Angela Patti

The transition of extracellular vesicle (EV) production from laboratory to industrial scale presents major challenges in terms of standardization, scalability, and product consistency. Here, we present a scalable manufacturing strategy for nanoalgosomes, EVs derived from the microalga Tetraselmis chuii . The process integrates upstream cultivation under controlled conditions with downstream isolation and purification via continuous tangential flow filtration (TFF). Critical TFF parameters—cross‐flow velocity, shear rate, permeate flux, and transmembrane pressure—were investigated to evaluatetheir impact on process behaviour, extracellular vesicle recovery, and functional integrity. Following the MISEV2018 guidelines established in our previous baseline characterizations, the isolated nanoalgosomes were verified by a quality control, including biochemical and biophysical characterization, confirming the robustness of the platform. Overall, this work provides a practical processing framework for the scientific community dealing with large‐volume EV bioprocessing, offering an informative baseline for the scalable production of microalgae‐derived extracellular vesicles.

The reactivity of a range of cyclic monoterpenes in the presence of a crude peroxygenase-containing preparation from oat flour as a biocatalyst and tert-butyl hydroperoxide as an oxidant was evaluated, with the aim of highlighting the chemo- and stereoselectivity features of the enzyme. Most of the tested terpenes were converted to the corresponding epoxides or related diols via hydrolytic or rearrangement processes. The study on both the enantiomers of cis-carveol revealed that the enzyme catalyzed the formation of an epoxide ring with the same stereopreference, independently from the chirality of the pre-existent stereogenic centers, affording the two diastereoisomeric 1,2-epoxides with (1S,2R) configuration. The use of a commercial mixture of cis/trans (–)-carveol as the substrate, instead, resulted in the exclusive conversion of the cis-isomer and recovery of the unreacted trans-isomer, thus suggesting some influence of the configuration of allylic alcohol group on the recognition ability of the enzyme. A different reactivity of substrate enantiomers was also evidenced in the epoxidation of terpinene-4-ol, while perillaldehyde underwent exclusive oxidation to perillic acid. The biocatalyzed oxidation proceeds with high stereocontrol and offers a sustainable method for valorization of terpenes to fine chemicals, avoiding costs related to enzyme purification and disposal of toxic metal catalysts.

Tomato production increasingly requires high‐yield plants and fruits with enhanced firmness and resistance to mechanical damage in order to reduce post‐harvest losses. Pre‐harvest treatments‐ may play a key role in modulating these quality attributes. This study investigated the effect of biochar, used as a partial replacement of agriperlite (2% and 4% v/v), and wood distillate (WD) on vegetative growth, yield, fruit quality, and mechanical properties of cherry tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L., cv. Cikito) grown in a soilless system. Particular attention was given to mechanical parameters, including initial and mean firmness, apparent modulus of elasticity, deformation indices, absorbed energy, and elasticity. Biochar application, especially at 4% in combination with WD, significantly increased total yield and fruit number, while WD alone enhanced individual fruit weight and juice yield, particularly at the first harvest. Mechanical analyses showed that biochar improved fruit firmness and tissue stiffness, whereas WD promoted greater deformation and elasticity, indicating contrasting effects on post‐harvest behavior. Fruit color ‐ varied according to harvest stage, with significant biochar–WD interactions affecting L* and b* values. Overall, the use of biochar as a partial substitute for conventional soilless substrates together with WD application, represents a promising strategy to enhance plant performance and to modulate key mechanical and technological attributes of tomato fruits. However, further optimization of WD application timing and frequency is required to ensure agronomic effectiveness while maintaining economic and environmental sustainability.

