Current Research in Biotechnology最新文献

{"title":"Effects of physical properties on the heavy metal adsorption of biochar via a robust approach","authors":"Mahran Al-Zyoud ,&nbsp;Salama A. Mostafa ,&nbsp;Ibrahim Khersan ,&nbsp;Gowrishankar J ,&nbsp;Prabhat Kumar Sahu ,&nbsp;Siya Singla ,&nbsp;Sardor Sabirov ,&nbsp;Islom. Khudayberganov ,&nbsp;Samim Sherzod","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100367","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100367","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Heavy‑metal contamination of soils and aqueous environments poses critical ecological and health risks, necessitating efficient sorbents for remediation. This study addresses the problem of unpredictable adsorption behavior of biochar by developing a comprehensive machine‑learning approach that relates its physicochemical attributes to metal‑uptake efficiency. A robust dataset of 380 experiments encompassing diverse biomass origins and preparation conditions was assembled to quantify this relationship using descriptors including elemental ratios, pH, cation‑exchange capacity (CEC), surface area, and structural charge. Eight algorithms (Decision Tree, AdaBoost, Random Forest, K‑Nearest Neighbor, Ensemble Learning, Convolutional Neural Network, Support Vector Regression, and Multilayer Perceptron) were evaluated through 5‑fold cross‑validation and optimized by hyperparameter tuning. Statistical indicators (R², MSE, AARE%) and graphical diagnostics confirmed the CNN model as the most reliable predictor (R² = 0.991, MSE = 0.00148), capturing nonlinear physicochemical patterns with minimal overfitting. SHAP interpretation revealed C₀ and CEC as dominant determinants, while surface pH exerted inverse influence on adsorption. The hierarchical feature effects emphasize charge‑controlled and diffusion‑dependent mechanisms rather than morphological properties. The approach provides interpretable, transferable insight into how compositional and activation parameters govern heavy‑metal retention by biochars under varying conditions. Hence, the developed predictive framework not only advances modeling precision but also supports rational design of tailored biochars for environmental detoxification applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100367"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hydroxyapatite for food packaging applications: translating evidence from biomedical and environmental research","authors":"Qurratu Aini Alya Adzkia ,&nbsp;Atiek Rostika Noviyanti ,&nbsp;Yana Cahyana ,&nbsp;Yaya Rukayadi","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100370","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100370","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing demand for sustainable, functional food packaging has heightened interest in bio-based additives that can enhance material performance while maintaining consumer safety. Hydroxyapatite (HA), extensively studied in biomedical and environmental contexts for its physicochemical stability, ion-exchange capacity, and biocompatibility, has recently been proposed as a prospective additive for food packaging systems. This review critically examines the feasibility of translating insights from biomedical and environmental studies to packaging applications by systematically analyzing peer-reviewed literature published between 2021 and 2025 following PRISMA guidelines. The synthesized evidence indicates that HA incorporation, typically at low filler loadings, has been reported to improve tensile strength and thermal stability, with polymer permeability improvements of up to several tens of percent observed in previous studies. Environmental studies further demonstrate HA’s high adsorption capacity and ion-exchange behavior, whereas biomedical research provides indirect evidence of biological compatibility and controlled interaction with active agents. Nevertheless, direct experimental evidence in food packaging remains limited, including polymer–filler incompatibility, nanoparticle migration risks, and regulatory compliance. This review, therefore, positions hydroxyapatite as a prospective rather than validated packaging additive and outlines critical research priorities, including quantitative migration testing, formulation optimization, and regulatory evaluation, required to assess its practical feasibility in safe and sustainable food packaging applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100370"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Protective effects of microencapsulated Ocimum basilicum essential oil on Cisplatin-Induced hepatic Damage: Modulation of oxidative stress and liver enzymes","authors":"Seyedeh Fatemeh Khalilollahi Ghouchan Atigh ,&nbsp;Viana Khojasteh ,&nbsp;Amirhossein Hajizadeh ,&nbsp;Niknaz Najib ,&nbsp;Farnaz Bemani ,&nbsp;Negin Shafaei ,&nbsp;Ehsan Oskoueian ,&nbsp;Ehsan Karimi","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100377","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100377","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cisplatin (CP) is a widely utilized chemotherapeutic agent; however, its clinical effectiveness is often limited by dose-dependent hepatotoxicity, which arises from oxidative