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Topic Review
Biography
Topic Review
Microplastics Derived from Food Packaging Waste
Plastics are commonly used for packaging in the food industry. The most popular thermoplastic materials that have found such applications are polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), and polystyrene (PS). Unfortunately, most plastic packaging is disposable. As a consequence, significant amounts of waste are generated, entering the environment, and undergoing degradation processes. They can occur under the influence of mechanical forces, temperature, light, chemical, and biological factors. These factors can present synergistic or antagonistic effects. As a result of their action, microplastics are formed, which can undergo further fragmentation and decomposition into small-molecule compounds. During the degradation process, various additives used at the plastics’ processing stage can also be released. Both microplastics and additives can negatively affect human and animal health.
483
29 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Methods for Protein Crystallization
Proteins are biopolymers consisting of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. A peptide bond is a type of amide bond that occurs during the formation of proteins and peptides as a result of the interaction of the α-amino group (-NH2) of one amino acid with the α-carboxyl group (-COOH) of another amino acid. The main method for determining the spatial structure of a protein is X-ray structural analysis of protein crystals. The main difficulty in applying this method is in obtaining a perfect protein-crystal.
782
28 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Optical Biosensing of Cancer Antigen 125
Cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) is a well-known oncomarker in ovarian cancer (OC) that has been widely used. CA-125 is a high-molecular-weight glycoprotein (>200 kDa) generated by normal cells in adult tissues derived from coelomic and Müllerian epithelia. CA-125 levels of less than 35 U/mL in the human body are acceptable for normal cells. Women with advanced stages of OC often show an elevated level of CA-125. Some early-stage cancers can be diagnosed via detecting the cancer antigen CA-125, such as ovarian cancer, and required treatments can be applied more efficiently. Thus, detection of CA-125 by employing various optical or electrochemical biosensors is a preliminary and crucial step to treating cancers.
397
28 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Catalytic Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide
Once fundamental difficulties such as active sites and selectivity are fully resolved, metal-free catalysts such as 3D graphene or carbon nanotubes (CNT) are very cost-effective substitutes for the expensive noble metals used for catalyzing CO2. A viable method for converting environmental wastes into useful energy storage or industrial wealth, and one which also addresses the environmental and energy problems brought on by emissions of CO2, is CO2 hydrogenation into hydrocarbon compounds. The creation of catalytic compounds and knowledge about the reaction mechanisms have received considerable attention. Numerous variables affect the catalytic process, including metal–support interaction, metal particle sizes, and promoters. CO2 hydrogenation into different hydrocarbon compounds like lower olefins, alcoholic composites, long-chain hydrocarbon composites, and fuels, in addition to other categories.
414
28 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Electrospinning Inorganic Nanomaterials
Tissue engineering (TE) has attracted the widespread attention of the research community as a method of producing patient-specific tissue constructs for the repair and replacement of injured tissues. Different types of scaffold materials have been developed for various tissues and organs. The choice of scaffold material should take into consideration whether the mechanical properties, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and bioresorbability meet the physiological properties of the tissues.
267
28 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Gelatin and Bioactive Glass Composites
Nano-/micron-sized bioactive glass (BG) particles are attractive candidates for both soft and hard tissue engineering. They can chemically bond to the host tissues, enhance new tissue formation, activate cell proliferation, stimulate the genetic expression of proteins, and trigger unique anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer functionalities. Composites based on biopolymers and BG particles have been developed with various state-of-the-art techniques for tissue engineering. Gelatin, a semi-synthetic biopolymer, has attracted the attention of researchers because it is derived from the most abundant protein in the body, viz., collagen. It is a polymer that can be dissolved in water and processed to acquire different configurations, such as hydrogels, fibers, films, and scaffolds.
480
28 Jan 2023
Topic Review
The Electrohydrodynamic Method for Nanomaterial Production
Electrospinning is a versatile technique used to produce fibrous mats. The high surface area of the electrospun mats makes them suitable for applications in fields using nanoparticles. Electrospun mats are used for tissue engineering, wound dressing, water-treatment filters, biosensors, nanocomposites, medical implants, protective clothing materials, cosmetics, and drug delivery systems.
374
28 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Unc-51-like Autophagy-Activating Kinase Inhibitors as Anticancer Agents
Autophagy is a cellular process that removes damaged components of cells and recycles them as biochemical building blocks. Autophagy can also be induced to protect cells in response to intra- and extracellular stresses, including damage to cellular components, nutrient deprivation, hypoxia, and pathogenic invasion. Dysregulation of autophagy has been attributed to various diseases. In particular, autophagy protects cancer cells by supporting tumor cell survival and the development of drug resistance. The ULK complex is an early-stage regulator of autophagy and attracted particular attention as a drug target. Among ULK isoforms, ULK1, ULK2, ULK3, ULK4, and serine/threonine-protein kinase 36 (STK36), ULK1 have been most extensively studied.
633
20 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Homotrimeric P2X7 Receptor Imaging Tracers
The homotrimeric P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is expressed by virtually all cells of the innate and adaptive immune system and plays a crucial role in various pathophysiological processes such as autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, neuropathic pain and cancer. Consequently, the P2X7R is considered a promising target for therapy and diagnosis. As the development of tracers comes hand-in-hand with the development of potent and selective receptor ligands, there is a rising number of PET tracers available in preclinical and clinical studies. P2X7R antagonists can be broadly subdivided into two categories: those able to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and enter the central nervous system, or those remaining peripherally. Commonly linked central nervous system (CNS) P2X7R applications are diseases like Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD) or multiple sclerosis (MS), as well as the formation of different types of cancer, i.e., glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). On the other hand, peripherally bioavailable P2X7R antagonists that are not BBB-permeable are attractive candidates for the treatment/diagnosis of lung and breast cancer.
479
20 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Waste in Human Health
Food supply disruption and shortage verified during the current pandemic events are a scenario that many anticipate for the near future. The impact of climate changes on food production, the continuous decrease in arable land, and the exponential growth of the human population are important drivers for this problem.
4.6K
19 Jan 2023
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