Muling Zeng

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a high-performance biopolymer with unique structural and physicochemical properties; however, its industrial deployment is hindered by low productivity and inefficient conventional culture processes. This study explores novel media combinations, not previously used for BC biosynthesis, that enhance BC yield and expand the use of BC as a 3D host for other living organisms. For that, Lysogeny Broth (LB), Brain Heart Infusion (BHI), and Man-Rogosa-Sharpe (MRS) media were combined with Hestrin-Schramm (HS). LB and BHI support high viability of a wide range of bacterial species, whereas MRS is suitable for anaerobic ones. Additionally, the effect of supplementing the growth media with glycerol (Gly) was examined. The comparative analysis of all resulting BC pellicles indicates that new media combinations significantly enhance BC yield while preserving the biopolymer's physicochemical properties. The highest yield (4-fold increase over standard conditions) was achieved with HS:MRS in a 1:1 ratio and 5% Gly (v/v %). The developed platform enabled the integration of co-culture systems, allowing the simultaneous cultivation of cellulose-producing bacteria and secondary microorganisms (demonstrated with E. coli) within a single process. This approach provides a versatile route for the fabrication of functional living biomaterials while preserving production efficiency. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted to evaluate the sustainability of the production. The combined experimental and sustainability analysis establishes a framework for the rational design of resource-efficient and environmentally responsible BC production systems.

Objective: Wearable sweat sensors offer a promising route for non-invasive health monitoring; however, their accuracy and reliability remain limited. This limitation arises primarily because wearable sweat sensors typically collect and analyze sweat samples that are composed of mixed secretions from multiple sweat glands, resulting in averaged measurements that obscure the intrinsic concentrations and fluctuations of sweat biomarkers. Accurate sweat detection requires sampling sweat from a single sweat gland, yet no available method currently enables such high-resolution sampling. This study presents a novel single-sweat-gland sampling strategy, which is a class of patches containing dozens of openings to isolate individual sweat glands. By combining Poisson distribution theory with infrared thermography, a sweat patch incorporating 36 microchambers (400 µm in diameter) is designed to isolate sweat from individual glands. Computational modeling and Monte Carlo simulations involving 1000 random patch placements across diverse subjects demonstrate a 100% success rate in capturing sweat from single glands, without the need for vigorous physical exertion. The system functions effectively across different subjects under moderate sweating conditions and is adaptable to real-world applications. This high-resolution sampling strategy enables more accurate biomarker quantification and holds significant potential for improving sweat-blood biomarker correlation, advancing the development of reliable wearable diagnostics.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and Covalent–organic frameworks (COFs) are promising materials for biomedical applications due to their high surface area, tunable porosity, and functional versatility. Functionalized or nanoparticle‐containing MOFs and COFs have been largely explored in preclinical studies for drug delivery, photodynamic and photothermal therapies, and ROS generation targeting cancer cells, among others. Additionally, they have shown potential as carriers of imaging agents for precise biomarker identification and tumor detection. However, the application of nanomaterials in medicine, including MOFs and COFs, still does not meet the expectations set more than two decades ago. This is particularly important in the maternal‐fetal field, where substantial maternal health risks during pregnancy and childbirth affect many women. Only recently a range of preliminary studies exist, as these risks have traditionally been viewed as inherent to pregnancy, leaving significant gaps in innovative solutions for women's health that nanomaterials have the potential to bridge. This review addresses this critical need, offering a summary of current research in obstetrics and gynecology and maternal‐fetal applications of MOFs and COFs, identifying gaps, and aiming to guide future research to expand nanomedicine's impact in these areas.

Introduction: Combining natural antioxidants with nanozymes represents a promising strategy to enhance therapeutic outcomes in oxidative stress-related diseases. This study integrates quercetin (Que), a plant-derived flavonoid with strong antioxidant activity, and cerium oxide nanozymes (CeO₂NZs) into mesoporous silica (mSiO₂) to enhance therapeutic efficacy and overcome the poor solubility and bioavailability of natural antioxidants. Methods: Large-pore mSiO₂ (11 nm) were synthesized via a sol–gel method to encapsulate cerium oxide nanozymes (CeO₂NZs). Que was loaded using solvent impregnation to obtain (CeO₂/Que)@mSiO₂ nanocomposites. Structural and chemical characterization was performed, and biological evaluations were conducted in A549 cells. Results: The incorporation of a large mesopore mSiO₂ (11 nm) significantly enhanced Que loading capacity and its sustained release in cell culture media. The (CeO₂/Que)@mSiO₂ nanocomposite demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, effective ROS scavenging, and significant downregulation of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) compared to free Que. Conclusion: The (CeO₂/Que)@mSiO₂ nanoplatform offers synergistic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, supporting its potential for treating oxidative stress-related inflammatory conditions.

Despite considerable interest in medical and pharmaceutical fields, there remains a notable absence of functional textiles that concurrently exhibit antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Herein, a new composite fabric constructed using nanostructured bacterial cellulose (BC) covalently‐linked with cerium oxide nanoparticles (BC@CeO₂NPs) is introduced. The synthesis of CeO₂NPs on the BC is performed via a microwave‐assisted, in situ chemical deposition technique, resulting in the formation of mixed valence Ce³⁺/Ce⁴⁺ CeO₂NPs. This approach ensures the durability of the composite fabric subjected to multiple washing cycles. The Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity of CeO₂NPs and their rapid and efficient eradication of >99% model microbes, such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus remain unaltered in the composite. To demonstrate the feasibility of incorporating the fabric in marketable products, antimicrobial face masks are fabricated with filter layers made of BC@CeO₂NPs cross‐linked with propylene or cotton fibers. These masks exhibit complete inhibition of bacterial growth in the three bacterial strains, improved breathability compared to respirator masks and enhanced filtration efficiency compared to single‐use surgical face masks. This study provides valuable insights into the development of functional BC@CeO₂NPs biotextiles in which design can be extended to the fabrication of medical dressings and cosmetic products with combined antibiotic, antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities.

Micro-organic pollutants, particularly organic dyes and personal care products (PPCPs), are widely present in wastewater, and thus pose a serious risk to human health. The capture and solar-light photodegradation of micro-organic pollutants are highly challenging tasks, which require the design and synthesis of microporous materials with specific structures. As we know, organic dyes and PPCPs can be absorbed via π-π* stacking. In this paper, an iron-based metal-organic framework (Fe-UiO-68-terNap) containing semirigid conjugated aromatic ligands is prepared for the capture and solar-light photodegradation of multiple water contaminants. UiO-68-terNap was synthesized based on ternaphthalene with π-π* stacking, which would increase the adsorption capacities of organic micropollutants in wastewater. Additionally, the formation of Fe-O-Zr enhances the charge-separation ability resulting in the successful degradation of micropollutants in 240 min. The novel material has been elucidated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and Fe K-edge XANES, which provide key insights at a molecular level for the design of novel materials for the capture and photodegradation of organic micropollutants.