stress and inflammation. In contrast, bioactive compounds derived from medicinal plants exhibit promising hepatoprotective properties, demonstrating potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects with fewer side effects. This study explored the hepatoprotective potential of microcapsules loaded with <em>Ocimum basilicum</em> essential oil (MLOB) against cisplatin-induced liver injury in mice, specifically examining the modulation of oxidative stress and liver function biomarkers. In this investigation, twenty-four male Balb/c mice were randomly divided into four groups. The control group (T1) received a standard regimen, while the remaining three groups (T2, T3, and T4) were administered CP via intraperitoneal injections to induce hepatotoxicity. Group T2 received normal food, whereas groups T3 and T4 were treated with MLOB at concentrations of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, respectively. The results indicated that the synthesized microcapsules exhibited suitable particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential measurements of 349.3 nm, 0.65, and −31.6 mV, respectively. Administration of cisplatin led to a significant decrease in weight gain, along with elevated liver enzyme levels and oxidative stress markers, coupled with a dysregulation of hepatic antioxidant defense mechanisms such as CAT, SOD, and GPx. Conversely, treatment with MLOB notably mitigated cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity, as evidenced by improvements in body weight, normalization of serum biochemical parameters, and enhancement of antioxidant enzyme activity. Furthermore, MLOB down-regulated the expression of iNOS and IFN-γ in the liver while up-regulating SOD expression. These findings underscore that microencapsulation significantly enhances the protective efficacy of <em>O. basilicum</em> essential oil, emphasizing its potential as a natural hepatoprotective strategy against liver damage induced by chemotherapy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100377"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147395193","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"3D bioprinting for reproducing the tumor microenvironment in cancer research models","authors":"Jessy Aoun ,&nbsp;Hugo de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Shane Fennell ,&nbsp;Mona Diab-Assaf ,&nbsp;Florence Caldefie-Chezet ,&nbsp;Laetitia Delort","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100385","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100385","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The tumor microenvironment (TME) is an intricate network of extracellular matrix (ECM) components with different stromal cells, notably immune cells, adipocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells that influence cancer progression and therapeutic response. Traditional 2D models fail to replicate the spatial and biomechanical side of the tumor while animal models often lack translational accuracy and pose ethical challenges. 3D bioprinting is a novel technology that recently emerged as an alternative in cancer research, enabling controlled positioning of bioink-encapsulated cells, composed of biomaterials that replicate the TME’s architecture and physiology. This review focuses on depicting some major bioprinting techniques and bioinks used with a focus on their biochemical properties. We further discuss applications of 3D bioprinting in the recreation of the TME in various cancers including breast, ovarian, brain, skin, colorectal, liver, pancreatic and lung cancers. The discussed models emphasize their use for drug screening, study of tumor-stroma interaction and study of the TME in tumor progression. Beyond advancing cancer biology research, these models provide promising tools for drug evaluation and personalized treatment strategies. Despite advances, challenges remain in standardizing bioink formulations, achieving long-term culture stability, and integrating vascular and immune components to fully replicate native tumor complexity. Addressing these issues will be critical to advancing 3D bioprinted tumor models toward clinical and translational applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100385"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147706943","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biofilm of Oenococcus oeni on yeast derivatives: An innovation to trigger malolactic fermentation and modulate the molecular fingerprint of wines","authors":"Tiffany Bellanger ,&nbsp;Estelle Fontaine ,&nbsp;Rémy Romanet ,&nbsp;Yves Gosselin ,&nbsp;Evelyne Fonchy-Penot ,&nbsp;Arnaud Delaherche ,&nbsp;Stéphanie Weidmann","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100375","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100375","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The wine industry is undergoing a major transformation and faces a number of challenges. One of these is climate change, which will significantly increase the alcohol content of wines over the coming decades. This rise in alcohol content will be particularly detrimental to the yeasts and bacteria involved in fermentation, especially those responsible for malolactic fermentation (MLF). To remedy this situation, winemakers are already adopting various strategies, such as using ferments selected for their stress resistance and fermentation efficiency. Among these solutions, the use of ferments under the form of single (<em>O. oeni</em>) or mixte biofilm combining <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em> and <em>Oenococcus oeni</em>, have demonstrated their ability to trigger MLF and influence the organoleptic characteristics of the wine. In<!