Banerjee, Indranil

The efficiency of oleogel as an oral delivery vehicle of probiotics depends on the chemical composition and gelator used. However, the gelators, which are surfactant in nature often interact with the probiotics and alter the therapeutic outcome. Keeping this perspective in mind, here we have developed oleogel of sunflower oil containing 5% (w/w) of sunflower wax and different emulsifiers, namely Span80 (S), Tween 80(T), stearyl alcohol (SA), and Span60 (SP), and checked their influence on probiotics in-vitro. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy, it was found that adding different emulsifiers changed the length and arrangement of the gelator network. SA and SP-modified oleogels, used at a concentration of 0.05% (w/v), demonstrated enhanced growth and metabolic activity of Lactiplantibacillus pentosus, which was employed as a model probiotic. Furthermore, the mucin adhesion test and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the negligible effect of those oleogels on the activity and morphology of the probiotic, respectively. When the secretome of such probiotics was applied to the colonic cell line, no negative effects were seen. This study implied that sunflower oil-sunflower wax oleogels modified using different emulsifiers can modulate probiotic growth. © 2025

In this study, we have investigated the effect of variants of BSA on the NIR-induced phototherapeutic performance of the BSA-ICG complex to identify the best BSA variant for complexing with ICG. Three variants of BSA, namely BSA-A7030 (protease, fatty acid, and globulin free), BSA-A3059 (protease & globulin free), and BSA-A3294 (only protease free), were chosen. UV-vis-NIR absorption, fluorescence, and CD spectroscopy studies showed no significant difference in the spectra of all the BSAs, but in the presence of Cu2+, a differential reactivity of the three BSA variants was noticed. The biophysical study of the BSA-ICG complexes (1 : 1 molar ratio) showed that post-binding, there was a significant red shift of the ICG peak (both absorption and fluorescence) for BSA-A7030 with a widening of the excitation-emission hotspot. The photothermal properties of the BSA-ICG complexes under NIR (808 nm) exposure were similar to those of free ICG, whereas the photodynamic property increases for BSA-A3059. All the BSA-ICG complexes were found to be cytocompatible when tested with the NIH 3T3 cell line in vitro. The effect of the BSA type on the 808 nm NIR-mediated phototherapeutic properties of the BSA-ICG complex was tested in vitro on lung cancer cell line A549 (2D model) and a 3D osteosarcoma spheroid model. The study showed a NIR-induced cytoskeletal disruption of A549 cells with maximum damage caused by the BSA-A7030-ICG complex. The same complex was found to show the highest phototherapeutic effect on the 3D spheroid model. This study implied that an appropriate BSA variant is crucial for BSA-ICG complex-mediated NIR phototherapy. © 2025 RSC.

Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU) is a severe chronic diabetes mellitus complication with delayed wound healing. A number of factors such as antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection, ischemia, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)- mediated degradation of granulating tissue, fibroblast senescence and hypoalbuminemia contribute to the severity of DFU. Present therapies are often found to be inactive since they fail to provide a comprehensive solution. To address this challenge, here we have hypothesized that a novel NIR-responsive phototherapeutic complex made with 3d-transition metal ions (preferably Zn2+), serum albumin (SA) and indocyanine green (ICG) will effectively work as a multifunctional therapeutic solution for the treatment of DFU. Under exposure to 808 nm Laser, ICG present in the Zn2+-SA-ICG complex will generate heat (photothermal effect) and ROS (photodynamic effect) which will kill the antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the wound milieu, Zn2+ released from the complex will activate the endothelial cells and help in angiogenesis, and SA will serve as a sacrificial substrate to nullify the degrading effect of MMPs and will activate fibroblast and compensate the hypoalbuminemia. The hypothesis can be tested through a series of biophysical experiments, in vitro microbial and cellular studies, in vivo analysis in MRSA bacteria-infected wound models in STZ-induced diabetic mice and finally through clinical trials. If successful, a new domain of clinical management for DFU will be opened. This will also facilitate the pathway of similar innovation for even better therapy.