Increasing awareness of the adverse effects of agrochemicals is driving farmers to adopt more sustainable strategies for enhancing plant growth. Biostimulants have gained significant attention in both academic research and the horticultural industry as promising tools to promote growth, improve stress tolerance, and enhance crop performance, while reducing environmental impacts. This study, conducted from March to July 2024, evaluated the effects of different experimental biostimulants (EBs) on the growth, development, and productivity of wild strawberry plants ( Fragaria vesca L., cv. “Malga”) cultivated under greenhouse soilless conditions. Despite their diverse origins, all tested EBs were sustainably derived from circular economy processes: (i) a suspension of freeze‐dried microalgae ( Tetraselmis chuii ) (MA), (ii) a suspension of a lyophilized microbial mixed culture of purple non‐sulfur bacteria (PNSB), and (iii) a hydro‐alcoholic extract of pulverized hop biomass (HE). The EBs were applied weekly to the substrate: MA and PNSB at concentrations of 5% and 10%, and HE at 15 and 30 mL/L. Morphological and physiological parameters were recorded weekly until plant uprooting, while biochemical analyses were performed on leaves and fruits at the end of the trial. Application of EBs significantly enhanced plant growth and yield. MA treatments resulted in the greatest plant height, antioxidant activity, and total phenolic content; PNSB promoted the highest total root length and both fresh and dry biomass; and HE at 30 mL/L produced the greatest fruit number per plant. These results underline the potential of biostimulants to optimize strawberry production in controlled environments and contribute to more sustainable agricultural practices.

Oat seeds contain peroxygenase, a heme enzyme localized in both the microsomal and the lipid droplet fractions, which are usually separated by multiple ultracentrifugation steps. In this work, it was shown that peroxygenase activity is retained in the lipid fraction (LF) of oat seeds, which is obtained by simple extraction of flour with organic solvents. The enzymatic activity of this crude preparation was tested in the oxidation of thioanisole in comparison with a peroxygenase-containing microsome preparation (MP) from the same plant source in both aqueous medium and pure organic solvents. In most cases, higher activity was observed in the LF preparation, which proved to be stable in organic solvents for at least 24 h, thus offering a good option for the oxidation of highly water-insoluble substrates. LF-peroxygenase maintained the same stereoselectivity features observed with MP, as also demonstrated in the epoxidation reaction of limonene. A protocol for the oxidation of thioanisole in CH₃CN was set up on a preparative scale, and the corresponding sulfoxide was obtained at concentration of 1.7 M and with 84% ee.

Helicobacter pylori infection, a leading cause of gastric ulcers and gastric cancer, presents a major health challenge, exacerbated by rising antibiotic resistance. This study investigated the antibacterial potential of plant-derived compounds, isolated from different plant species, against H. pylori. Thus, a library of 153 natural compounds and derivatives, including monoterpene indole and bisindole alkaloids, obtained from the African medicinal plant Tabernaemontana elegans was screened in vitro for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against H. pylori. Active compounds (1–7) were tested for anti-biofilm activity and cytotoxicity on VERO cells to determine their half-maximal cytotoxic concentrations (CC₅₀). Six monoterpene indole alkaloid azine derivatives (1–6) and vobasinyl-iboga type bisindole alkaloid (7) displayed antibacterial activity, with MICs between 10 and 20 µM. Compounds 2, 3, and 6 exhibited bactericidal activity, with MBCs of 20 µM. Notably, compounds 1 to 4 inhibited H. pylori biofilm formation at sub-inhibitory concentrations. Cytotoxicity assays revealed CC₅₀ values above MICs, indicating a favorable safety profile for potential therapeutic use. This study highlights the potential of T. elegans monoterpene indole alkaloids as antibacterial agents and supports further exploration of plant-derived compounds as alternative treatments for H. pylori, offering a promising approach to address antibiotic resistance in gastrointestinal diseases.

Nepafenac is an anti-inflammatory drug used in ophthalmology, marketed as a suspension due to its low aqueous solubility. A solution formulation could provide better bioavailability than suspension and facilitate single unit doses, avoiding the use of preservatives which are required to maintain sterility in multidose packaging. In this study, solubilization of nepafenac was achieved in the presence of randomly methylated β-cyclodextrin (RAMEB) and the actual complexation was assessed by NMR and phase-solubility studies. It was also found that the addition of hydrophilic polymers plays an important role in allowing increased solubilization of nepafenac at the same cyclodextrin concentration. Compared to complexes of nepafenac with other cyclodextrins, only 5% RAMEB was sufficient to solubilize 0.3% (w/v) nepafenac, enabling for the first time the development of an ophthalmic solution that proved chemically and physically stable for 12 months at 25 °C. The formulated solutions of nepafenac were tested for cytotoxicity on human corneal epithelial cells (HCE-2) and the results suggest their potential as a valuable and safe alternative to the commercially available 0.3% (w/v) suspension of the drug.