--> <!-->this context, the aim of this research is to design new, innovative and easy-to-use ferments, by developing an <em>O. oeni</em> biofilm on a biotic support consisting of inactivated yeast in the form of bark. The effectiveness of these formulations was evaluated in microvinification, analyzing their impact on MLF and on the molecular diversity of wines (metabolome and volatilome). The results show an acceleration of MLF, attributed to the presence of yeast derivatives, as well as a complexification of the wine’s chemical properties, favored by the effect of biofilm and yeast derivatives. These new starters thus represent a promising solution for optimizing vinification and enriching the sensory profile of wines.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100375"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147395192","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Artificial intelligence and machine learning across vaccine lifecycle: a systematic review","authors":"Olalekan John Okesanya ,&nbsp;Mulki Mukhtar Hassan ,&nbsp;Uthman Okikiola Adebayo ,&nbsp;Ifrah Ali ,&nbsp;Mohamed Mustaf Ahmed ,&nbsp;Tolutope Adebimpe Oso ,&nbsp;Zhinya Kawa Othman ,&nbsp;Edgar G. Cue ,&nbsp;Aaron Duarte Espinas ,&nbsp;Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno III","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100379","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100379","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Recurrent global health emergencies have intensified interest in the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to all stages of the vaccine life cycle. This systematic review synthesizes the available evidence and maps the current breakthroughs, persistent gaps, and future opportunities for AI- and ML-enabled vaccinology.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines, we searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed articles published from January 2010 to April 2025. Eligible studies reported any AI/ML application in vaccine discovery, development, manufacturing, supply chain management, or equitable deployment. Two reviewers independently screened the titles, abstracts, and full texts, extracted the data, and assessed the risk of bias using Joanna Briggs Institute tools. The findings were collated using qualitative synthesis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 119 studies examined AI/ML applications across the vaccine lifecycle, including innovation and discovery, development, supply chain optimization, and equitable deployment. AI/ML approaches have improved epitope mapping, candidate screening, safety prediction, demand forecasting, and delivery efficiency, demonstrating their potential to accelerate vaccine development and enhance equitable access.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>AI/ML tools are transforming the vaccine lifecycle by accelerating epitope prediction, candidate screening, demand forecasting, and equitable allocation; however, their full potential is limited by data silos, algorithmic bias, and uneven validation across populations and settings. Recognizing their impact requires equity-focused strategies, cross-disciplinary collaboration, ethical governance, open data standards, and research on implementation, cost-effectiveness, and explainable AI to ensure equitable and trustworthy vaccine systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100379"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147395196","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Streptococcus thermophilus Ab.340 TZ enhances doxorubicin efficacy in glioblastoma cells by modulating apoptotic and survival pathways","authors":"Abbas Asoudeh-Fard ,&nbsp;Hosein Fakhri ,&nbsp;Farnood Afrakhteh ,&nbsp;Mohadeseh Asoudeh-Fard ,&nbsp;Mohammad Abbasi ,&nbsp;Ahmad Gholami ,&nbsp;Mohammad Bagher Nazari ,&nbsp;Erfan Yaghoot ,&nbsp;Asghar Parsaei","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100366","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100366","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor, characterized by rapid proliferation, therapeutic resistance, and poor prognosis. Doxorubicin (DOX) exhibits potent cytotoxicity but is limited by blood–brain barrier penetration and systemic toxicity. Probiotics, particularly Streptococcus thermophilus, have emerged as potential adjuvants in cancer therapy due to their selective anticancer effects.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>S. thermophilus Ab.340 TZ (NCBI Accession: PX207693) was isolated from 55 traditional yogurt samples and identified via 16S rRNA sequencing. U-87 MG glioblastoma cells and HUVECs were treated with the probiotic, DOX, or their combination. