the gas atmosphere and temperature. In this study, as a strategy to overcome the limitations of the existing heat treatment process for the fabrication of intermetallic nanoparticles, we propose an interesting approach, to design a catalyst material structure for heat treatment rather than the process itself. In particular, we introduce a technology that first creates an intermetallic compound structure through a primary high-temperature heat treatment using random alloy particles coated with a carbon shell, and then establishes catalytic active sites by etching the carbon shell using a secondary heat treatment process. By using a carbon shell as a template, nanoparticles with an intermetallic structure can be kept very small while effectively controlling the catalytically active area, thereby creating an optimal alloy catalyst structure for fuel cells.

Activated carbon (AC) is a versatile and extensively employed adsorbent in environmental remediation. It possesses distinct properties that can be enhanced to selectively target specific pollutants through modifications, including chemical impregnation or incorporation into composite materials. In this study, porous calcium alginate beads (PCAB) were synthesized by incorporating AC and natural alginate through ion gelation in a Ca(II) ion-containing solution, with the addition of sodium lauryl sulfate as a surfactant. The prepared PCAB was tested for Cu(II) removal. PCAB exhibited a spherical shape with higher porosity and surface area (160.19 m2. g−1) compared to calcium alginate beads (CAB) (0.04 m2. g−1). The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-first-order model for PCAB and the pseudo-second-order model for CAB. The Langmuir isotherm model provided the best fit for adsorption on PCAB, while the Freundlich model was suitable for CAB. Notably, PCAB demonstrated a maximum adsorption capacity of 75.54 mg.g−1, significantly higher than CAB's capacity of 9.16 mg. g−1. Desorption studies demonstrated that 0.1 M CaCl2 exhibited the highest efficiency (90%) in desorbing Cu(II) ions from PCAB, followed by 0.1 M HCl and 0.1 M NaCl. PCAB showed efficient reusability for up to four consecutive adsorption– desorption cycles. The fixed-bed column experiment confirmed the match with the Thomas model to the breakthrough curves with qTH of 120.12 mg.g−1 and 68.03 mg.g−1 at a flow rate of 1 mL.min−1 and 2 mL.min−1, respectively. This study indicated that PCAB could be an effective adsorbent for Cu(II) removal, offering insights for further application and design considerations.

Composites of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are important materials to utilize the optical properties of CQDs in diverse applications including photoluminescence-based sensing and LED phosphors. Combining pre-prepared CQDs with a polymeric matrix usually causes changes in the optical properties of CQDs due to unavoidable aggregation. Recently, the preparation of composites based on in-situ formed CQDs has been debated to overcome the aggregation limits of the conventional mixing methods. Herein, we have demonstrated the synthesis of homogeneous CQDs composites by simple thermal annealing blends of aluminum hydroxide (AlOH), citric acid (CA), and urea (URA). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy studies revealed the formation of individual CQDs with a diameter of about 2–9 nm dispersed homogeneously over the AlOH matrix. The composites have a broad excitation band centered at about 360 nm and exhibit excitation-dependent photoluminescence which was similar to that of hydrothermally synthesized CQDs from CA and URA. The photoluminescent intensity of the composite was stable to UV irradiation and responded selectively to Cu(II) ion demonstrating its potential application in Cu(II) sensing.

Carbon dots (CDs) are a novel type of fluorescent nanoparticles with a particle size smaller than 10 nm. They possess several advantageous properties, including excellent biocompatibility, light stability, water solubility, and low toxicity. CDs have been widely researched in recent years. As a treasure of ancient Chinese science, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is rich in various active ingredients and has a variety of pharmacodynamic effects, which have been used for thousands of years. TCM-CDs prepared with TCM as carbon source can create some special functions and then may play a greater medicinal value. The purpose of this review was to engage in an in-depth conversation about the use of TCM-CDs in medical therapy and bioimaging. Firstly, this study provides a comprehensive exploration of different synthesis methods for TCM-CDs, comparing their respective advantages and disadvantages. Subsequently, the intrinsic pharmacological activity of TCMCDs, encompassing antibacterial, hypoglycemic, hemostatic, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory effects, is mainly discussed, alongside their underlying mechanisms of action. Additionally, investigations into in vitro imaging of diverse cell types and the distribution and uptake of TCM-CDs under in vivo imaging guidance are presented. Finally, the significance of TCM-CD research, key challenges and issues within this field, and future directions for development are summarized and outlined.

Cellulose has experienced a renaissance as a precursor for carbon fibers (CFs). However, cellulose possesses intrinsic challenges as precursor substrate such as typically low carbon yield. This study examines the interplay of strategies to increase the carbonization yield of (ligno-) cellulosic fibers manufactured via a coagulation process. Using Design of Experiments, this article assesses the individual and combined effects of diammonium hydrogen phosphate (DAP), lignin, and CO2 activation on the carbonization yield and properties of cellulose-based carbon fibers. Synergistic effects are identified using the response surface methodology. This paper evidences that DAP and lignin could affect cellulose pyrolysis positively in terms of carbonization yield. Nevertheless, DAP and lignin do not have an additive effect on increasing the yield. In fact, combined DAP and lignin can affect negatively the carbonization yield within a certain composition range. Further, the thermogravimetric CO2 adsorption of the respective CFs was measured, showing relatively high values (ca. 2 mmol/g) at unsaturated pressure conditions. The CFs were microporous materials with potential applications in gas separation membranes and CO2 storage systems.

