Tlaolli Onilli
Most people in the country tend to consume soda as part of their daily lives, without thinking about the health consequences that this entails. And the fact is that 墨西哥 is considered the main consumer of soda in the world (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México [UNAM], 2019), and not only that, it also tops the lists of obesity and diabetes (Procuraduría Federal del Consumidor [PROFECO], 2018). A bad diet is one of the main causes of these medical conditions, so it is necessary to rethink the foods of daily consumption. In this project, the development of a carbonated beverage with three main ingredients: purple corn, hibiscus, and pineapple, which contain diverse nutritional properties in addition to having significant amounts of antioxidants (Secretaría de Cultura,2020; Sumaya et al., 2014; Kongsuwan et al., 2009), is established as an objective. In addition, antioxidants act as regulators of cellular aging and prevent chronic diseases (Vilaplana, 2007). For this reason, the elaboration of a beverage with these characteristics is considered harmless and a good option for people with a chronic disease or who are prone to it, as well as a healthy alternative to the consumption of soft drinks. In this project, an experimental methodology was followed to prepare the nutritional beverage, which had nutritional properties, such as vitamin and antioxidant content, in addition to having a pleasant taste and texture.
Natural resources utilization for the in-house production of fluorescence lipid nanoparticles
Nanotechnology, a transformative force, has steadily gained traction across multiple scientific disciplines, including physics, chemistry, engineering, and biology. It offers unprecedented capabilities, especially in the realm of nanoscale particles, ushering in new paradigms in various applications. One of the most revolutionary applications of nanotechnology is in the pharmaceutical sector. Here, nanoparticles have transformed drug and vaccine delivery systems, offering both efficacy and precision. Among these nanoparticles, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have stood out, especially for their role in delivering nucleic acid-based drugs and vaccines. These LNPs are intricate assemblies composed of lipids and nucleic acid complexes, offering an amalgamation of stability and deliverability. Such properties have rendered LNPs as invaluable tools in enhancing therapeutic efficacy while minimizing off-target side effects. The myriad of nanoparticles available includes the likes of silver, gold, and lipid nanoparticles. However, the emphasis of this research lies with lipid nanoparticles, given their widespread success in the pharmaceutical arena. LNPs have showcased their potential in delivering drugs with low therapeutic indices, emphasizing their capability to act as versatile platforms for novel drug development. Recent advances have further expanded the horizons of LNPs, paving the way for novel antisense oligonucleotides, innovative vaccines, and complex lipid nanoparticle formations. Characterizing these nanoparticles is paramount, not only for the development of novel drugs but also to comprehend their in vivo behavior. Their multifaceted nature, stemming from their unique excipients, core-bilayer design, and varying sizes, makes their characterization a critical step in the research and development pipeline.
Eradicating Cystic Fibrosis Biofilms by a Novel Non-Toxic, Multi-Pathway Salicylate Therapy
1.1. Cystic Fibrosis Biofilms Biofilms are bacterial aggregates in a matrix of polysaccharides, proteins and nucleic acids (Donlan, 2002). They account for 80% of all chronic infections and cause over 500,000 deaths annually. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder characterized by mucus accumulation in the respiratory tracts (Morrison et al., 2020). This impairs mucociliary clearance, allowing chronic colonization by bacterial biofilms, leading to fatal respiratory failure, lung scarring, and necrosis of pulmonary epithelial tissues (Martin et al., 2021). 1.2. Obstacles in Current Treatments Three major therapies are used against CF biofilms: (1) aminoglycoside antibiotics like tobramycin, (2)non-aminoglycoside antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and vancomycin, and (3) non-antibiotic therapies including flushing, chlorination, and ultraviolet disinfection. These have two major flaws. First, they are cytotoxic; 30% of patients experience acute kidney injury after three days of intravenous aminoglycoside therapy (Joyce et al., 2017). Furthermore, non-aminoglycoside therapies can cause phospholipid buildup in lysosomes of proximal tubule epithelial cells, accounting for 10-20% of acute renal failure cases. Second, antibiotic resistance due to horizontal gene transfer and mutations has significantly reduced treatment effectiveness. Therefore, cystic fibrosis biofilms remain a critical threat with few effective treatments. 1.3. Salicylate Derivatives This project tackled this issue using an innovative non-antibiotic approach with salicylate derivatives. Salicylates, a class of benzoic acids—benzene-based carboxylic acids (Figure 1)—used in painkillers and blood thinners, were investigated for their antibiofilm potential through a 3-step process: 1. Literature review: Identified three key biofilm therapeutic targets: quorum sensing, bacterial adhesion, and cell motility. Disrupting these pathways would result in biofilm eradication. 2. Molecule Identification: Recognized key molecules in each pathway: LasR, adhesins, and flagellin. Inhibiting these molecules would disrupt the pathways. 3. Screening: Found that salicylates could inhibit the identified molecules, though they had never been tested against cystic fibrosis biofilms.