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay. Molecular mechanisms were investigated using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) for apoptosis- and survival-related genes (<em>Caspase-3, Caspase-8, Caspase-9, Bax</em>, <em>Bcl-2, PTEN, p53, p21, Fas, AKT, mTOR, IκB</em>). Apoptosis induction was further validated by Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div><em>S. thermophilus</em> selectively reduced U-87 MG viability in a dose-dependent manner (IC₅₀ OD₆₀₀ = 1.15, ≈1–1.2 × 10⁹ CFU/mL) without affecting HUVECs (&gt;96% viability)<em>.</em>DOX monotherapy had an IC₅₀ of 20 µg/mL, while combination therapy achieved comparable cytotoxicity at only 145 ng/mL, indicating a &gt; 130-fold dose reduction. qRT-PCR revealed synergistic upregulation of pro-apoptotic and tumor suppressor genes (<em>Caspases, Bax, PTEN, p53, p21</em>) and downregulation of survival mediators (<em>AKT, mTOR, Bcl-2</em>). Flow cytometry confirmed enhanced apoptosis with minimal necrosis in combination-treated cells.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>S. thermophilus Ab.340 TZ acts as a potent adjuvant to DOX, reprogramming apoptosis and survival pathways, enabling substantial dose reduction, and selectively inducing apoptosis in GBM cells. These findings support the potential integration of probiotics with conventional chemotherapy to overcome chemoresistance and improve therapeutic outcomes in glioblastoma.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100366"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147395137","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the hepatoprotective and cytotoxic activities of Thalictrum foliolosum and Cordia dichotoma for targeting acute liver injury","authors":"Disha Raghuvanshi ,&nbsp;Komal Raghuvanshi ,&nbsp;Sunil Kumar ,&nbsp;Mehak Thakur ,&nbsp;Deepak Kumar ,&nbsp;Azhar Khan ,&nbsp;Dinesh Kumar ,&nbsp;Rachna Verma ,&nbsp;Nida N. Farshori ,&nbsp;Ebtesam S. Al-Sheddi ,&nbsp;Mai M. Al-Oqail ,&nbsp;Tabarak Malik","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100363","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100363","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Liver diseases remain a significant global health burden despite advancements in hepatology. Plant-based therapies offer promising hepatoprotective potential, highlighting the need to evaluate medicinal plants with therapeutic activity. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the methanolic extracts of the root and leaves of <em>Thalictrum foliolosum</em> and the leaves of <em>Cordia dichotoma</em> for antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and hepatoprotective effects. Antimicrobial analysis revealed that <em>T. foliolosum</em> leaves extract showed maximum inhibition against <em>E. coli</em> (19.0 ± 1.0 mm) and the root extract against <em>S. typhi</em> (22.0 ± 1.0 mm), while <em>C. dichotoma</em> leaves extract against <em>Bacillus</em> sp<em>.</em> (17.3 ± 1.5 mm). Anti-inflammatory analysis showed that at 300 µg/mL, <em>C. dichotoma</em> leaves exhibited 48.10 ± 0.34 % inhibition, while <em>T. foliolosum</em> root and leaves extracts showed 46.35 ± 0.90 % and 44.77 ± 1.49 % inhibition, respectively. Furthermore, both extracts exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity toward HepG2 cells, with <em>T. foliolosum</em> root and <em>C. dichotoma</em> leaf extracts showing CTC₅₀ values of 110.7 and 250.7 µg/mL, respectively. <em>In-vivo</em> studies showed that both the extracts significantly restored liver biomarkers in CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar albino rats. <em>T. foliolosum</em> roots extract (200 mg/kg) reduced total bilirubin to 0.33 ± 0.06 mg%, conjugated bilirubin to 0.05 ± 0.02 mg%, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) to 120.50 ± 12.02 IU/L, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) to 52.00 ± 16.97 IU/L, and alkaline phosphate (ALP) to 205.50 ± 27.58 IU/L, while restoring total protein (5.70 ± 0.14 g%) and albumin (3.30 ± 0.14 g%). Similarly, <em>C. dichotoma</em> leaves extract (200 mg/kg) lowered total bilirubin to 0.34 ± 0.03 mg%, conjugated bilirubin to 0.06 ± 0.03 mg%, SGOT to 122.00 ± 2.83 IU/L, SGPT to 44.50 ± 3.54 IU/L, and ALP to 185.00 ± 29.70 IU/L, with improved total protein (5.60 ± 0.57 g%) and albumin (3.30 ± 0.14 g%). Molecular docking further supported the bioactivity of the extracts. Senecionine showed good affinity for the antibacterial target 4KR4 (−7.6 kcal/mol), while rutin exhibited the strongest binding to the anti-inflammatory (5IKR, −8.5 kcal/mol) and hepatoprotective (3SU4, −7.7 kcal/mol) targets. Overall, these findings revealed that <em>C. dichotoma</em> leaf extract exhibits stronger hepatoprotective activity than <em>T. foliolosum</em> root extract, supporting its further investigation in future studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100363"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925270","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synthesis of 2-aryl substituted benzimidazoles as bifunctional agents combining antiparasitic activity with radical-scavenging properties against Trichinella infection","authors":"Nikolay Lumov ,&nbsp;Kameliya Anichina ,&nbsp;Dimitar Vuchev ,&nbsp;Galya Popova-Daskalova ,&nbsp;Nadya Hristova-Avakumova ,&nbsp;Maya Guncheva ,&nbsp;Denitsa Yancheva","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100383","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100383","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>The aim of this research was to synthesize a series of 2-arylbenzimidazoles and evaluate their anti-<em>Trichinella</em> activity and free radical scavenging potential.