International Journal of Biological Macromolecules最新文献

{"title":"Synthesis and characterization of lignin-modified defective UiO-66-NH₂ for enhanced curcumin adsorption and controlled release in drug delivery applications","authors":"Ariadna Lopez Ortega ,&nbsp;Habibollah Bahman ,&nbsp;Hossein Kazemian ,&nbsp;Hoorieh Djahaniani","doi":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.152358","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.152358","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores the synthesis and characterization of modulated UiO-66 metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to enhance curcumin adsorption and controlled release. UiO-66 was synthesized using solvothermal methods with varying linkers and modulating agents to produce non-modulated, defective, and lignin-incorporated variants. Specifically, frameworks were developed using different ratios of terephthalic acid (BDC) and 2-aminoterephthalic acid (ABDC), and lignin was incorporated into a selected defective UiO-66 variant to evaluate its effect on curcumin loading and release. The non-modulated UiO-66 (UiO-66-NM) served as a baseline, while defective UiO-66 samples were prepared with different BDC/ABDC ratios using trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as a modulator. Among these, UiO-66-D (UiO-66 with 25% ABDC, 75% BDC, and TFA) and its lignin-modified version, L-UiO-66-D (UiO-66 with 25% ABDC, 75% BDC, TFA, and lignin at 10 wt% relative to the combined mass of metal salt and organic linkers), demonstrated superior properties. Curcumin (Cur) loading into L-UiO-66-D was optimized by varying the UiO-66 amount while keeping curcumin and ethanol concentrations constant, achieving a maximum adsorption efficiency of 91.38% and a loading capacity of 49.17 mg g⁻¹. Release studies were conducted in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 37 °C at different pH levels (1.2, 6.8, and 7.4), where both UiO-66-D and L-UiO-66-D exhibited controlled release behavior over 24 h. Characterization through FT-IR, XRD, SEM, TGA, and BET confirmed successful synthesis and provided insights into the structural and morphological properties of the MOFs. The results highlight the potential of modulating and functionalizing UiO-66 frameworks to improve performance in controlled drug-delivery applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":333,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Macromolecules","volume":"364 ","pages":"Article 152358"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147831888","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Structural characterization of a glycosaminoglycan sulfate from Sepia esculenta ink, and its apoptosis induction in MDA-MB-231 cells via miR-18a-5p/ORAI3 pathway mediated intracellular calcium overload","authors":"Jiayi Wu ,&nbsp;Xiaomei Yang ,&nbsp;Wei Xiao ,&nbsp;Zhen Lin ,&nbsp;Ping Luo ,&nbsp;Yipeng Gu ,&nbsp;Huazhong Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.152103","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.152103","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Based on our previous findings regarding anti-TNBC activity of SIP4, this study aims to further explore the antitumor mechanisms of the marine polysaccharide. Firstly, this study simplified the preparation methods of SIP4 based on our report, and identified the polysaccharide as a polymer of the repeating units of 5 sugars, -4Gal<em>p</em>NAc1-2GlcA<em>p</em>1–4(Gal<em>p</em>NAc1–4Glc<em>p</em>NAc1–3)Fuc<em>p</em>1- that consists of trisaccharide backbone, a disaccharide branch and an unlocated sulfate ester group. SIP4 induced overexpression of ORAI3 and excessive calcium ion accumulation in MDA-MB-231 cells, and resulted in apoptosis. Exposure of miR-18a mimic promoted overexpression of ORAI3, augmentation of calcium ion content, and consequent apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells, although miR-18a inhibitor did not change the indicators. Moreover, combination of SIP4 and miR-18a significantly enhanced the promotion of ORAI3 expression, calcium concentration and apoptosis in the TNBC cells. But the blockage using inhibitor of miR-18a markedly decreased the enhancement by SIP4. Comprehensively, SIP4 mediated apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells via activating miR-18a/ORAI3 pathway to induce intracellular calcium overload is an important anti-TNBC mechanism.