In this research, reduced graphene oxide/polypyrrole (rGO/PPy) particles were synthesized and used to measure the amount of dopamine (DA) electrochemically. The obtained rGO/PPy particle was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR), UV–Visible Spectrophotometer (UV–Vis), and X-Ray Diffraction Diffractometry (XRD). To investigate the DA sensor performance, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were used to acquire electrochemical measurements of the sensor. Current values of 1.65 and 5.9 mA were observed in the CV at 0.2 mM and 1.2 mM concentrations of target molecule, respectively. Under optimized conditions, the linear calibration plots were found to exhibit significant sensitivity in the linear range of 0.2 and 1.2 mM, with a corresponding detection limit of 0.061 μM for DA. The results obtained were similar to the sensor results of DA made using precious metals. This work was a demonstration of the feasibility of high-sensitivity electrochemical analysis with conductive carbon materials without the use of precious metals. It was also observed that the cost-effective rGO/PPy exhibited a very high potential for DA detection.

The primary therapeutic approach for Brucella species infections has mainly been based on antibiotic treatment. However, the development of vaccines for brucellosis control remains controversial. Furthermore, there is currently no licensed vaccine available for human brucellosis. This study aims to evaluate the effect of a combination of recombinant protein vaccines against Brucella (B.) abortus infection using a mouse model. Two B. abortus genes, namely dapB and gpm, were cloned and expressed in competent Escherichia (E.) coli DH5α using the pCold-TF vector. Successfully cloned vectors were subjected to PCR amplification using specific primer pairs. The apparent sizes of dapB and gpm were detected at 807 bp and 621 bp, respectively. Besides, the purified recombinant proteins dapB and gpm were detected using SDS-PAGE electrophoresis with correct sizes of 82.86 kDa and 87.61 kDa, respectively. These recombinant proteins were used to immunize mice as a combined subunit vaccine (CSV) to elicit host immunity against B. abortus infection. Mice immunized with CSV exhibited increased proliferation of CD4+ and/or CD8+ T cells at week 7th and 9th before sacrifice, in comparison to the control group. Notably, CSV immunization showed a significant decrease in bacterial burden in the spleen compared to the control group. Altogether, CSV using dapB and gpm induced host adaptive immune response against Brucella infection, suggesting its potential as an effective new subunit vaccine candidate.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging materials as ideal biomarkers for noninvasive cancer detection in the early phase. In this article, a simple and label-free electrochemical miRNA biosensor was developed. A single-stranded DNA (ss-DNA) probes were successfully mapped to f-MWCNT and hybridized with the target miR-141 sequence. The optimum peak points of the obtained hybridization were determined using Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV) methods. Significant peaks were observed in the results, depending on miR-141 at different concentrations. The linear relationship (ν) between redox peak currents (Ip) and scanning rate indicated that electron transfer (ET) between miR-141 and the electrode surface was accomplished successfully. In DPV measurements, miR-141 was measured with a low detection limit (LOD) in the 1.3–12 nM concentration range, and the LOD and limit of quantification (LOQ) results were found to be 3 and 9.1 pM, respectively. Besides, selectivity test was investigated for the biosensor using different target analytes and a significant difference in value was observed between the peak currents of miR-141, and other target molecules. This developed strategy has been found to detect miR-141 sensitively, selectively and without tags, and its integration into mobile devices has been successfully carried out.

The ladybird beetles have been used as biological control agents against several pest species. The aim of this study is to evaluate the compatibility between ladybird beetles and an entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin AAD16. The virulence of AAD16 strain was compared with that of commercial GHA strain on three developmental stages of two coccinellids; Harmonia axyridis Pallas and Chilocorus stigma Say. The topical application method was used for both adult and larval stage while dipping method was used for egg stage. The LT50 and mycosis rate for all life stages of two ladybird beetles tested were not significant between AAD16 and GHA strain. In larval stage, the mycosis rates of H. axyridis and C. stigma were 36 and 40% and 63 and 60% in AAD16 and GHA strain. In adult stage, the mycosis rates of H. axyridis (male and female) and C. stigma (unsexed) were 20, 23, and 23% and 26, 30, and 30% in AAD16 and GHA strain, respectively. Therefore, the two predatory coccinellids could be compatible with these two fungus strains due to their relatively lower mycosis rate.

The disposal of organic pollutants is one of the important research topics. Some of the studies in this field are based on the degradation of organic pollutants with a catalytic agent. The cobalt tetraoxide/peroxymonosulfate system is an important catalytic system used for the radical degradation of organic pollutants. To increase the catalytic efficiency of such reactions, graphitization of activated carbon used as a support solid and nitrogen doping to the carbon structure are commonly used methods. In this study, cobalt tetraoxide production, N-doping and graphitization were carried out in a single step by heat treatment of activated carbon doped with the phthlocyanine cobalt (II) complex. The catalytic performance of the catalyst/ peroxymonosulfate system was investigated by changing the pH, catalyst, and PMS concentration parameters on rhodamine B and 1,3,5 trichlorophenol, which were used as models. It was seen that the catalysts had 97% activity on rhodamine B in 16 min and 100% on 1,3,5 trichlorophenol in 6 min. It was observed that the catalysts continued to show high catalytic activity for five cycles in reusability studies and had a very low cobalt leaching rate. These results are in good agreement with previously published studies. In line with these results, the synthesized N-doped graphitic carbon/Co3O4 catalyst can be used as an effective catalyst for wastewater treatments.

This paper explores the relationships of various cognitive, attitudinal, and behavioural responses of e-discount sales promotion technique preferences consumers have when making purchases through online food delivery services (OFDS). This paper highlights new findings towards expanding e-discount and sales promotion literature and thus provide relevant implications.