The performance of polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) as an orthopedic biomaterial can be improved by bulk modification of PEEK through hydroxyapatite (HA) incorporation. In this context, we have studied the size effect of HA particles (from micro to nano) on the high-temperature extrusion, physicochemical and biological properties of the extruded PEEK-HA filaments. Our study showed that incorporation of HA into PEEK up to 5% w/w allows filament formation through single screw extrusion. However, a more significant temperature gradient between the hopper end and nozzle was necessary for the extrusion of nano-HA incorporated PEEK compared to micro-HA incorporated PEEK. The micro-CT revealed a homogeneous dispersion of HA particles within the extruded filaments. The inclusion of nano HA powder (<200 nm) in PEEK (5%w/w) did not alter the mechanical properties of PEEK. When checked in vitro using MG-63 cells, PnHA exhibited better cytocompatibility, as evidenced by calcein-AM staining and MTT assay. Cellular expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and alkaline phosphatase was also found to be 2–3 fold higher for PnHA. Further, PnHA was found to be a promoter of angiogenesis when checked by tube formation assay. The results together implied that nano-HA is more suitable than micro-HA for improving the essential qualities of PEEK for orthopedic applications. Highlights: Incorporation of HA in PEEK improves the performance of PEEK as a biomaterial. PEEK with 5% micro/nano HA can be extruded as PEEK-HA composite filament. Variation in HA particle size (micro/nano) impacts the performance of composite. PEEK-HA composite filament has improved angiogenic and osteoconductive properties. © 2024 Society of Plastics Engineers.

Therapeutic platforms suitable for NIR-responsive antimicrobial treatments through photothermal and photodynamic modalities are gaining attention in treating chronic wounds. The efficiency of such platforms can be further enhanced by making them angiogenic and a promoter of fibroblast activities. Herein, we report a novel molecular platform composed of bovine serum albumin (BSA), indocyanine green (ICG) and bivalent copper (Cu(II)) using green chemistry by exploiting the affinity of ICG and Cu(II) ions towards BSA. We hypothesized that in the BSA-ICG-Cu(II) complex, ICG will help in producing heat and reactive oxygen species under NIR (808 nm) exposure, which can kill bacteria; Cu(II) will induce angiogenesis and BSA will activate dermal fibroblasts. The SEM images of the BSA-ICG-Cu(II) complex revealed a bead and fibril structure at the microscale. Biophysical studies (UV-vis-NIR, fluorescence and CD spectroscopy) indicated stable complex formation through the involvement of the hydrophobic BSA core. A study on NIR-mediated (808 nm LASER) killing of bacteria (S. aureus and E. coli) confirmed the photothermal and photodynamic efficiencies of the BSA-ICG-Cu(II) complex. At the cellular level, dermal fibroblasts, when treated with the BSA-ICG-Cu(II) complex, showed significant enhancement in cell migration and cellular VEGF expression (∼2.8 fold). The in vitro angiogenesis study using HUVEC cells demonstrated that the complex can promote tube formation. In conclusion, the BSA-ICG-Cu(II) complex can serve as a multifunctional NIR-responsive therapeutic platform capable of exerting antibacterial, angiogenic and fibroblast-activating properties, which are beneficial for chronic wound therapy.

Oleogelation is an efficient oil-structuring technique commonly utilized to form oleogels using vegetable oil. This chapter aims to summarize current developments in the production of oleogels by structuring liquid oil with the help of lipids. The structuration occurs through oleogelators that are classified as high-molecular- and low-molecular-weight oleogelators (LMOGs). LMOGs, importantly waxes, can form a three-dimensional network within the oil at a low concentration (1%–3% w/w). Wax-based oleogels form through the direct dispersion method, giving rise to crystallite formation. The process of oleogel crystallization is similar to fat crystallization, which occurs in three stages, including nucleation, crystal growth, and polymorphic transition. Emulsifiers are amphiphilic molecules that often affect the stages of crystallization in oleogels. The effect of emulsifiers comes from the organization of crystals during the crystallization stages. Majorly the formulated oleogels are characterized through different microscopic studies, molecular characterization, and thermal studies. The field of oleogels has evolved quite progressively since 1960, which has been highlighted in this review through the bibliometric study. The study also confirmed the potential applications of the oleogels highlighting the field of novel delivery systems for drug and nutrient delivery along with their use in replacing saturated solid fat without compromising the organoleptic properties.