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":333,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Macromolecules","volume":"363 ","pages":"Article 152103"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147721272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Direct powder extrusion 3D printing of a polyhydroxybutyrate-based dual-release drug delivery device for dental therapy","authors":"Costanza Fratini ,&nbsp;Matteo Grandoni ,&nbsp;Tania Vanzolini ,&nbsp;Annalisa Aluigi ,&nbsp;Mattia Tiboni ,&nbsp;Luca Casettari","doi":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.152160","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.152160","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the processability of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) in different physical forms (i.e., powder, pellets, and granules) using direct powder extrusion (DPE) 3D printing (3DP), a technique that enables the direct use of raw materials without prior filament fabrication. The raw materials were thoroughly characterized with respect to their thermal properties to evaluate their suitability for additive manufacturing application. Two DPE 3D printers employing distinct extrusion-driven mechanisms were used to enable a comparative evaluation under identical material conditions. Following printing, the resulting scaffolds were assessed in terms of their thermal, chemical and morphological characteristics to determine the feasibility and performance of each material form within the DPE 3D-printing process. In the second phase of the work, the potential of DPE to fabricate a functional PHB-based dental device enabling dual drug release (i.e., immediate and extended) was investigated. This was achieved by optimizing the printed geometry to incorporate a hydrophilic gel reservoir for burst release. Benzydamine hydrochloride, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, was selected as the model drug due to its compatibility with PHB processing temperatures (∼160 °C). The drug-loaded devices were successfully printed and evaluated through in vitro release studies and antimicrobial testing, confirming both controlled release and biological activity. The findings support the use of PHB and DPE 3DP for the development of customizable, biodegradable drug delivery systems, with promising applications in oral and dental care.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":333,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Macromolecules","volume":"363 ","pages":"Article 152160"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147758296","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Calcium-alginate microspheres for sustained curcumin delivery attenuate neuroinflammation and enhance nerve regeneration via suppressing NF-κB/MAPK pathways","authors":"Yunjiu Hu ,&nbsp;Rong Gao ,&nbsp;Ao Zhou ,&nbsp;Zhao Wang ,&nbsp;Lining Yang ,&nbsp;Kai Li","doi":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.152232","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.152232","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Peripheral nerve regeneration is hindered by persistent neuroinflammation. Curcumin, a promising anti-inflammatory agent, is limited by poor bioavailability. To enable localized and sustained delivery, we developed curcumin-loaded calcium-alginate microspheres (Cur@SA-MS), with an encapsulation efficiency of 75.93%, a loading capacity of 7.78%, and a stable two-week release profile, with cumulative release reaching approximately 80% by day 14. In vitro, Cur@SA-MS protected Schwann cells from LPS-induced inflammation by improving cell viability from ∼28% to ∼79% and reducing oxidative injury and inflammatory cytokine levels (TNF-α and IL-6). In a mouse sciatic nerve crush model, a single perineural injection of Cur@SA-MS showed prolonged local retention and significantly improved functional recovery, increasing ipsilateral PWMT from 0.92 g in the model group to 5.00 g and PWL from 3.62 s to 6.12 s at day 14, while preserving myelin integrity and reducing inflammatory infiltration. Integrated transcriptomic and network pharmacology analyses suggested the involvement of NF-κB/MAPK pathways and linked them to broader inflammatory networks. Thus, this study presents Cur@SA-MS as a localized and sustained delivery system that attenuates neuroinflammation and promotes peripheral nerve repair, highlighting its potential as a biomaterials-based strategy for targeted therapy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":333,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Macromolecules","volume":"363 ","pages":"Article 152232"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147758826","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel tyrosinase immobilization strategy based on hydrophilic multivariate mesoporous metal-organic frameworks for ligand fishing of tyrosinase inhibitors from herbal medicines","authors":"Peiqian Chen ,&nbsp;Jiangyu Zong ,&nbsp;Zhijuan Duan ,&nbsp;Huasong