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Three complementary synthetic approaches were applied, and structures were confirmed by spectroscopic methods and DFT calculations. Biological evaluation included an <em>in vitro</em> anti-<em>Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis)</em> assay, <em>in vitro</em> tubulin polymerization study, antioxidant assays (superoxide anion radical scavenging, ferric reducing capacity and suppression of AAPH-induced oxidative damage of lecithin and deoxyribose), and cytotoxicity testing in BJ human fibroblasts using the MTT assay. <em>In silico</em> methods were used to predict lipophilicity and other physicochemical parameters for evaluating the expected bioavailability and drug-likeness.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The compounds exhibited pronounced <em>in vitro</em> larvicidal activity against <em>T. spiralis</em> muscle larvae. At 100 μg/mL after 48 h, <strong>4aA</strong> and its 5(6)-nitro analogue <strong>4cA</strong> showed high efficacy (81.5% and 80.2%, respectively), while compound <strong>5</strong> demonstrated the strongest effect (95.7%). In tubulin polymerization assays, <strong>4aA</strong> slightly reduced the polymerization rate compared to control, whereas <strong>4cA</strong> and <strong>5</strong> significantly enhanced it. Antioxidant activity, including radical scavenging and ferric-reducing capacity, correlated with the observed anthelmintic effects. The presence of a 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl moiety contributed to both biological activities. The deoxyribose model showed the strongest consistency in the observed activities, with compound <strong>5</strong> displaying superior capacity to prevent oxidative degradation.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Compound <strong>5</strong> stands out as a promising lead for further investigation against <em>T. spiralis.</em></div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100383"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147649889","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Robust prediction of biochar cation exchange capacity via interpretable ensemble and deep machine learning algorithms","authors":"Shahad Almansour ,&nbsp;Lulwah M. Alkwai ,&nbsp;Kusum Yadav ,&nbsp;Debashis K. Dutta ,&nbsp;Muneera Altayeb ,&nbsp;Zarghuna Hekmatyar","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100374","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100374","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biochar cation exchange capacity (CEC) is a vital property governing nutrient retention and soil remediation efficiency, yet its prediction from feedstock and pyrolysis parameters remains challenging due to nonlinear interactions among compositional and thermal variables. This study aims to develop accurate, interpretable predictive frameworks for CEC estimation using ensemble and deep learning algorithms based on biomass and pyrolysis descriptors. A dataset of 210 experimentally validated records was compiled from peer-reviewed sources, encompassing biomass elemental composition (C, H, O, N, Ash), process variables (pyrolysis temperature, residence time), and post-char chemistry. Data quality was ensured through correlation analysis, leverage-based outlier detection, and standardized division into training (90%) and testing (10%) subsets. Fivefold cross-validation was implemented to provide statistically robust performance evaluation using coefficient of determination (R²), Mean Squared Error (MSE), and Average Absolute Relative Error Percentage (AARE%). Among the six models examined (Decision Tree, AdaBoost (AB), Random Forest, Ensemble Learning, Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), and Multilayer Perceptron Artificial Neural Network (MLP-ANN)) AB achieved the highest predictive accuracy (test R² = 0.915, AARE% = 32.05) with minimal generalization error, outperforming all alternatives. Error distribution plots and SHAP analysis established that Ash_biomass exerted the greatest positive influence on predicted CEC, while H_biomass, O_biomass, and T_py showed negative contributions, revealing compositional parameters as predominant determinants over operational conditions. The findings demonstrate that ensemble-based learners effectively balance bias and variance in small-to-moderate datasets, enabling reliable CEC forecasting and providing interpretable insight into biomass and pyrolysis mechanisms. These results deliver a scalable foundation for optimizing biochar production toward improved ion-exchange performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100374"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147395319","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}