The present study introduces carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) delaminated Ti3C2 MXene (MX_CMC) as a novel therapeutic nanoplatform for chronic wound treatment. MXene was delaminated with CMC in water. Electron microscopy confirmed the 2D layered structure of MX_CMC, which demonstrated 60% higher dispersibility in aqueous media compared to MX alone. The nanoplatform showed high cytocompatibility with human adult dermal fibroblasts (HADF) and positively impacted cell migration, fibroblast differentiation, and VEGF expression. In vitro tube formation study with human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) further confirmed the angiogenic nature of MX_CMC. A low expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) in the U937 cell line upon treatment with MX_CMC implied the non-immunogenic nature of the material. MX_CMC showed significant antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and B. subtilis, including biofilm prevention. In vivo testing in a rat model of infected diabetic chronic wounds yielded promising therapeutic outcomes. In this study, we have successfully prepared delaminated 2D Ti3C2 MXene in an environment-friendly way, which not only exhibits long-term dispersibility in biologically relevant aqueous media, but also possesses excellent antimicrobial, angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing properties. In conclusion, MX_CMC could be a potential multifunctional nanoplatform for biomedical applications, especially for wound healing. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

The performance of polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) as an orthopedic biomaterial can be improved by bulk modification of PEEK through hydroxyapatite (HA) incorporation. In this context, we have studied the size effect of HA particles (from micro to nano) on the high-temperature extrusion, physicochemical and biological properties of the extruded PEEK-HA filaments. Our study showed that incorporation of HA into PEEK up to 5% w/w allows filament formation through single screw extrusion. However, a more significant temperature gradient between the hopper end and nozzle was necessary for the extrusion of nano-HA incorporated PEEK compared to micro-HA incorporated PEEK. The micro-CT revealed a homogeneous dispersion of HA particles within the extruded filaments. The inclusion of nano HA powder (<200 nm) in PEEK (5%w/w) did not alter the mechanical properties of PEEK. When checked in vitro using MG-63 cells, PnHA exhibited better cytocompatibility, as evidenced by calcein-AM staining and MTT assay. Cellular expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and alkaline phosphatase was also found to be 2–3 fold higher for PnHA. Further, PnHA was found to be a promoter of angiogenesis when checked by tube formation assay. The results together implied that nano-HA is more suitable than micro-HA for improving the essential qualities of PEEK for orthopedic applications. Highlights: Incorporation of HA in PEEK improves the performance of PEEK as a biomaterial. PEEK with 5% micro/nano HA can be extruded as PEEK-HA composite filament. Variation in HA particle size (micro/nano) impacts the performance of composite. PEEK-HA composite filament has improved angiogenic and osteoconductive properties.

Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is a potential biomaterial for tissue engineering, photothermal therapy, and drug delivery. However, the hydrophobic nature of rGO results in poor dispersibility in a physiologically relevant aqueous environment, limiting its biomedical applications. To surmount this problem, here, we have developed a silanized derivative of reduced graphene oxide (rSiGO) using 3-Aminopropyl) triethoxysilane and evaluated its impact on [I] stability of rGO in different aqueous solvents, [ii] drug loading capacities, and [iii] biocompatibility. The physico-chemical characterization suggested that silanization alters the 2D carbon skeleton of rGO to a certain extent and improves its aqueous dispersibility and drug-loading capacity. The in vitro cytocompatibility study showed that rSiGO was compatible with the human dermal fibroblasts and murine fibroblast cell lines. It was also found that rSiGO possesses a higher loading capacity for hydrophilic drugs than rGO. The drug-loaded rSiGO showed higher cytotoxicity against hepatocarcinoma cells by inducing intracellular reactive oxygen species production, apoptosis, and nuclear fragmentation. In vivo systemic toxicity studies in mice showed that the rSiGO is nontoxic at the tested concentration. These results clearly showed that silanization improves the aqueous dispersibility, drug loading capacity, and biocompatibility of rGO making it a better candidate for various biomedical applications.

The consumption of cannabis-based products is increasing worldwide day-by-day because of their euphoric effects. Numerous studies have reported the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and even mortality in people consuming cannabis. However, not much attention has been paid to understand the cannabis-induced alteration in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity, which can help in the early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. The current study investigated the alteration in the ANS activity of 200 Indian male volunteers due to the consumption of bhang (a cannabis-based product) using heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. The results suggested a reduction in the variability of the heart rate, increased sympathetic dominance, and a corresponding reduction in the parasympathetic activity in the bhang consuming population, which may lead to various cardiovascular diseases. These inferences can act as evidence for counseling people to stop consuming cannabis. The study further proposes a machine learning model for automated identification of the bhang consuming population. The HRV parameters were subjected to weight-based feature ranking and dimension reduction methods to select suitable inputs for the machine learning models. After comparing the performances of the Naïve Bayes (NB), Generalized Linear Model (GLM), Linear Regression (LR), Fast Large Margin (FLM), Deep Learning (DL), Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boosted Tree (GBT), and Support Vector Machine (SVM), a GBT model was finally chosen as the best model.