Luo ,&nbsp;Yilei Fan ,&nbsp;Yajun Wang ,&nbsp;Chu Chu","doi":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.152270","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.152270","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have shown great potential in enzyme immobilization. However, immobilized enzymes such as tyrosinase often exhibit significant activity loss due to mass transfer limitations and unfavorable microenvironments. In this study, we developed a simple and efficient immobilization strategy using a hydrophilic multivariate mesoporous MOF (mMOF) as the carrier. The synthesized mMOF exhibited increased mesoporous volume and specific surface area through post-synthetic ligand exchange, driven by the strong coordination ability of phosphate ions, thereby promoting substrate diffusion. As a result, the optimized system achieved an immobilization yield of 92.39% and an activity retention of 87.45%. Based on this active composite, a ligand fishing platform coupled with UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS was established for the rapid screening of tyrosinase inhibitors from complex matrix, using the fibrous roots of <em>Bletilla striata</em> as an example. A total of 14 potential inhibitors, including 13 phenanthrenes and 1 bibenzyl compound, were identified. Among them, three were identified for the first time as natural tyrosinase inhibitors. Further isolation and <em>in vitro</em> assays confirmed that blestriarene A showed the strongest inhibitory activity, with an IC₅₀ value of 5.56 μM, which was superior to that of kojic acid. Moreover, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were performed to elucidate the binding interactions between ligands and tyrosinase. This study provides an effective carrier design to overcome key limitations in enzyme immobilization and offers a robust strategy for rapid inhibitor discovery from complex natural products.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":333,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Macromolecules","volume":"364 ","pages":"Article 152270"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147758841","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sprayable sodium alginate/chitosan hydrogel with encapsulated ultrasmall Ga-Fe-Cu NPs for synergistic oxidative stress regulation and photothermal therapy of bacteria-infected diabetic wounds","authors":"Fang-Jun Cao ,&nbsp;Xiang Hou ,&nbsp;Li Ma ,&nbsp;Tie-Zhi Jin ,&nbsp;Wei-Ping Yang ,&nbsp;Hui Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.152208","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.152208","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Diabetic ulcer is a common chronic wound, and also one of the typical complications of diabetes. The pathological environment of diabetic ulcer caused by high glucose levels is extremely complex, so the treatment for diabetic ulcers remains a challenge. As a proof of concept, we herein propose to use an ultra-small self-assembled gallic acid (Ga)‑iron (Fe)‑copper-(Cu) metal–phenolic nanoparticles (Ga-Fe-Cu NPs) based sprayable hydrogel for diabetic wound treatment. The Ga-Fe-Cu NPs are synthesized and then incorporated into sprayable hydrogel dressing with sodium alginate/chitosan quaternary ammonium salts to improve therapeutic compliance, culminating in the formulation of Ga-Fe-Cu NPs based sprayable hydrogel. The Ga-Fe-Cu NPs effectively scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), reduce oxidative stress, shortening the transition between inflammation and proliferative phase and maintaining redox balance. The Ga-Fe-Cu NPs-based sprayable hydrogel exhibits excellent mechanical properties. The sprayable hydrogel aided in alleviating the hypoxic conditions in bacteria-infected diabetic wound healing, killing bacteria, decreasing inflammation, promoting vascularization, alleviate hypoxia to achieve scarless repair of diabetic infected wound. Ultimately, the Ga-Fe-Cu NPs-based sprayable hydrogel demonstrates superior therapeutic efficacy, achieving 96.6% closure of infected wounds.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":333,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Macromolecules","volume":"363 ","pages":"Article 152208"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147758843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synergistic postbiotics from Bacillus pumilus SE5 attenuate soybean meal-induced enteritis in grouper by modulating intestinal microbiota and p38 MAPK/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling","authors":"Hai-Xia Yu ,&nbsp;Sha Li ,&nbsp;Hong-Ling Yang ,&nbsp;Xue-Shan Li ,&nbsp;Guo-He Cai ,&nbsp;Yun-Zhang Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.152233","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.152233","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High soybean meal (SBM) diets are increasingly used in aquaculture, but excessive SBM inclusion frequently triggers intestinal inflammation and growth retardation in fish. Peptidoglycan (PG) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) extracted from <em>Bacillus pumilus</em> SE5 have previously been shown to regulate intestinal microbiota and enhance immunity in <em>Epinephelus coioides</em>, their efficacy against SBM-induced enteritis remains unclear. This study investigated the alleviation effects of PG and LTA (individually or combined) on SBM-induced enteritis. The trial set two control groups: LSM group (18% SBM) and HSM group (36.8% SBM); three reparative groups, in which after four weeks on 36.8% SBM feed, PG, LTA, or PG + LTA from <em>B. pumilus</em> SE5 were added (SPG, SLA, and SPL groups); and three preventive groups, in which PG, LTA, and PG + LTA were fed throughout the trial period (PG, LTA, and PLA groups). After eight weeks, the HSM group exhibited significantly reduced growth performance, disordered intestinal microbiota, elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines, nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway-related genes, and impaired intestinal health compared to the LSM group. In contrast, compared with the HSM group, the preventive and reparative groups reversed the above phenomena, with the PLA group exhibiting the most significant effects. Notably, compared with the HSM group, the expression levels of NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (<em>nlrp3</em>), <em>caspase 1</em>, and gasdermin E (<em>gsdme</em>) genes were down-regulated in all preventive and reparative groups. Collectively, <em>B. pumilus</em> SE5-derived PG and LTA synergistically alleviated SBM-induced enteritis and the mechanisms might be correlated with the down-regulation of transcripts associated with the p38 MAPK/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathways and modulation of intestinal microbiota.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":333,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Macromolecules","volume":"363 ","pages":"Article 152233"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147758850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM4 promotes the proliferation of glioblastoma by inhibiting ABTB1-mediated CDK1 ubiquitination","authors":"Gexi Liu ,&nbsp;Qinghao Zhang ,&nbsp;Jiacheng Zhong ,&nbsp;Yujie Liu ,&nbsp;Jie Chen ,&nbsp;Tianxiang Feng ,&nbsp;Jingjie Zhou ,&nbsp;Xiaochuan Sun ,&nbsp;Hongjuan Cui ,&nbsp;Shuang Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.152214","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.152214","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Emerging evidence has implicated the multifaceted roles of TRIM proteins in glioblastoma; however, the function of TRIM4 in glioblastoma pathobiology has not been clarified.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The clinical significance of TRIM4 was elucidated through analysis of the TCGA and CGGA databases. Its function was achieved via cellular functional assays and the Xenograft tumor model employing lentivirus in LN-229 and T98G cells. Flow cytometry, Western blot, and qRT-PCR were used to examine the potential downstream proteins of TRIM4 during G₂/M of Glioblastoma. The protein-protein interaction analyses, co-immunoprecipitation, protein turnover, and ubiquitination experiments were performed to elucidate the specific mechanism by which TRIM4 regulates the ubiquitination of CDK1. Molecular cloning experiments were employed to delineate the specific domains and ubiquitination patterns within the TRIM4-ABTB1-CDK1 axis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We discover that elevated TRIM4 expression in glioma is associated with increased tumor grade and unfavorable prognosis. The cellular functional assays and Xenograft tumor model demonstrated that TRIM4 knockdown suppresses cell growth by impeding the G₂/M phase transition in LN-229 and T98G cells. The specific mechanism is that TRIM4 inhibits ABTB1-mediated CDK1 ubiquitination. Mechanistically, the 53–500 amino acid region of TRIM4 promotes ABTB1 degradation through the K6, K27, K29, and K33-linked ubiquitination. ABTB1, particularly the 1–214 amino acid region, functions as a tumor suppressor by interacting with CDK1 and promoting its destabilization via the formation of K27-linked ubiquitination.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>TRIM4 acts as a promising prognostic predictor in glioma and plays an oncogenic role in glioblastoma. TRIM4-ABTB1-CDK1 may play an innovative therapeutic approach for glioblastoma treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":333,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Macromolecules","volume":"364 ","pages":"Article 152214"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147758767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mutation of Mg-chelatase subunit I causes distinct phenotypes of chlorophyll accumulation and seedling etiolation in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and melon (Cucumis melo)","authors":"Jianfei Song ,&nbsp;Jianli Shang ,&nbsp;Xiaoxu Han ,&nbsp;Zhenshuai Wang ,&nbsp;Dan Zhou ,&nbsp;Nannan Li ,&nbsp;Mengya Cao ,&nbsp;Yuan Lu ,&nbsp;Lanying Lu ,&nbsp;Shuangwu Ma ,&nbsp;Na Li","doi":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.152229","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.152229","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chlorophyll biosynthesis is essential for plant growth and development, as it directly modulates photosynthetic capacity. Here, we identified yellow mutants with chlorophyll deficiency and abnormal thylakoid stacking-disturbed in watermelon (lethal) and melon (non-lethal), and mapped the traits to SNPs (H359R in watermelon, T193A in melon) in <em>ChlI</em>, which encodes Mg-chelatase subunit I. Suppression of <em>ClChlI</em> in watermelon and <em>CmChlI</em> in melon caused reduced chlorophyll accumulation and leaf yellowing. Moreover, the mutated ChlI exhibited altered autologous protein structures, and weakened interaction ability with itself and ChlD, especially the mutated ClChlI. Additionally, compared to melon mutant, the watermelon mutant had significantly lower abundances of chlorophyll <em>b</em>iosynthesis- and photosynthesis-related proteins and metabolites. In summary, our findings lay a solid groundwork for further investigations into the structure-function relationship of the ChlI, and confers to the precise genetic improvement of crop agronomic traits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":333,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Macromolecules","volume":"363 ","pages":"Article 152229"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147758774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lignin-reinforced photothermal polyurethane elastomers with tunable mechanics, shape memory, and antibacterial functionality","authors":"Wanhui Wu ,&nbsp;Chao Deng ,&nbsp;Xinxi Han ,&nbsp;Xiangfei Zheng ,&nbsp;Zhirong Chen ,&nbsp;Wenjing Qi ,&nbsp;Rongxian Ou ,&nbsp;Zhenzhen Liu ,&nbsp;Tao Liu ,&nbsp;Qingwen Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.152139","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.152139","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Balancing the mechanical properties and multifunctionality of polyurethane elastomers presents a significant challenge. Herein, a sustainable strategy for fabricating high-performance polyurethane elastomers (MEPU) was developed by integrating two lignin derivatives, chemically modified lignin (MLOH) and unmodified enzymatic lignin (EL). MLOH, prepared via selective conversion of phenolic hydroxyl and carboxyl groups to alcohol hydroxyls, serves as a reactive chemical crosslinker, enhancing network formation and microphase separation. EL acts as a physical crosslinker, reinforcing intermolecular interactions. Notably, both MLOH and EL function as photothermal conversion agents, endowing MEPU with excellent photothermal properties. The resulting MEPU exhibits tunable photothermal conversion and mechanical performance, which can be optimized by adjusting the MLOH/EL ratio. Specifically, the optimal formulation M₅E₅PU displays exceptional mechanical properties, including tensile strength of 37.8 ± 2.0 MPa, elongation at break of 795.5 ± 26.4%, toughness of 125.6 ± 8.0 MJ/m³, and superior photothermal conversion, reaching 101.8 °C after 2 min near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. Leveraging its excellent photothermal properties, M₅E₅PU demonstrates a suite of NIR-triggered functionalities, including remarkable shape memory, fatigue resistance, self-healing, and complete antibacterial activity against both <em>E. coli</em> and <em>S. aureus</em> within 5 min. Therefore, this work offers a novel platform for developing multifunctional bio-based robust photothermal elastomers and promoting high-value utilization of lignin.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":333,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Biological Macromolecules","volume":"363 ","pages":"Article 152139"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147758823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}